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Middle Eastern retail operator Chalhoub is launching Sol3mates, its first Web3 sneaker brand. Countering recent negativity around sneakers and Web3, Chalhoub Group is betting on an innovative, consumer-centric approach to attract communities.
Photo: Courtesy of Chalhoub Group
Chalhoub Group, the largest retail operator in the Middle East representing the likes of LVMH and Christian Louboutin, is launching Sol3mates, a Web3-native sneaker brand.

The date of its first drop of sneakers, which will come as physical and digital wearables, and have NFC chip-enabled authentication, will be announced on 12 April at Sol3mates.xyz. The focus of the brand is threefold: boosting sustainability (and exclusivity) by never producing more than it sells; empowering designers to be “creative directors” of their own brands within Sol3mates (and paying them accordingly with royalties); and empowering community via co-creation.
Consumers will be encouraged to vote on decisions such as colorways or who the next Sol3mates designer should be. This co-creation element appealed to Sol3mates’s first designer, Kacimi Latamène, from France. It redefines the relationship between brand, designer and consumer, says Olivier Moingeon, CCO and co-founder of Web3 platform Exclusible, which is hosting the drop. “It’s one step closer to ultra-personalization,” he says.
This is not Chalhoub Group’s first venture into Web3. In May 2022, the company dropped a series of 500 NFTs, “925 Genesis Mood”, also in partnership with Exclusible. After this drop, Nick Vinckier, head of Chalhoub Group’s corporate innovation, began ideating Sol3mates. “After selling out in five minutes, I thought, this is crazy. We all underestimated the power, the size, the impact of Web3,” he says. “I thought, we need to do something with more impact at a bigger [scale].”
Through Sol3mates, Chalhoub Group is working to iron out identified pain points. One is overproduction — big industry players have a profit to make and shareholders to keep happy, Vinckier says. He also notes limits on sneaker designers executing their vision: “We’ll see big brands create an innovative silhouette every now and then, a crazy colourway with an artist, but pushing the boundaries of what is possible is not really happening [beyond] smaller niche brands because the crazier the silhouette, the lower the margin.”
The group faced challenges in its search for a manufacturer to produce the physical sneakers, with multiple factories saying likely quantities were too low. The solution has been to partner with a local factory in the UAE.
The mechanics
The first drop of what have been labelled “OG NFTs” is designed to “get the community together”, Vinckier says. Ownership will act as a ticket to the Sol3mates community. Crypto and fiat currency will be available, and the price point (not yet confirmed) will be pitched relatively low to broaden access. Membership perks will include merchandise, physical and virtual event access, and whitelists for future drops. There are four rarity levels — the rarer the NFT, the more utility attached.
Future bonuses are likely to include recurring raffles where community members win access to selected hype sneakers as well as weekly offerings for community members to purchase sneakers at retail prices, rather than the more inflated prices typical of the resale market.
OG holders will receive priority access to the first sneaker drop in April via a one-week window. The drop will then be shared for one hour with partner retailers (to be announced 12 April) before opening to the wider public. A two- to three-month lead time is envisaged between the closing of the pre-order window and the shipment of the physical shoe in the fourth quarter of 2023. OG holders receive their shoes a month before the public and also receive a complimentary digital wearable when they pre-order that can be worn in 3D virtual world Decentraland.
Sneakerheads and Web3 denizens: a perfect match?
Web3 is big on sneakers. Balmain’s first phygital collection is sneakers, created in partnership with digital fashion company Space Runners. This was a carefully targeted decision, aiming to link sneaker enthusiasts with NFT collectors, Balmain CMO Txampi Diz told Vogue Business. Rtfkt has also dropped phygital sneakers, including its Cryptokicks IRL.
The Sol3mates launch takes place at a time when formal eveningwear and casual luxury are leading the fashion conversation, with question marks over whether fashion’s sneaker bubble has burst. But many in the Web3 space remain committed to the sneaker. Vinckier sees a “natural overlap” between the two communities. “There’s a big affinity between sneakers and Web3,” he says. “Much more than if we were to go into Web3 heels or handbags.”
Sneaker enthusiasts say fluctuations in the hype cycle should be ignored. “I think that there’s a tendency in this generation to think that just because something isn’t hyped anymore means bad,” Danish sneaker collector Rebecca Hyldahl recently told Vogue Business. “Hardcore sneakerheads have always been there, and they’ll continue to be there.” In Web3, which has seen a similar cooling, entrepreneurs see value in this period of downtime and remain committed to blockchain’s potential.

