24 September 2005
Kuwait - Twenty per cent of last Thursday's sales at Kuwait's luxury boutique Villa Moda will be donated to the victims of the Katrina disaster in the United State. "It is an imaginative way of providing support for the victims of the Katrina hurricane tragedy. I am impressed with the development of this business. I would like to thank the owners of Villa Moda and all the people who work here for their generosity in providing this type of support," US ambassador to Kuwait Richard LeBaron told Kuwait Times after a tour he did with his spouse Jean LeBaron in the fashion emporium on Thursday.
LeBaron went on saying that the American people have been very appreciative and that reports show how many Americans have written to the Kuwait embassy in Washington thanking Kuwaiti people for their generosity. He concluded: "It strengthens the bonds of friendship between our two countries."
On her part, Maha Al-Otaibi, Store Manager of Villa Moda, told Kuwait Times that this was a very special day where the Kuwaiti people show their love and respect to the Americans and to humanity having fashion serve that cause. She said, "Kuwaitis still remember how hard the Americans worked during the liberation and how they fought. We still have that faith and love for the Americans".
Accompanying the US ambassador during his visit in Villa Moda Al-Otaibi made the first stop at the Goyard shop. Speaking to the ambassador and the guests at the one-day event she explained that Goyard brandname boutique is the fifth in the world and the first in the Middle East.
The top-notch mall Villa Moda owned by Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah carries 18 flagship stores as Gucci, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent in addition to Fendi, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta and Miu Miu mostly enjoyed by a middle and upper class Kuwaiti shoppers. However, regular sales in the so-called warehouse, which is a "50 per cent off department", featuring one-year old collections makes the boutique affordable to many. Thus, its two warehouse shopping spots are frequented by tasteful clientele.
In addition to the flagship stores Villa Moda has tonnes of brands. Such an example of a multi-brand shop in Villa Moda is the jeans bar, which is one of the most popular shopping corners in the boutique. Upon entering the warehouse on the top floor of the Villa Moda spacious glass building one's eyes are caught by Prada designed custom caftans for both well to do and middle-class Arab clientele.
The combination of luxury retailing and casual couture makes Villa Moda a unique place in Kuwait and the Middle East for some of the most demanding fashionistas. "Some of the Villa Moda collections are made exclusively for Kuwait," Al Otaibi said and explained that smartness is Kuwait shoppers' most distinctive feature. "Kuwaiti women are very knowledgeable about fashion and they know exactly what is new and on the market," she said adding that this is Villa Moda's challenge to compete with their customer's smart shopping.
Commenting on this year's fashion trends in the fall collections, which are already on Villa Moda's shelves, Al-Otaibi said that, "believe it or not black colour is back". Dolce, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent all went black".
Kuwait - Twenty per cent of last Thursday's sales at Kuwait's luxury boutique Villa Moda will be donated to the victims of the Katrina disaster in the United State. "It is an imaginative way of providing support for the victims of the Katrina hurricane tragedy. I am impressed with the development of this business. I would like to thank the owners of Villa Moda and all the people who work here for their generosity in providing this type of support," US ambassador to Kuwait Richard LeBaron told Kuwait Times after a tour he did with his spouse Jean LeBaron in the fashion emporium on Thursday.
LeBaron went on saying that the American people have been very appreciative and that reports show how many Americans have written to the Kuwait embassy in Washington thanking Kuwaiti people for their generosity. He concluded: "It strengthens the bonds of friendship between our two countries."
On her part, Maha Al-Otaibi, Store Manager of Villa Moda, told Kuwait Times that this was a very special day where the Kuwaiti people show their love and respect to the Americans and to humanity having fashion serve that cause. She said, "Kuwaitis still remember how hard the Americans worked during the liberation and how they fought. We still have that faith and love for the Americans".
Accompanying the US ambassador during his visit in Villa Moda Al-Otaibi made the first stop at the Goyard shop. Speaking to the ambassador and the guests at the one-day event she explained that Goyard brandname boutique is the fifth in the world and the first in the Middle East.
The top-notch mall Villa Moda owned by Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah carries 18 flagship stores as Gucci, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent in addition to Fendi, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta and Miu Miu mostly enjoyed by a middle and upper class Kuwaiti shoppers. However, regular sales in the so-called warehouse, which is a "50 per cent off department", featuring one-year old collections makes the boutique affordable to many. Thus, its two warehouse shopping spots are frequented by tasteful clientele.
In addition to the flagship stores Villa Moda has tonnes of brands. Such an example of a multi-brand shop in Villa Moda is the jeans bar, which is one of the most popular shopping corners in the boutique. Upon entering the warehouse on the top floor of the Villa Moda spacious glass building one's eyes are caught by Prada designed custom caftans for both well to do and middle-class Arab clientele.
The combination of luxury retailing and casual couture makes Villa Moda a unique place in Kuwait and the Middle East for some of the most demanding fashionistas. "Some of the Villa Moda collections are made exclusively for Kuwait," Al Otaibi said and explained that smartness is Kuwait shoppers' most distinctive feature. "Kuwaiti women are very knowledgeable about fashion and they know exactly what is new and on the market," she said adding that this is Villa Moda's challenge to compete with their customer's smart shopping.
Commenting on this year's fashion trends in the fall collections, which are already on Villa Moda's shelves, Al-Otaibi said that, "believe it or not black colour is back". Dolce, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent all went black".
By Velina Nacheva
Kuwait Times 2005
