MAUVE DESTINATION: Dubai

BETWEEN Mumbai and Milan , there is Dubai — the rapidly emerging fashion capital of the region. The city's catwalks are steadily gaining the attention of international designers and fashion houses. West Asia and the wider Arab world, has consistently been in step with contemporary fashion. Some analysts say that money spent on beauty aids by women in the Gulf alone crosses $5 billion annually. However, catwalks and formal public display of fashion and accessories and the trade related to it is a fairly recent phenomenon. But this is rapidly growing with more and more international designers networking Dubai into the global fashion chain. Fashion, say trendsetters in Dubai , is here to stay. Dubai is rapidly emerging as the canvas used by top design houses to display creative trends. Where Paris , Milan , London , and New York used to be the hub of haute couture, Dubai is hogging some of the spotlight now.

Italian designer footwear brand Casadei officially opened its third boutique in Dubai at Wafi on December 16th, close on the heels of two other stores which it has opened within a span of four months. Cesare Casadei, the creative force behind the brand's signature shoes and handbags, made a personal appearance to launch the new store, which was marked by a fashion parade titled ‘Italian Luxury At Your Feet'. Commenting on the increasing number of couture brands in Dubai , Casadei pointed out: ' Dubai seems to be an upcoming fashion capital akin to Milan and it is clearly marked on our retail network map as an important fashion destination. We are really happy to open our third store in Dubai in a short span of four months with the help of Valencia, our exclusive retailing partner in this region.' Don't be the last to catch on as Dubai is increasingly becoming a favorite destination of the international, jet-setting rich and famous.