It’s one step closer to ultra-personalization.”

To tap the existing dedicated community, Sol3mates is hosting a pop-up on Exclusible’s Discord ahead of the drop. It’s also a practical decision. “We are not a native Web3 fashion group. We want to make sure we leverage the expertise and experience of people like Exclusible,” Vinckier says.
“What we want to do is set something in motion,” he explains. “I believe we can be the snowball to push the boundaries, be more sustainable, more creative and pull the community closer into what we do.”
For Exclusible’s Moingeon, this is a moment he’s been waiting for. Sol3mates is the first Web3-native brand to come out of a luxury group, he says. “And it won’t be the last.”
Originally published in Voguebusiness.com
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Photo: Acielle / Style Du Monde
After a decade steering Moschino, it’s been announced that Jeremy Scott will be exiting the role of creative director at the Aeffe-owned Italian brand. “These past 10 years at Moschino have been a wonderful celebration of creativity and imagination. I am so proud of the legacy I am leaving behind,” Scott said in a statement. “I would like to thank Massimo Ferretti for the honour of leading this iconic house. I would also like to thank all my fans around the world who celebrated me, my collections, and my vision, for without you none of this would be possible.”
Scott presented his first collection for the cheeky Franco Moschino-founded label during the autumn/winter 2014 season. “Scott’s embrace of consumer culture in the name of Moschino was bright, brash, and ingenious,” wrote Tim Blanks in Vogue Runway’s review of the collection, which mixed McDonald’s logos, cow prints, and even Spongebob Squarepants. Scott’s penchant for mixing high and low aesthetics resonated with many of the decade’s most iconic pop stars. Everyone from Lady Gaga to Cardi B to Lizzo found a kindred spirit in his irreverent take on culture and fashion. Who else but Scott could dress Katy Perry as a literal chandelier (and a hamburger for the after-party) to attend the “Notes on Camp”-themed Met Gala in 2019?
Backstage at Jeremy Scott’s first show for Moschino
In 10 years, Scott’s Moschino runways riffed on the subject of Barbie (a full decade before Barbie-core took over), paper dolls (a playful dig at the superficiality of the fashion business), cardboard (in an apparent critique of overconsumption), and money. The autumn/winter 2019 Price Is Right show will go down in runway history as one the funniest shows ever. He once even staged a show on a New York City subway at the MTA Transit Museum – complete with “Showtime” dancers.
His ability to remix the zeitgeist through Franco Moschino’s vision made the brand a viral success many times over – though not without the occasional misstep. A capsule collection released for spring/summer 2017 called “Just Say MoschiNO” was pill-themed, and many took offense to bags shaped like prescription pill bottles, given the opioid crisis sweeping the nation.
Moschino, fall 2019
During most of his tenure at Moschino, Scott was also producing his eponymous label, which suddenly stopped appearing on the fashion show schedule in 2019. Vogue Business’s Christina Binkley brought up its absence from the New York calendar in a recent interview with the designer. Scott hinted that his Moschino schedule kept him too busy. “I want to be sure I have a nice life – I mean, quality time with people,” he told Binkley. The brand’s hiatus may not be an indefinite one. “I own the company, so I can decide,” Scott said.
In a press release, Massimo Ferretti, Chairman of Aeffe S.p.A, which owns both Moschino and Jeremy Scott’s label, said: “I am fortunate to have had the opportunity of working with the creative force that is Jeremy Scott. I would like to thank him for his 10 years of commitment to Franco Moschino’s legacy and for ushering in a distinct and joyful vision that will forever be a part of Moschino history.”
Originally published in Vogue.com

