A new shopping destination on the island and inspiring and creative collaborations – our news roundup brings the latest in high-end lifestyle.
Creative Shopping
Al Riwaq Art Space welcomes a one-of-a-kind shopping destination: Depart, a microdepartment store and deli. Owned by Faisal Al Fadda and Ahmed Al Zayani, the store focuses on bringing carefully selected regional and international designers and products to Bahrain. It offers an array of fashion, beauty and home décor, but also a cafe with drinks, pastries and light bites. “Depart is the ultimate destination for anyone who loves niche and luxury items,” stated the owners. In addition to the micro-department store and cafe, Depart Agency aims to help brands from the ground up and ensure their success by aiding them in branding, producing and marketing their products. Depart is a platform for them to showcase their creations and establish their labels.
Tasty Accessories
Purificacion Garcia celebrates a new collaboration with Japanese creator Daisuke Takamatsu, a renowned culinary artist who is recognised for his ability to turn luxury items into food. For this special collaboration, Daisuke chose nine iconic Purificacion Garcia bags to reinterpret with his unique creativity. The Origami bag was re-created using a square piece of toast topped with icing and maple syrup, while the Origami Bucket bag had its stitches reproduced with mayonnaise. The quilted Homenaje Acolchado bag, an iconic statement of the brand, born in 2005, is recreated using tomatoes to get the perfect shade of red, passed through a sieve multiple times to get the desired effect paired with the original metallic details to give it a shiny touch. The Soho bag has a cosmopolitan feel and is made with leather and, to reimagine it, the perfect amount of cocoa was adjusted to obtain the ideal brown shade. The culinary artist used an array of techniques and ingredients to create this edible collection.
Sun Ready
Kurt Geiger collaborates with British designer Matthew Williamson in a limited edition collection of beach-perfect pieces. From opulent shoulder bags and generous baskets, vibrant sandals and raffia wedges to exclusive accessories, statement jewellery and dazzling beachwear. Made for high summer, the inspiration comes from Deià in Mallorca, a place Matthew calls home. A distinctive motif adorning the pieces is a mesmerising print that comes in three different colours inspired by the following elements: the turquoise and emerald tones evoking the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, tints of warm orange and rich aubergine conjuring the seductive sun-baked landscape, and shades from Kurt Geiger’s iconic rainbow colours adding a kaleidoscopic touch. Matthew Williamson’s exceptional patterns and Kurt Geiger’s signature designs convey the designer’s vision of a London girl’s trip to the Mediterranean island: a sun-drenched journey of decadent escapism.
Luxurious Creations
The fashion brand Del Core partnered with jewellery house Cartier in the launch of the new Cartier High Jewelry Collection called Le Voyage Recommencé in Florence. The new Cartier collection – an exploration of the maison’s savoir-faire and creative practices experienced through the light of a new prism, celebrating the purity of lines, the balance of shapes and volumes, the play of proportions and the final harmony intrinsic to every Cartier creation – was presented on models wearing custom-made Del Core garments. Daniel Del Core created 16 unique pieces by taking inspiration from the deep or bright colours of the gems and the flowing yet precise shapes of the jewels. Sophisticated gowns, a pantsuit, tops and trousers dialogued with Cartier ornaments harmoniously while reassessing the defining Del Core codes. The collection is a celebration of beauty and feminine power through masterful draping, architectural cut and lines that flow around the body, enhancing glamour and movement.
Fun Clothing
Tommy Hilfiger and Disney created a collection to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary. For the first time, Mickey and his friends enter the world of college prep, appearing in Tommy Hilfiger archival classics. The beloved character and his companions, including Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck, are drawn in manga, the popular Japanese comic cartoon illustration. The Disney x Tommy collection re-imagines signature prep classics with playful patterns and prints. The collection includes 50 styles across menswear and womenswear and 10 for kidswear. “An iconic anniversary, an iconic brand and a collaboration with their most iconic characters – there is no better way to join fans around the world in celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary,” said Tommy Hilfiger. This partnership captures the fashion brand’s longstanding passion for collaborating with pop culture figures whose influence spans generations.