It seems Dubai is ever closer to obtaining fashion capital status after a recent report reveals that after London, the emirate is the second most popular place in the world to shop for fashion and luxury goods.
Dubai has made no secret of its attempts to be a leader in the fashion industry. It already has the world’s biggest mall (The Dubai Mall, which is 3.7million sq ft and attracts 80 million visitors a year) and has plans to build the Mall Of The World – the world’s first and largest temperature-controlled indoor city and shopping complex that will be capable of receiving 180 million visitors a year.
Events such as Vogue Fashion Experience (which has been dubbed abroad as making Dubai seem “cool”) and Fashion Forward have also helped draw attention to the region’s sartorial capabilities and, of course, Karl Lagerfeld’s decision to host his Cruise show in the emirate saw its glowing style reputation reach stratospheric levels, seeing it placed ahead of the New York and Paris, according to commercial property and real estate services adviser CBRE.
It’s not just King Karl though who is a fan of Dubai’s fashion offerings. The emirate has become a hub for not only emerging and local talents but also a playground for international designers who are rapidly launching new stores in the region and offering bespoke services. Roberto Cavalli, who already has fashion stores and a nightclub in Dubai, recently visited to open his first Cavalli Caffe in the UAE, because it was the logical “next step” in a place that is “thriving”. Quirky accessories designer Charlotte Olympia also came to town to open her debut store in the Middle East (while she her designs have been available in department stores, she opened her first standalone store in Mall Of The Emirates). When asked about the style scene in the region she replied: “I love it. Everyone loves to get dressed up. They make an effort.”
While the UAE will turn 43 on National Day (December 2), youth hasn’t hampered Dubai, in fact it has given the emirate the energy it needs to become the fashion capital it wants to be.
Watch this space…
Image: Getty