Photo: Getty
After famed celebrity stylist Law Roach announced his retirement on Instagram, due to “the politics, the lies, and false narratives,” a recent video of a seating arrangement mix-up at a fashion show had some people pointing the finger at one of Roach’s most visible clients, Zendaya. But Roach himself was quick to defend his friend against the unflattering speculation.
The video shows Zendaya (looking amazing in a leopard-print shorts suit, probably styled by Roach) taking her front-row seat next to Emma Stone at a Louis Vuitton show. Roach follows behind and seems surprised and perhaps a little irritated to find that this was the last seat in the front, meaning he’d have to take a spot behind her.

TikTok answered the Law Roach Tea: pic.twitter.com/pvlmmt8NrS
— 🫧✨?🏄🏾‍♀️🫶🏾🇯🇲 (@Writing_To_Live) March 15, 2023
Some fans on Twitter, TikTok, and elsewhere speculated that this moment sparked a falling out between Zendaya and Roach, which precipitated his decision to leave the styling biz.
Not so! Almost as soon as the theories began popping up, Roach took to Twitter to swat them down. “So y’all really think I’m breaking up with Z….. we are forever!” he tweeted. He added in another tweet, “She’s my little sister and it’s real love not the fake industry love,” which seems to clarify that she was not the perpetrator of the “politics” and “lies” he referenced in his retirement post.

Literally me and zendaya…. pic.twitter.com/Ve2dnyzpsW
— LAW ROACH (@LUXURYLAW) March 15, 2023
In a recent Vogue interview conducted just hours before his debut runway walk in the Boss show, the iconic image architect explained his retirement in a little more depth: “I’m not saying I’m retiring from fashion. I love fashion. I love the businesses, and I love being creative. What I’m retiring from is the celebrity styling part of it, the being in service and at service of other people.”
So, one last time for the people in the back. Law Roach and Zendaya are forever. Law Roach and being Server to the Stars—that’s over.
Originally published in Glamour.com
Read Next: Celebrity Stylist Law Roach Says He’s Retiring Due to ‘Politics’ and ‘Lies’

Photo: Dominique Charriau
Law Roach is the most in-demand stylist in Hollywood right now, dressing everyone from Celine Dion to Megan Thee Stallion and responsible for so many of those headline-making ensembles worn by Zendaya. So naturally, it came as a surprise when Roach announced that he’s calling it quits on the fashion industry.
Just two days after styling a number of stars for the Oscars red carpet, Roach posted an image of the word retired to Instagram with the caption, “My Cup is empty….. thank you to everyone who’ve supported me and my career over the years. Every person that trusted me with their image, I’m so grateful for you all. If this business was just about the clothes I would do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately it’s not! The politics, the lies and false narratives finally got me! You win…I’m out.”

Fellow fashionistas flooded the comments with flat-out denials. Designer Christian Siriano wrote simply, “Absolutely not,” while Naomi Campbell added, “Law I won’t let you !!!! We don’t quit .. strived to[o] hard.” Karla Welch, one of the few stylists in Roach’s league, wrote “no,” while presenter NeNe Leakes took a more compassionate approach, commenting, “Mental health is first.”
On Twitter, fans and sleuths immediately went digging for answers behind the decision. In one resurfaced clip, Roach spoke to the poor treatment he’s received in the industry and his reaction to it. “You can’t talk to me any kind of way,” he said. “You can’t treat me any kind of way… I owe nobody shit in this industry. So I’ll walk away from all that.”
Fans of his work have also started posting their favorite red-carpet looks he created over the years. Though he’s collaborated with many stars, Law Roach’s most high-profile and long-lasting client was undoubtedly Zendaya. At the 2019 Met Gala, he famously acted as her “fairy godmother” when she wore a Cinderella-inspired gown.

