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FACT
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- FACT
6 must-visit concept stores redefining retail in Riyadh
Where to find local brands and handmade items If you thought shopping in Riyadh was all malls and souqs, think again. Concept stores in Riyadh are so popular – they offer a cool shopping experience and are home to a carefully curated selection of products. So, whether you want handmade jewellery, a unique artwork or clothing by a local Saudi designer, there's a concept store to meet your needs. Here are the best concept stores in Riyadh. GalleryBlu If a designer shoe is like a work of art to you, then you'll be right at home at GalleryBlu. The concept store combines art with fashion, as the oh-so-pretty items are displayed like they are in an exhibition. Shop for products including Hermès Birkin bags, a Crosley Cruiser pink portable turntable, and Leblon Delienne's sculptures that celebrate popular icons – a silver Mickey Mouse, anyone? Look out for limited edition items, too, like a Louis Vuitton Virgil Abloh bag. GO: Follow @ on Instagram for more information. Number Nine Concept Store When a store labels itself as a collection of beautiful things, that's a description that we can certainly get behind. Number Nine Concept Store in Riyadh is named after the founder's favourite number and is fiercely local. The shop is brimming with Saudi brands across fashion and beauty – you can even find Diggin ' It, the locally created beard oil, here. The clothing collection includes oversized T-shirts from XO, bright hoodies from EJ and statement jumpers from Studio 23. Plus, there are modern abayas, caps, glasses and plenty of gift ideas. GO: Follow @conceptno.9 on Instagram for more information. Pattern Concept Store If a Pinterest board were to come to life, it would probably look something like Pattern Concept Store. It's all industrial chic, from its exposed piping to pastel interiors, and it has plenty of #homedecor ideas. The concept store in Riyadh prides itself on bringing together a niche collection of art, fashion and lifestyle products. Browse through cool items from the Saudi clothing company The Rasha, Italian sunglasses from Illesteva, and perfume from Sentimental. The shop also hosts art and craft workshops and, like all good establishments in Riyadh, it has a coffee shop on site. GO: Follow @pattern_saudi on Instagram for more information. Personage Personage is spread over three floors, and covers everything from street style to on-trend jewellery. The brands include necklaces from Trendy Jewellery, linens from Angel Dust's and streetwear from Designated. Her Highness Princess Deemah Bint Mansour Bin Saud Alsaud is behind this concept store in Riyadh, which regularly hosts special pop-ups and installations that combine art, activism, and fashion. Personage is on-trend where it matters, as it recently held the GFX Swap Shop. So, it was out with the old and in with the used, as it hosted workshops on how to reuse and repurpose items. When you need a break from all that shopping, visit Ooze Café on the second floor. GO: Follow @personagesa on Instagram for more information. Sum+Things When you walk into Sum+Things, be prepared to splurge – the items here are so gorgeous that you may leave with some extra baggage. If you're looking for some home improvements, then visit this concept store in Riyadh. The emphasis is on cool, contemporary household items such as vases, ornaments and furniture. Look out for special events, too, as Sum+Things has held a personal shopping experience and an Oscar De La Renta pop-up. And, if you just want to switch up your meet-up spot, check out the indoor café – it serves fruit juices, matcha lattes and food. GO: Follow @sumplusthings on Instagram for more information. Wabi Sabi Closet Come for the vegan food, and stay for the concept store. Wabi Sabi is a popular vegan restaurant in Riyadh, but tucked away upstairs is a quiet concept store selling items that fit the healthy theme. So, take your pick from oils, healing stones, organic hair and beauty items, candles and more. Plus, there are cool items including modern artwork, funky furniture and fashionable abayas. GO: Follow @wabisabiksa on Instagram for more information.
