December 13, 2018

Dubai and Moscow-based fashion label Asmaraia has launched a new 15-piece, feline-inspired pre-fall 2019 collection called Nocturnal Animals.

The line celebrates modesty, sustainability and environmentally friendly fashion, using organic cotton and recycled polyester while supporting a fair-trade supply chain.

The rising brand is in good company in its campaign for cruelty-free fashion – it joins the likes of Chanel,Jean Paul Gautierand Burberry and in its ban on using fur in collections.

“The"...

December 12, 2018

(AETOS Wire)-- Tory Burch, LLC, today announced it has named Pierre-Yves Roussel Chief Executive Officer, starting early 2019. A longtime LVMH executive, Mr. Roussel will be based out of Tory Burch’s New York headquarters; he will join and report to the Company’s board of directors. In partnership with Ms. Burch, he will lead and implement the company’s global strategy with a focus on operations.

“There are very few leaders in the industry who have both a commercial track record and a deep admiration for the creative process. I respect what he has built at LVMH and value the way"...

December 10, 2018

British fashion store Missguided is set to open its first UAE branch in The Dubai Mall.

The brand is hugely popular in the UK and largely retails online, although after a successful concession in Selfridges it opened its first physical store in London’s Westfields in 2016.

The affordable fashion store is known for its collaborative collections with celebrities and social media influencers, as well as its fast-fashion take on street style trends.

The store is set to open in the unit"...

December 9, 2018

When it comes to luxury brands, UAE consumers have tried-and-true favourites. However, new findings reveal a reconfigured landscape of consumer bonding in this highly-visible industry.

Amid the luxury category’s average performance in the UAE, Louis Vuitton held its #1 ranking in the industry for the second year running and #16 overall in the UAE in the MBLM’s 2018 Brand Intimacy Report. Louis Vuitton is the only luxury brand to make the top 40 overall list.

Together"...

December 6, 2018

Global demand for Rolex is so strong that authorised dealers (ADs) in the United States are holding back what little stock they get of the most popular models so that their best customers have a chance of buying one this side of Christmas.

British retailers have also complained that supplies of Rolex's steel sport watches are causing significant difficulties.

Rolex sales in the UK are up by more than 25% this year, building on back-to-back record sales in 2016 and 2017.

Retail analyst"...

December 6, 2018

After referencing Ancient Greece in Chanel's cruise 2018 collection, Karl Lagerfeld looked to Egypt for his 17th annual Metiers d'Art show, which takes place in a different city each year and celebrates the craftsmanship of the artisans that the brand partners with. On December 4, Lagerfeld brought his travelling show to the floodlit Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York.

All was gold: from the hats and feather accessories to the thigh-high boots and chandelier earrings. Tweed and distressed denim made an appearance now and again, but shiny gold was the order of the day.

Paying"...

December 5, 2018

Emirati designer Latifa Al Gurg has won a competition to dress more than 30,000 Expo 2020 Dubai staff and volunteers.

Al Gurg, founder of fashion label Twisted Roots, will work closely with Expo 2020 to develop the uniforms, which will be worn by the Expo workforce as they welcome millions of visitors to the six-month event in Dubai from October 20 2020 to April 10 2021.

She said in comments published by state news agency WAM: 'I am honoured and privileged to have participated in this competition and to win it is a dream come true. Ever since Dubai triumphed in"...

December 4, 2018

Contemporary furniture and décor design group HRH & Urban has opened its new trade showroom in the Dubai Design District to showcase its roster of contemporary furniture and décor brands to industry professionals.

HRH & Urban is operated by entrepreneurs Huda Al Rostamani and Roberta Calarese, and falls under the auspices of AWRostamani Lifestyle.

With a successful first year of operations already under its belt, HRH & Urban has now invested in a dedicated space for professionals that highlights the brand’s creativity and contemporary design ethos.

The venue offers private appointments where HRH & Urban can showcase new collections and further"...

December 4, 2018

Now headed by Kim Jones, menswear at Dior has undergone something of a transformation. With the new designer comes a new name – Dior Men – while the old moniker of Dior Homme has been consigned to the history books. Gone too is the severe cut, so beloved of Jones’ predecessor Kris Van Assche, and in its place Jones has introduced all the relaxed appeal that made him so successful at Louis Vuitton.

To set the tone, Jones commissioned Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama to create a 40-foot female robot to sit on stage. And rather than dictating a rigid set of looks, Jones offered something looser and more forgiving, with diverse"...

December 3, 2018

Shopping is all about marketing. Brands spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on advertising to create a particular mood that, hopefully, customers will want to buy into. These carefully considered campaigns aim to conjure an emotional state that lingers long after the credit card has been swiped.

So when budget American shoe brand Payless decided it wanted to raise its profile for the upcoming holiday season, it decided to play a prank and mimic the approach taken by high-end designer stores, albeit only for a few days.

Best known for its cheap prices –"...