Photo: Instagram.com
Carrie has never had a particularly bonne time in Paris, has she? In the final series of Sex and the City she wanders the French capital’s arrondissements alone, misses her own book party, and realizes she’s made a grave error in going Euro-hopping with busy Russian beau Aleksandr Petrovsky.
And in the final episode of And Just Like That’s first season, it’s Paris she travels to scatter Mr. Big’s ashes into the River Seine (from a Timmy Woods Eiffel Tower bag-turned-urn while wearing a tangerine Valentino gown, no less). After Aidan’s return and Carrie’s foray into flat shoes, no potential plot twist in And Just Like That season two could really surprise us, but Bradshaw’s return to her French-style tricks of old are admittedly intriguing.
Surely a beret would remind of her of Big in the same way a high blood pressure-inducing entrecôte steak would? Carrie was memorably sporting one the night she showed up at his apartment to see him off to Paris in season two and ended up flinging her McDonald’s in his face. Does she really want to revisit the style tropes associated with failed relationships and a dead husband?
Carrie’s feminine look harks back to her days in Paris. Photo: Instagram.com
But in new photos taken during filming on the upcoming series, Carrie is indeed channeling Parisian chic in the Big Apple, avec a woven beret by Gigi Burris and a nipped-in bourgeois cardigan, with a feminine floral dress, bow detail pumps and a raffia bag. Sarah Jessica Parker was filming a scene with John Corbett, who plays Aidan, and he had a suitcase in tow on set. Perhaps he’s back from a business trip sourcing furniture, or maybe he and old flame Carrie are taking a mini break to celebrate their on-again romance? Their jaunts upstate were never particularly successful… so if they are escaping Manhattan, let’s hope they’re avoiding both Suffern and Paris, beret or no beret.
Originally published on Vogue.co.uk
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Photo: Getty
Multi-hyphenate musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams will become Louis Vuitton’s next artistic director of menswear, the brand confirmed on Tuesday, following a Wall Street Journal report. His first collection for Louis Vuitton will be revealed this June during men’s fashion week in Paris.
“I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and in 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new men’s creative director. His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter,” Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO Pietro Beccari said in a statement. It marks his first big decision since he took the helm of the world’s largest luxury brand on 1 February, succeeding outgoing chairman and CEO Michael Burke.
The appointment fills one of fashion’s most high-profile vacancies, open since Virgil Abloh died in November 2021. A flurry of names have been touted for the position, including designers Martine Rose, Grace Wales Bonner, Samuel Ross and Jonathan Anderson. KidSuper founder Colm Dillane is also thought to be in the running, having participated in the creation of Louis Vuitton’s Autumn/Winter 2023 collection.
“We are going even further in the model of the artistic director focused on image as opposed to the couturier. Pharrell Williams knows how to capture coolness,” says Benjamin Simmenauer, professor at Institut Français de la Mode in Paris.
Williams is no stranger to fashion. He is co-owner of streetwear brand Human Made with Kenzo creative director Nigo; founder of the Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream streetwear brands; co-owner of G-Star Raw Denim; and a regular collaborator with Tiffany. The entrepreneur ventured into beauty with gender-neutral skincare brand Humanrace in 2020. He is also a longtime friend of Chanel, having served as a muse to the late Karl Lagerfeld and attended the recent Métiers d’art show in Dakar.
Williams didn’t attend the Chanel couture show in January. In a statement on Tuesday, Chanel congratulated Williams on his appointment as men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton. “Pharrell Williams has been an ambassador for Chanel for nine years and remains a friend of the house, having worked together on many beautiful projects. We wish him the best in his new responsibilities,” the house said.
He also attended the Off-White show in February in Paris that paid homage to Abloh and attended the Balenciaga show at the New York Stock Exchange in May 2022. Williams recently performed at Brigitte Macron’s charity event ‘Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes’ in Paris, alongside Blackpink. French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance, as well as Alexandre, Frédéric, Jean and Hélène Arnault.
Alexandre Arnault, 30, who heads up product and communications at Tiffany & Co., posted a photo of him with Williams on his Instagram with a caption: “I am so excited to witness this next chapter, and nothing makes me happier than to welcome you home to Louis Vuitton! Big bro. Oh… and yes, we have some Tiffany jewellery on the way.” His younger brother Jean Arnault, who is marketing and development director of Louis Vuitton Watches, posted, “Welcome home, Pharrell”.
Williams brings the firepower of his community. He counts 14.3 million Instagram followers (his feed has only one post announcing his nomination). By comparison, Donatella Versace has 9.8 million, Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing has 9 million, and Jacquemus has 5.3 million.
“Louis Vuitton continues to reinvent the role of a creative director by selecting a maverick,” says Jean Vigneron, consultant at executive search company Egon Zehnder. “This choice is in line with the past creative directors who bought a fresh perspective on fashion. It shows more than ever that Louis Vuitton has become a global luxury lifestyle brand.”
Simon Longland, director of fashion buying at Harrods, says: “I’m intrigued to see Pharrell’s unique sense of personal style and clean-cut maximalism come to life and push the boundaries of the house’s iconic DNA, with the resources, skills, and abilities from the incredibly talented team in the Vuitton atelier, who we have seen deliver successful collections over the past three seasons. This is a fascinating move from Louis Vuitton, who never cease to demonstrate their ability to deliver the unexpected.”
Louis Vuitton surpassed €20 billion in annual sales in 2022. Beccari runs the megabrand as it navigates the slowdown in the US and the reopening of China. It remains to see if Williams’s designs will resonate with the coveted Chinese Gen Z clientele.
Williams is also among those slated to unveil new design concepts at Moncler’s latest Genius activation during London Fashion Week on 20 February. A representative for Williams could not be reached for comment for this story.
Originally published in Voguebusiness.com