Vogue
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
See the Runway Debuts of 51 Looks on View at the Costume Institute's ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' Exhibition
Looks, from left, by Botter, Ib Kamara for Off-White, Bianca Saunders, Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton, and Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton Now that the 2025 Met Gala's paparazzi frenzy has concluded, the next big moment at The Met is the opening to the public of 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' on Saturday, May 10. Paintings, printed matter, moving images, decorative arts, and fashion, parsed into 12 sections, tell the story of centuries of Black style. And many garments and accessories on display—most of which are contemporary—walked down runways before taking up residence at the Fifth Avenue museum. Here are the catwalk debuts of 51 looks in the exhibition. Ownership Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, fall 2024 menswear Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, fall 2024 menswear Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Presence Bag, Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton, fall 2022 menswear Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton Distinction
Khaleej Times
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
New Balance x Miu Miu, Dior x Air Jordan: How luxury sneakers became the ultimate status symbol
For decades, luxury fashion was synonymous with fine tailoring, high-end leather goods, and couture craftsmanship. Sneakers, in contrast, belonged to athletes, hip-hop artistes, and streetwear enthusiasts. But today, these two worlds have merged, and luxury sneakers have become the ultimate status symbol. From New Balance x Miu Miu to Louis Vuitton x Off-White, ON Running x Loewe, Dior x Air Jordan, and the ultra-premium New Balance x Loro Piana, high fashion is embracing sneaker culture like never before. These collabs aren't just about footwear; they represent a fundamental shift in how luxury is defined and consumed. What's Driving the Transformation of the Sneaker Universe? The shift in the market isn't just about footwear — it reflects broader cultural and economic forces reshaping luxury. Casual luxury is now the norm, with consumers prioritising comfort and versatility over rigid formality. Gen-Z and millennials are driving this change, blending street culture, music and fashion into their everyday lives. Sneakers have also entered the resale market, with limited-edition pairs fetching prices that rival luxury handbags and watches. A sneaker today isn't just a fashion statement — it's an investment. Take the New Balance x Miu Miu collaboration, for example. Miu Miu's reimagining of the New Balance 530 is a perfect example of stealth wealth meets nostalgia. With distressed finishes, premium suede, and a muted colour palette, double colour laces, this collab speaks to consumers who appreciate luxury without excessive branding. This sneaker fits squarely into the 'old money' aesthetic, where exclusivity comes not from loud logos but from understated craftsmanship. It's luxury designed for those who know — without the need to show. On the other hand, the Louis Vuitton x Off-White Air Force 1, designed by Virgil Abloh, was a cultural phenomenon. Virgil Abloh's vision blurred the lines between high fashion and streetwear, proving that sneakers could be as artistic and valuable as traditional luxury goods. These sneakers, some selling for over $100,000, became collectible assets — part fashion, part financial investment. Abloh's legacy continues to influence how luxury brands embrace sneaker culture, ensuring streetwear's place in high fashion for years to come. Performance has also become a key element of luxury. ON Running's collaboration with Loewe marries Swiss engineering with Spanish design, creating sneakers that are as functional as they are stylish. Roger Federer's involvement with ON Running adds an extra layer of prestige — his influence extends beyond celebrity endorsement, reinforcing the idea that true luxury is not just about appearance but also about performance and innovation. Then there's the Dior x Air Jordan 1 OG, designed by Kim Jones, which redefined sneaker pricing and desirability. Limited to just 8,500 pairs and retailing at $2,000 (resale values soared past $10,000), this sneaker proved that high-end consumers are willing to invest in sneakers the same way they would in handbags or watches. It marked a turning point where sneaker culture officially entered the luxury market. At the other end of the spectrum lies the New Balance x Loro Piana 990v2 — a study in quiet, ultra-premium luxury. Crafted from Loro Piana's world-class cashmere and merino wool, these sneakers appeal to high-net-worth individuals who value exclusivity without excess. This collaboration reflects the future of luxury, where craftsmanship and subtlety outweigh logos and hype. Sneakers Are The New Standard of Luxury The rise of luxury sneakers is more than a fashion trend — it's a cultural shift redefining modern luxury. Today's consumers value cultural capital over brand recognition. A sneaker co-signed by an artist, athlete, or designer carries more prestige than a traditional logo. The growing popularity of genderless fashion is also evident in sneaker collaborations, which are increasingly designed as unisex pieces. Sneakers have even become investment assets, with resale values creating a new market for collectors. Sustainability is the next frontier, with luxury brands exploring eco-friendly materials and small-batch production to align with modern values. Luxury is no longer about exclusivity in the traditional sense; it's about cultural relevance, versatility, and craftsmanship. Whether through Virgil Abloh's disruptive vision, Loro Piana's quiet sophistication, or ON Running's fusion of tech and fashion, sneakers have cemented their place in high fashion. For today's luxury consumer, a $2,000 sneaker isn't just a purchase — it's a statement of exclusivity while being rooted to cultural relevance and that is truly the future of modern luxury.
