Dubai: Indian fashion sensation Manish Malhotra is set to open his first Middle East store in Dubai.
The man who once designed clothes for pop star Michael Jackson has teamed up with the Dubai-based Saif Belhasa Group of Companies in a Dh2 million project.
Due to open in late June, the Jumeirah Beach Road store, near the Mercato mall, will feature a new range of western and Arabic designs, as well as his trademark Indian styles.
Malhotra is considered India's leading fashion designer, creating the clothes used by the country's top Bollywood film stars.
He claimed setting up his first store outside India and designing for consumers less familiar with his products is not a business gamble vowing the Dubai store will the first of many across the Middle East.
"I think business will be good here because its a population made up of various nationalities who are open to new ideas and designers," he said. "And the best way to assess a new audience is not through fashion shows but to open a store."
Malhotra said 60 per cent of his clothes will be Mumbai-made traditional wear, the remainder consisting of new designs catering to Arab and Western markets. The project is also new territory for the Saif Belhasa Group, known in the UAE for its driving centre.
Explaining the decision to acquire exclusive franchise rights, Sarah Rashid, vice chairman of Saif Belhasa Group, said there was a gap in the market for Malhotra's distinct style.
"It came into my mind that we needed a designer who would come to this part of the world and not only cater to the Indians, but also to the Arabic market," she said. " I think Manish is the right person."
Company chairman and managing director Saif Ahmad Belhasa said the Dubai move was part of a "bigger plan" which will see Manish Malhotra stores open in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
"In business there is always an element of risk and I am used to that," he said. "But in this case I know we will cover our investment."