Photo: Courtesy Anita Dongre
Back in 1995, Anita Dongre set out to realize her biggest dream, launching her clothing brand from the balcony of her apartment. Today, more than a decade later, the powerhouse stands proud in the league of India’s most-loved designers, and her creations have found themselves all over the globe, from regal weddings to international red carpets. Working with thousands of independent artisans, Dongre oversees a myriad of labels including Anita Dongre Couture, Grassroot by Anita Dongre, AND and Global Desi, and her trademark aesthetic, and dedication toward social sustainability is now rooted in the rich tapestry of Indian fashion.
With a fan following that runs into millions—including celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Beyoncé and Kate Middleton—Anita Dongre is taking another major step with her brand this year. In a matter of days, the couturier will open the doors to her very first boutique in the Middle East, taking the label to a new high, and offering her vibrant creations, which blur the lines between contemporary cuts and intricate Indian craftsmanship, to a whole new market.
Photo: Courtesy Anita Dongre
For Dongre, choosing Dubai as the location for her very first space in the region was a no-brainer given the strong ties she shares with the emirate. “I’m just so excited because I’ve wanted to open in Dubai since forever,” she says with a sparkle in her eye as she opens up for the very first time about the new venture. “I have a lot of family in Dubai and have been visiting for years, and I have always, always wanted a store here. Four years ago we made plans to finally do it, we began checking out locations, and then unfortunately COVID happened. That delayed our plans by two and a half years.”
Despite the long pause, the boutique, located in Dubai Mall, is now all set for visitors, and will offer an array of covetable ready-to-wear pieces from the designer. “It’s a smaller space than some of my India spaces,” Dongre explains, “but we are hoping to bring the bridal line in soon… I’d say within this year itself.” This piece of news is bound to catch the eye of brides-to-be within the country, but that’s not where the revelations end. To celebrate her first steps into the region, Dongre is also going to be dropping a special Ramadan collection. “While the RTW line is aimed at everybody—I see Dubai as the home of the international customer—we are also doing a special line for Ramadan, dedicated to the Middle Eastern woman,” she elaborates. “We’re really excited that we’re opening at a time so close to the Eid celebrations. It’s very important for me, if I’m entering the Middle Eastern market, to understand the Middle Eastern woman and what she wants. It was very important for me to create a special line just for her. I’m really looking forward to being at the store and getting to know my customer better, and taking that line further.”
Photo: Courtesy Anita Dongre
While the creations at the store reflect a fresh, Arabia-inspired lens on the designer’s signature pieces, brand loyalists can expect to feel right at home once they walk through the stores of her boutique. Just like every other Anita Dongre store, the Dubai Mall space will celebrate the beauty of Rajasthan with a twist of the contemporary via thoughtfully chosen elements that have now become synonymous with the brand, ranging from physical decor pieces to olfactory details. “With every store, we tweak the design to reflect the soul of the label. So the theme is always contemporary Rajasthan, because Jaipur is where I am from,” she shares. “The Dubai store is on the similar lines as all my other spaces. It’s got beautiful hand painted panels by my Pichwai artist in Rajasthan, so there’s a lot of craft there. Also, there’s this signature fragrance that all my stores carry, which customers just recognize immediately!” And for the shopper who’d rather have their favorite pieces come to their doorstep, a brand new Anita Dongre website dedicated to UAE customers will soon be made available as well. “It’s going to play an important role for us, helping us service the market much better,” Dongre says. “I think the customer today first browses on the internet, and then comes to the store.”
Whether you decide to click your way through the iconic brand’s promising Ramadan must-haves, or immerse yourself in the Anita Dongre experience in person at the new boutique, one thing is for certain: you won’t be away for too long. With the Dubai Mall store opening now right around the corner, Vogue Arabia asks Dongre a few quick questions about fashion, and the region she is all set to win over this year.
Anita Dongre. Photo: Courtesy Anita Dongre
Tell us about how the Anita Dongre brand came to lifeI started my signature label with bridal wear. I wanted to create very contemporary bridal wear for India. I wanted to create clothes that are light, fun, and easy, because I wanted to reflect the change the Indian woman is going through, because she is going through a huge change. And that’s how the brand started. Today, it consists of a ready-to-wear line, along with occasion wear, wedding wear, and now accessories too.
What, according to you, is the biggest similarity between the Indian and Middle Eastern Anita Dongre woman?Women all over the world, I believe, want to look beautiful and express their identity through their clothes. But particularly in the east, I think women love color. There’s a certain sensibility that both Indian and Middle Eastern women have that is common between the two, and I think that’s what makes it magical. The differences are too small between the two of them. Essentially, our cultures are so similar.
Which Middle Eastern women would you like to see wearing Anita Dongre pieces?I’m getting to know the women in the region, and there are some very strong, powerful women over here. These are women I’ve been reading up about, and I admire them already. I’d love to get to know them, I’d love to dress Queen Rania, Mona Zaki (I’m going to be watching many more of her movies!), director and activist Nadine Labaki, Nayla Al Khaja, and Hend Sabri. Any woman who is working towards changing the world and making lives better, who works towards women’s empowerment, is a woman I’d like to dress.

