Saudi luxury brand Lavish Concepts opens London atelier
Described as 'a slow, salon-style shopping experience,' the atelier showcases a carefully curated selection of fashion, jewelry and objets d'art that blend artisanal skill, cultural heritage and contemporary design. It is the first permanent home for Lavish Concepts, which has previously only staged temporary pop-ups in the UK capital.
'We wanted to reframe how people experience luxury: less noise, more nuance,' Altobaishi tells Arab News. 'The Chiswick Atelier captures that in every detail. It's not about volume; it's about storytelling and voice.'
Lavish Concepts' co-founders Nada Altobaishi and Hala Al-Sharekh in their new London atelier on its launch night. (Supplied)
Nine Saudi brands are featured, including Dalsh Designs, Herfah, Yarakech, and Qormuz. The wider lineup also includes products from brands originating in the UK, US, UAE, Oman, Morocco and Jordan.
'Each selection is deeply intentional. With the Saudi brands, we looked for designers who are redefining heritage — not discarding it — and reworking it into something unapologetically current and wearable,' Al-Sharekh, officially designated as Lavish Concepts' 'brand visionary,' says.
Positioning Lavish Atelier as a 'slow, salon-style' space rather than a conventional boutique was a deliberate decision on the part of its founders.
'The stories behind these pieces and our partner brands deserve more than a passing glance,' says Altobaishi. 'We wanted a space that encourages pause; a place where conversation and great craftsmanship are given equal weight.'
The pair's Saudi identity shapes every element of the atelier, says Al-Sharekh. 'From the aesthetics to the hospitality, the way we curate is always filtered through a very Saudi sense of meaning and memory.'
So far, Lavish Concepts has yet to stage an event in Saudi Arabia, but plans are in place to do so within the next 18 months, the founders say.
Meanwhile, they hope that visitors to this new permanent home in London will walk away with a deeper appreciation of the craftsmanship and cultural richness behind each piece.
'This isn't just an event, it's an invitation to participate in the Lavish lifestyle. We hope people leave feeling like they've stepped into a slower, more considered rhythm, one that stays with them well beyond the double doors,' Altobaishi concludes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates toward a circular economy under Vision 2030, experts say universities, research institutions, and business leaders are playing a crucial role in developing innovative waste management solutions that align with national sustainability goals. In early 2024, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a waste management plan aiming to recycle up to 95 percent of waste and add SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) to the Kingdom's gross domestic product. Saudi Arabia generates more than 110 million tons of waste each year, much of it originating from cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Its waste management market is projected to grow from $5.97 billion in 2025 to $8.72 billion by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence. To meet this challenge, academic partnerships, regulatory reforms and emerging technologies are coming together to reshape the sector, Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, told Arab News. Forming knowledge-sharing agreements with leading countries in waste management, he said, is a strategic step toward building a sustainable, locally adapted system that draws on global best practices and aligns with Saudi Arabia's circular economy ambitions. To drive innovation in the sector, Al-Muaythir emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary support. Fields like civil engineering, landfill and waste management, geotechnical engineering, and soil sciences all contribute to the design and development of critical infrastructure. Mechanical engineering plays a key role in advancing collection and treatment equipment, while chemical, agricultural and biotechnology engineering disciplines help analyze waste composition and develop transformation processes. Electrical engineering, he added, is essential for operating smart systems and managing energy generated through treatment. Al-Muaythir also pointed to the Kingdom's updated regulatory landscape, particularly the introduction of the Waste Management Law and its executive regulations, as a strong foundation for encouraging innovation and investment in sustainable practices. He explained that the next phase calls for faster plan implementation, broader international research collaboration and direct incentives for advanced processing technologies — steps that would speed up the Kingdom's progress toward its environmental and development goals. While government action is essential, Al-Muaythir said innovation in waste management is not a luxury, but a necessity for building a clean environment and a functioning circular economy. He added that individual responsibility plays an equally important role. 