Dubai fashion market niche

Seems like Dubai has it all: haute couture, luxury ready-to-wear, high street and mass market all year long. New styles, new collections hit the stores daily, except SWIMWEAR.
So collections come basically from Europe in April and from Australia in November. If you didn't have time to buy new swimwear in those 2 months, you will end up with leftovers. Unexceptable!
Considering that we got 365 days of sunny weather, beautiful beach resorts, public beaches, 2 collections a year are definetely not enough. You will argue with me that the summer is too hot, I say there are many indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a lot of people has private parties in their villas with own pools or own yachts!
As well Australian market is based on what surfers would wear, it's their lifestyle.
Those who come to Jumeirah Beach Residence beach will see big opportunity for this market: tourists and residents. Mainly tourists visit Dubai for sun and sand bring with them couple of bikinis or hoping to find new here. Five star resort guests will have even more in numbers, obviously they cannot wear the same swimwear entire vacation.
Residents have minimum 2 swimwear (whose who like to go on the beach) and I know some who has more than 6.
Another problem occurs: many of us has the same swimwear, expecially from Debenhams and Topshop- the stores are everywhere worldwide (another problem of globalization)
My point is... where is swimwear from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and etc.- the producers of great swimwear range: girly, colorful. They have got summer all year (same as us) and their are trendsetters in that category.

Here is the message for those who would like to start new business...
I would like to see a department store where I can visit any time and always find new collections from different designers, brands and pricetags.

Russian designers to watch for

Two major fashion weeks in Russia presented Spring/Summer 2012 collections of many talented designers and here the review on what's new and hot.

I will start with Bessarion, the ispiration behind of his collection was drawn from Russian Ballet and an aesthetics of Russian national folklore, combining leather and chiffon, cotton and jersey in very refined way.

Dasha Gauser is definetely a designer to watch for. She showcased a collection with Kasimir Malevich's paintings in mind, specifically Black Square and suprematism as an art movement with bold colors, geometry and structure forms.

 And brilliant accessory ideas...

Lab 13 presented collection with common theme "Countries, cities and streets of the world" and all 13 designers chose their point of view. A HakaMa woman is a bit messy, but always edgy. Borodulin's muses are "Tsar's Daughters" of last royal family Romanov. Yulia Nikolaeva's minimalist collection reflects the mood of urban Moscow.

Tatiana Parfionova collection named "Lady-in-waiting's Garden" brings us luxury of those who were close to royals but without pomposity of past centuries. 

Alexander Arutyunov created a collection based on Soviet Constructivism architecture of Transcaucasia with it's rigor, geometrism, concise forms and monolithic  appearance. His muse is strong and noble woman of it's region. 

Nikolay Krasnikov is master of prints and texture, delivers a blossoming collection.

Viva Vox dips us in the sea of flowers: lilacs, dandelions, violets and cornflowers. And offers must-have-item of the season - detachable collars.

Chistovaendourova presented minimalist collection in polished white. The Muscovites By Masha Kravtsova created prints reminiscent of semi-precious stones of Ural mountains. Veronica Nico turns us back to feminine forms.

New star appeared on the Russian fashion arena is Dima Neu - the winner of 1st Project Runway Russia. Here are his creations through challenges during the show:

He is clearly inspired by The Ballet Russes by Diaghilev, Russian History and what keeps him edgy and modern is an obsession with anatomy. I sense here the influence of designers like Mugler and Jean Paul Gaultier.

And finale:

I especially adore the idea of cutting fur (last look) in shapes of torso muscles. That's so masculine and definetely innovative. Thank you, Dima Neu, for being risky throughout the projects and that definetely showed the clear winner!

Dima Neu will showcase his new collection during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia Spring 2012, I can't wait to see what he will come up with new season.

All the stars in your eyes: star print trend

Star print was rediscovered in around 2008 and this year reached it's apogee, or Dolce & Gabbana Fall collection made it massive. I would call this trend "polka dot on the edgier side". Although they are so many substitute prints, which look the same from far away: hearts, birds, diamonds and etc. And styling wise we can follow the same tips as polka dots.

Recently spotted in Splash great T-shirt with star cut-outs, sorry no pic available.

And these gorgeous gloves from Topshop will arrive to the shop soon!!!

Happy starring or staring