As more of the world’s wealthy flock to Dubai, a new breed of entrepreneurs such as Pastor & Co. and Flying Flea Global enter the market to capitalise on the demand for ultra-luxury services – from real estate to private islands complete with a yacht dock and helipad.
Billed as fashion sources, these companies, which are in the business of curating and supplying the world’s most rare and exclusive items from across various categories, are currently looking to expand their services in the UAE – and the wider Middle East – to the hospitality and travel segments, with plans to tie-up with top hotel and resort chains, chartered flight operators and yacht clubs to provide exclusive services to their celebrity clients.
The companies, which boast of an envious client list – figuring the sport and music celebrities such as the British football legend Beckhams and American rapper and singer Gunna, popular hip-hop groups including D Block Europe and the American group Migos, besides members of the some of the world’s richest business families, are also eyeing to on-board several members of the region’s royal families for providing exclusive services to meet their requirements on their travels around the world.
“We already have many clients in the region, but the huge influx of wealthy and influential individuals who are relocating and residing in the Gulf meant it was essential for us to set up a base in the Emirates,” Solomon Pastor, the elder of the two UK-based bothers who helm the top management of Pastor & Co., told Arabian Business.
“We also decided to expand into the UAE due to its strong economy, business opportunities, and tax benefits,” he said.
Pastor said the geographic location of the UAE – as well as the region – paired with the excellent services offered and safety and security of Dubai allows for the perfect base to operate from.
Eyeing ambitious UAE, Middle East expansions
Pastor said the company is currently looking to expand into the hospitality industry through offering its services to luxury hotel concierges and hotel residences.
“But most importantly, we will be expanding into offering our clients luxury real estate and properties such as private islands,” he said.
Pastor also revealed that their company is currently assisting a Russian client who is based between Dubai and Moscow with the purchase of a private island complete with a yacht dock and helipad.
He also said the company is also eyeing on-board members of several Middle East royal families as part of its ambitious expansion plans in the region, as well as globally.
The company currently sources and supplies some of the world’s most exclusive and rare items across various categories including sneakers and ready-to-wear, timepieces and jewellery, art and homeware, jazzy vehicles, fine wines and spirits.
Meanwhile, SneakerPlug, a sister concern of Pastor & Co., which partnered with the online luxury retailer major Farfetch to supply their private clients exclusively, opened a second office in Dubai.
“We are encouraged by the vast client base of Farfetch in the Gulf region and hope to build on it in a big way by on-boarding several of the rich and famous in the region,” Levi Pastor, the younger of the brother duo, who founded SneakerPlug at age 13, told Arabian Business.
Though the company was set up with the main purpose of selling rare and exclusive sneakers and apparel to music artists and celebrities, it expanded into the US market after elder brother Solomon joined the business, increasing the client base to include a long list of rappers, producers and athletes.
“Within the first year of our partnership we became one of Farfetch’s top grossing suppliers, outselling the likes of Harrods in terms of units sold,” Levi Pastor said.
Pastor and Co. deals with high-value items across all categories.
“Our long-term plan is to evolve the company [Pastor & Co.] into a one-stop-shop exclusively for a select group of private clients for all that is rare and exclusive, both in the Middle East and globally,” Solomon Pastor said.
The London-headquartered company forayed into the UAE, after expanding into the US and Hong Kong.
Leading celebrity clients, their quirky demands
The long client list of the two companies includes sports legends such David Beckham, Brazilian footballers Emerson Royal and Joelinton, Chilean footballer Arturo Vidal, Irish footballer Johnny Evans, UK, Portuguese footballer Ruben Dias and American basketball legend Kevin Durant, American rappers and singers such as Stormzy, Not3s, Young Thug, Gunna and Rhys Thomas Sylvester, known professionally as Mist, and celebrity hip hop group D Block Europe and American hip hop group Migos.
“The celebrity clients come to us because we can keep their purchases and identities confidential,” Pastor said.
Though the brothers said they are equipped to meet all the requirements of their celebrity and rich clients, few of them come up with some outlandish requests at times.
“One of our most outlandish requests was for elephants. A Middle Eastern royal family requested flamingos and swans,” he said.
Follow us on