'Adopting conscious behaviors towards waste and committing to sorting and reuse/recycling constitute the first building blocks in creating a more sustainable future,' he said. Expanding on this vision, Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association, said waste management innovation is a cornerstone of Vision 2030's broader goal to build a circular and sustainable economy. He told Arab News that scientific research is a key driver in tackling environmental challenges — from recycling and waste-to-energy technologies to the use of artificial intelligence to improve sorting and collection processes — ultimately boosting operational efficiency and reducing environmental harm. To support this ecosystem, the association provides business incubators and innovation accelerators, offering technical and financial assistance. It also facilitates connections between researchers, donors and investors to help turn ideas into market-ready solutions. Alakel noted that several joint initiatives with academic and industrial partners are already underway, including efforts to convert organic waste into economic products such as fertilizers and biofuels. DID YOU KNOW? • Saudi Arabia aims to recycle up to 95 percent of its waste by 2040. Waste management sector is projected to contribute $32bn to GDP by 2040. • Half of the Kingdom's waste comes from Riyadh (21 percent), Jeddah (14 percent) and Dammam (8 percent). (Sources: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Waste Management) Other projects aim to develop scalable recycling technologies and improve overall waste management efficiency. Beyond research, the association works to foster a culture of sustainability across society. Alakel said it organizes public awareness campaigns, educational workshops in schools and universities, and national competitions that encourage creative, environmentally responsible solutions. He added that the association plays a critical role in bridging academia and implementation by hosting scientific conferences, building strategic partnerships and supporting national innovation deployment in alignment with Vision 2030's environmental goals. Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions, echoed those views, underscoring the opportunity to enhance coordination between stakeholders as Saudi Arabia moves toward a circular economy. She told Arab News that aligning regulations, expanding infrastructure for sorting and collection, and stimulating private investment remain key challenges. Raising public awareness and promoting innovation are also essential to achieving sector-wide transformation. To accelerate progress, Al-Gharib called for a more integrated and flexible system that encourages public-private partnerships. Activating source-level sorting and offering financial incentives to investors, she said, would help drive growth in the sector. Clear metrics, such as waste reduction, cost savings and job creation, should be used to measure success. Looking ahead, she expects more companies to invest in smart technologies and expand their collection and treatment networks. Seamless integration across the entire waste value chain — from source to processing and redistribution — is essential, she said, to avoid bottlenecks and uphold the core principles of the circular economy. 'Based on our experience in the sector, we believe that unifying and updating regulations under a single, clear, and transparent regulatory framework would directly contribute to attracting investors, reducing the complexity of procedures and the classification of recyclable products, thereby accelerating regulatory processes and stimulating production,' said Al-Gharib. She concluded that clear legislation and coordinated responsibilities across authorities are key to scaling up circular economy initiatives effectively and sustainably.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Ensuring water security through robust regulation
Saudi Arabia is rapidly advancing its water infrastructure in alignment with Vision 2030, taking bold steps to ensure the long-term sustainability, resilience, and efficiency of its water distribution networks. With water scarcity looming as a global crisis, the Kingdom is making water security a national priority — modernizing networks, investing in smart infrastructure, and tightening regulatory frameworks to set a new standard for sustainable water management. In recent years, these regulations have become more stringent, reinforcing the need for standardized, high-quality solutions that reduce inefficiencies and enhance system resilience. Yet, despite the progress, challenges persist. Aging infrastructure, high rates of non-revenue water, and inconsistent implementation of standards continue to undermine these efforts. Bridging the gap between regulation and real-world execution requires more than meeting minimum requirements. Industry players must take a proactive stance — going beyond compliance to integrate best practices and durable components that protect the integrity of Saudi Arabia's water networks for decades to come. Unified standards ensure that water network components — such as valves, hydrants, and pipeline fittings — are designed to withstand the Kingdom's demanding conditions, from high temperatures to corrosive soil environments. Adherence to internationally recognized standards, like International Organization for Standardization and American Water Works Association, guarantees that these components are built for performance, even under pressure. Material compliance is especially critical. Poor material choices can lead to corrosion, leaks, and premature failure — issues that significantly increase long-term maintenance costs. According to the World Economic Forum's 2023 Global Risks Report, failure of critical infrastructure — including water systems — is one of the top risks facing governments in the coming decade due to inadequate investment and poor resilience strategies. By strengthening material specifications and standardizing design requirements across the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia can reinforce the backbone of its water infrastructure and reduce lifecycle costs over time. Globally, utilities lose an average of 25-30 percent of their water as non-revenue