South China Morning Post
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Dior CEO and LVMH Prize founder Delphine Arnault on the coveted international award for young fashion designers, which has attracted the likes of Virgil Abloh and Demna
In little more than a decade, the LVMH Prize for young designers has become one of the most prestigious and coveted awards in the fashion industry. Former winners and participants include success stories such as the founders of brands Jacquemus, Marine Serre, Setchu and Chopova Lowena. Hugely influential designers such as the late Virgil Abloh , who had his own label, Off-White and who steered men's fashion at Louis Vuitton, as well as Balenciaga's creative director, Demna, also entered the competition early in their careers. The LVMH Prize, brainchild of Delphine Arnault, CEO of Dior – one of the labels that are part of LVMH, the world's largest luxury-goods group – welcomed its 2025 semi-finalists at a presentation during Paris Fashion Week. There, designers as diverse as Hong Kong-born, Paris-based Alain Paul of Alainpaul; Josh Tafoya, a weaver from New Mexico; and London-based Torishéju Dumi of Torishéju vied for the attention of buyers, editors and industry insiders. Advertisement Delphine Arnault, CEO of Dior, with the LVMH Prize 2025 semi-finalists in Paris. Photo: Handout The winner, who will be announced in June, will receive a €400,000 endowment and a one-year custom mentorship from a dedicated LVMH team, while the runner-up will secure a €200,000 endowment and a year's mentorship. Before the event, attended by Jaden Smith and Lily James, we sat down with Arnault for a chat. How has the LVMH Prize evolved in the last decade? What you see here is creativity at a given moment. It really reflects what's happening right now, so … when we started 11 years ago, you would have seen more women's ready-to-wear or men's ready-to-wear; and then, later, sportswear and genderless fashion; and then the issue of sustainability was extremely important and is still crucial to brands today – many use deadstock, want know where their fabrics come from, about production. All these questions have become even more relevant today and it really reflects the status of fashion at a given point. The range of participants has also become more global.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Virgil Abloh's Extremely Rare Air Jordan 4 Sample Sold for $60,000
Sneakerheads are buzzing for the reported return of the Off-White x Air Jordan 1 later this year, and an even rarer design from Virgil Abloh has surfaced from one of the scene's most renowned resellers. An Off-White x Air Jordan 4 sample sold for $60,000 through the Instagram account @depeche23mode, which is known for hawking extremely rare pairs of sneakers. The collaboration has never gone into production and first emerged at Abloh's 2019 'Figures of Speech' exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Fat Joe is one of the few people who has a pair, which he showed off to celebrate his album release in December. More from Footwear News A Ton of Highly Anticipated Air Jordans Were Released Early at NBA All-Star Weekend It's Official: Nike SB's 'Varsity Red' Air Jordan 4 Won't Be Released to the Public Borrowing some cues from Abloh's Air Jordan 5, the Off-White x Air Jordan 4 features the signature text hit beneath the medial mesh window and adds rip stop nylon to the toe tip. Translucent plastic is used for the eyelet wings and mustache, and the 'Air' mark (quotes included) appears right above the heel's Air unit. Simon Tan, the man behind the @depeche23mode account, listed the size 9 sneakers for $60,000 on Instagram Thursday, and a day later they were already sold. For those who missed out by either being beaten to the punch or not having $60,000 to burn on sneakers, there's consolation to be found in that the post has brought to the internet the best images of the unreleased sneaker yet. Best of Footwear News NBA All-Star Weekend's Most Iconic Sneakers of All Time Super Bowl Halftime Show Shoes Through the Years: From Michael Jackson's Loafers to Rihanna's MM6 Maison Margiela x Salomon Sneakers Roger Vivier's Belle Vivier Pumps Through the Years: From Jackie Kennedy to Melania Trump [PHOTOS]