The Met Gala 2023 co-chairs. Photo: Getty
In the blink of an eye, the 2023 Met Gala will be upon us. This year, the event—which benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute—falls neatly on May 1 and honors one of fashion’s greatest talents: Karl Lagerfeld. The accompanying exhibition, titled “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” pays tribute to the prolific designer, who helmed major fashion houses including Chanel, Fendi, and Chloé. Michaela Coel, Penélope Cruz, Roger Federer, Dua Lipa, and Anna Wintour will serve as the evening’s official co-chairs.
These figures span every realm of popular culture: Lipa, a global music star and three-time Grammy winner, recently wrapped her Future Nostalgia tour. Coel has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand talents after the success of her daring series I May Destroy You and her turn in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Cruz, who recently earned her fourth Oscar nomination for 2021’s Parallel Mothers, is perhaps the quintessential Karl Lagerfeld muse. And this past fall, after two decades at the pinnacle of men’s tennis, Federer announced his retirement from the sport. In addition to his many business ventures, including a partnership with On Running, Federer is focusing his efforts on his philanthropic foundation, which turns 20 in 2023.
“Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” will showcase over 150 original looks from the late designer—exploring Lagerfeld’s creative output from the 1950s until his final collections in 2019. In addition to tracing Lagerfeld’s tenures as creative director at Chanel, Chloé, and Fendi (and at his own namesake label), the show will also consider the designer’s time at Balmain and Patou. Many of the objects on display will appear alongside his vast collection of sketches.
“He would sketch everything,” said Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s Wendy Yu Curator in Charge, in September. “He would always say that he could draw before he could talk or walk. In many ways it was his primary form of communication, whether he was delivering them by fax machine or iPhone. So at its heart the exhibition will look at the evolution of Karl’s two-dimensional drawings into three-dimensional garments.”
Originally published in Vogue.com