water — lost through leakage, theft, or metering inaccuracies. In some developing regions, that figure can exceed 40 percent. Non-compliant or substandard components are a major contributor to non-revenue water. When pipes, valves, and fittings are not installed or maintained properly — or are made from inferior materials — leakages occur more frequently, reducing pressure and disrupting supply. Enforcing compliance with best practices, particularly pressure management and valve quality can significantly reduce these losses. According to a 2022 study by the International Water Association, utilities that adopted pressure regulation and high-quality components saw non-revenue water reductions of up to 15 percent within the first year of implementation. Additionally, digital monitoring systems paired with compliant infrastructure can detect leaks in real time, allowing operators to respond proactively rather than reactively conserving water, energy, and money. Regulation isn't a burden — it's a catalyst. It presents an opportunity to raise the bar for what's possible in water sustainability. Mads Helge Saudi Arabia is undertaking large-scale water infrastructure projects as part of its Vision 2030 agenda, including smart water grids, desalination plant expansions, and wastewater reuse networks. The Saline Water Conversion Corporation, for instance, has become the largest producer of desalinated water globally, with plans to increase daily capacity to 8.5 million cubic meters by 2030. As these investments scale, ensuring all components align with international and local standards will be crucial. Certified, regulation-compliant components not only reduce the risk of future disruptions but also deliver long-term operational savings. For example, ductile iron valves designed to ISO 2531 standards — such as those manufactured by AVK — can have a lifespan of over 50 years when correctly installed and maintained. However, quality doesn't end at certification. It's critical to consider the total cost of ownership, including durability, maintenance needs, and warranty coverage. Short-term savings often result in higher long-term costs if components degrade quickly or require frequent replacement. Not all suppliers offer extended warranties, and municipalities should prioritise those that provide long-term guarantees such as 10-year warranties as a marker of component reliability and supplier accountability. These standards help future-proof infrastructure, ensuring it can adapt to changing demand, pressure conditions, and sustainability requirements over the coming decades. Even the highest-quality components can underperform if installed incorrectly. Across the region, unskilled contracting, inconsistent commissioning, and lack of oversight continue to impact water network reliability. A 2023 McKinsey report on global water infrastructure identified poor installation and weak inspection protocols as key causes of early-stage failures and maintenance backlogs. To address this, regulatory bodies in the Kingdom should enforce mandatory training and certification programs for contractors. In countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, technician accreditation is mandatory for working on municipal water systems — ensuring consistent installation quality and safety standards. Third-party audits should also be a regulatory requirement. Independent inspections ensure accountability, catch flaws early, and verify that installation matches design intent. With improved oversight and qualified personnel on the ground, Saudi Arabia can maximize its return on infrastructure investments and extend the lifespan of critical assets. Water security is not just about increasing supply — it's about protecting what's already in circulation. Saudi Arabia's regulatory frameworks have laid the foundation for resilient, future-ready infrastructure. But their true impact depends on execution. By prioritizing best practices, embracing international standards, and enforcing robust compliance across every link in the value chain — from manufacturing to installation — the Kingdom can drastically reduce inefficiencies, cut down on water loss, and build networks that serve its growing population for decades to come. Regulation isn't a burden — it's a catalyst. It presents an opportunity to raise the bar for what's possible in water sustainability. At its core, this is not just about cost-efficiency or ticking boxes. It's about protecting the very foundation of life — for the Kingdom today and for generations to come. • Mads Helge is general manager at AVK Saudi Valves Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Falcon breeders auction to be launched in August
RIYADH: The Saudi Falcons Club has announced its schedule for the current year, featuring six major events spanning a total of 122 days in Malham, north of Riyadh, and other venues across the Kingdom. The event is designed to engage a broad audience interested in falconry, hunting and related cultural traditions. The season will start with the International Falcon Breeders Auction, running from Aug. 5-25, showcasing top local and international falcon farms. The Saudi Falcons Club Auction will run from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, serving as a key platform for presenting top local falcons and providing a reliable economic avenue for falconers. The International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, the largest of its kind in the region, will take place from Oct. 2-11. It will feature exhibitors from both within and outside the Kingdom, showcasing the latest equipment and supplies for falconry, hunting, travel, weapons and outdoor adventures.
