Archival Revival: Why Vintage Fashion is the New Luxury Status Symbol in the Middle East
Out with the new in with the old may be the unexpected style dictum for the initiated few. In a region known for novelty, exclusivity and mega-wattage brand power, vintage – once dismissed as musty thrift store castoffs – was a hard sell. Fast forward to today and it's a coveted status symbol, flaunted by celebrities, stylists and discerning enthusiasts eager to cement their place in fashion's inner circle.
As a self-confessed vintage addict, I can attest to the dopamine rush of securing an elusive piece from the annals of fashion history, the undeniable thrill of what veterans call the 'hunt high.' Scoring an obscure army-green Azzedine Alaïa wrap skirt, an architectural masterpiece circa 1988, was nothing short of triumphant, a defining moment marking my insatiable appetite for archival finds.
This craving is not mine alone. Maya Azzi, chief brand officer of The Luxury Closet, the region's leading online luxury resale marketplace, reports a nearly 25 per cent rise in vintage sales last year, with the UAE leading, followed by the US and Saudi Arabia. 'Bags have always performed well, but the biggest uptake has been in vintage clothing, which grew 15 per cent in 2024.' Sara Teymoor, CEO of Saudi-based resale platform Amused, echoes the trend, citing 50 per cent annual growth and high retention rates.
We're all nostalgic, it seems. The young romanticising an era they never knew, the old stubbornly insisting it was better. This collective longing fuels reboots, revivals and a frenzy for 'old' Prada – black nylon bags once slung by off-duty supermodels, now toted by tweens in Dubai's malls to Cairo's bustling streets.
Gucci's sleek hip-hugging Tom Ford years, the pop-art flair of Yayoi Kusama x Louis Vuitton collaborations, and other heritage icons are reclaiming the spotlight. 'The older the better!' pipes in Lina Sabry, founder of Dubai-based pre-owned luxury site Reeborn Vintage. 'People associate stories with the past as a way to connect to a bygone period they admire,' she says.
Photo: Christian Lacroix Heels, Nouvelle Vague
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