Beenas, one of the Arab world’s most popular brands for Jalabiyas, is embarking on a phased expansion programme in India and the GCC.
The fashion company, which currently operates in Sharjah, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, is to open a boutique in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, a statement said.
Beenas is also looking to open new outlets in Dubai and Qatar, the statement added.
“We are pleased with our expansion programme which will start with Mumbai in March/April this year,” said Beena Soni, the first non-Arab designer of Jalabiyas.
“This will be followed by our stores in Doha and Dubai as part of the GCC expansion programme.”
Nearly 35 percent of Beenas customers come from GCC markets like Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, she added.
She said a lot of GCC nationals frequently travel to Mumbai for business and family holidays, prompting the move to open a boutique in the city.
“Over the years, we have been getting queries from our clients and others whether we have a boutique in Mumbai. It is the right time to enter the Indian market as there is tremendous awareness and likeness for Jalabiya among the foreign visitors who come to India,” she said.
She started as a make-up artist in 1993, but her fascination with fabrics and colours meant her clients frequently asked her for outfitting tips, and it wasn’t long before she was asked to design a clothing collection.
Giving up her job as a make-up artist, she began creating jalabiyas and now designs them for some of the GCC’s most prominent women.
Her Jalabiyas combines Arabic tradition and modern fashion. Each jalabiya is an individual work of art in terms of technique, design, material and cuts.
She started the concept of bejeweled jalabiyas three years ago which have also proved a success with customers, she said.
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