Yayoi Kusama, 2022 Copyright of Yayoi Kusama. Photo by Yusuke Miyazaki. Courtesy Louis Vuitton
Yayoi Kusama’s face comes into focus like a vivid dollop of paint on a white canvas. All red and orange hair in a bob marked by its razor-sharp lines. At 93 years old, the contemporary artist’s visage does not reveal her age. It does, instead, offer up four spherical keys to her life’s passion, or rather obsession – circles into infinity. Her staring, round, black eyes seem to have the power of absorption, like they will suck you in if you dare look too long. Below them, her black nostrils appear to exhale. With poetry and exactitude, Kusama, considered one of the world’s greatest living female artists, has filtered and drawn her life to her liking. The dots of her eyes and nose spill onto her sweater and purse. “Like art, beautiful fashion can bring inspiration, joy, and help us to fight boldly against life,” she says.
Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama. Courtesy Louis Vuitton
The artist is wearing Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama. After 2012, this is the second time she collaborates with the French fashion house. It is, however, a first that her collection – or any collection with LV – crosses every single one of its product categories, from womenswear to accessories, fragrance, and men’s, bags, shoes, and sunglasses. The maison expresses that “When it comes to the magic of making objects, anything is possible.” Both house and artist recognize each other in this creation of pieces that aims to transcend space and time and recognize each other along the way. “During my last project, I received a great response from people all over the world,” Kusama says. “In this project as well, I would like to share my artistic philosophy and thoughts with everyone.” She adds that she carries “a strong longing for the grandeur and mystery of the universe,” and that her philosophy “is based on the idea that the sun and the moon are just one of the countless dots in the universe, and that we are all small life forms within.” Her philosophy inclines that Kusama, who ran a fashion company in the Sixties and has made her own clothes since she was a teenager, does not consider fashion and art distinct from each other. “I don’t think of them as separate, because that way I can explore new fields.” She shares that everything she has ever crafted has been from her soul. Not one to let time slow her creativity, she is now working on a new series “Every Day I Pray For Love.”
Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama. Courtesy Louis Vuitton

Born in Matsumoto City, Japan, from childhood Kusama experienced visual and auditory hallucinations. From this, around age 10, she began creating net and polka-dot pattern pictures. She traveled to New York – “my spiritual home, where I inspired myself and challenged myself with art” – in 1957 and through her art and artistic connections, among them Donald Judd and Andy Warhol, became recognized as an avant- garde artist. “We believe that looking back at our place in society and creating a new history is the avant-garde,” she comments.
Kusama considers her repetition and multiplication of single motifs enabling a sort of self-obliteration. “My desire was to predict and measure the infinity of the unbounded universe, from my own position in it, with dots,” she writes in her autobiography Infinity Net. Her exhibitions from the Tate Modern to the Pompidou Museum and tours in Latin America and Asia, retrospectives in Berlin and Tel Aviv, and most recently in Qatar for a vast outdoor exhibition titled My Soul Blooms Forever have been enjoyed by millions of visitors.

The artist used to live in poverty, “not even having enough to eat,” she recalls. “I am now in the best time of my life because I am in an environment where I can devote myself to painting from morning to night,” she says. “I have fought hard to create a new future history with a dedicated avant-garde attitude,” she reflects. “I believe that now is an important time for me to create new art, and I put my whole heart and soul into my work every day. I can’t imagine a life other than being an artist. ‘Love Forever’ is the message that encompasses all of my art, and I want to convey the wonderful love of humanity to everyone through it.”
Drop One Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama from January 6, Drop two March 31. Look for pop-ups, AR experiences, an XR game, and more
Printed in the January 2023 issue of Vogue Arabia
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Photo: Courtesy Elie Saab
One of the most-loved names in the fashion world today, Lebanese couturier Elie Saab is the true gold standard of red carpet dressing. And recently, the fashion house celebrated a new milestone: the opening of its flagship boutique in Abu Dhabi.
Located in Abu Dhabi’s most luxurious lifestyle and shopping spot, The Galleria Mall on Al Maryah Island, the brand new space extends across 300 sqm, and boasts soothing interiors that echo the understated glamour that immediately comes to mind when one hears the name ‘Elie Saab’. Think sparkling onyx tiles, warm lighting, mindfully placed hints of oak and metallic tones, and subtle mirror sliding doors with tasteful brass monogram detailing. The boutique offers guests a range of collections—from ready-to-wear and accessories, to fragrances and kidswear—and also includes an exclusive salon for bridal and couture collections, where customers can enjoy shopping in privacy.
To celebrate the big moment with the brand, Vogue Arabia connected with the man of the moment, Mr Elie Saab himself, to discuss his legacy, and his plans for the future.
Photo: Courtesy Elie Saab

Congratulations on the brand new Abu Dhabi home of Elie Saab. How does it feel to open this new space?
Abu Dhabi is close to my heart and I’m so happy with the opening of the new store.  As it is the second boutique in the UAE, it is part of our strategic development to expand in the region. We have a big and special relationship with the clientele in the region, so we wanted to have a more personalized shopping experience that meets the needs of our loyal customers.
What are you most proud about when you look at the flagship boutique in Abu Dhabi?
When you enter the store, you feel the whole experience of the ES universe. It includes and gathers all the different lines of the brand. It has the haute couture and bridal area as well. It is also one of the first boutiques to be furnished by ES Maison lines.
From your home in Beirut to London, New York, Paris and Dubai, every Elie Saab boutique is a dream to visit. What is one thing you’d say all your boutiques have in common?
The common in all of the boutiques is the experience of the ES universe. When you enter all boutiques, you feel the relation between the brand and the consumer.
Photo: Courtesy Elie Saab
The name Elie Saab is synonymous with elegance and grace around the world. How do your Arab roots influence your collections?
Today, the success and visibility of Elie Saab goes beyond the region. My collections are not only inspired by my Arab roots, but they are influenced by the themes, trends, and everything that is happening around the world. My Arab roots are translated into the colors, fabrics, and lights in the collections.
What can we expect from your upcoming collections?
Each season, we work on new shapes and silhouettes to reach new clients. I start from a theme and work around it.
Who, according to you, is the quintessential Elie Saab woman?
The Elie Saab woman is elegant, independent and has a strong personality. I like women with character.
Photo: Courtesy Elie Saab
Your creations have been worn by some of the most influential women across the globe. Is there anyone who you haven’t dressed yet, but would love to someday?
Through the years, I had the chance to dress a lot of women, from actresses, to royalty and influential VIPs. I feel grateful that so many women love my designs and are loyal to the brand. There is no one specific person that I would like to dress, I am delighted to dress any woman who carries my values and loves Elie Saab.
What are three things every woman should keep in mind while getting ready for a special occasion?
The most important thing is that the woman should stay true to herself. She should be natural, without any exaggeration. The key is to resemble herself and her character.
Photo: Courtesy Elie Saab