Kaleidoscope by Mimi Online Retail Site Now Delivering Authentic, Stylish Statement Pieces to the UAE and Around the World
Founder/Designer is Global Citizen Who Merges the Urban with the Rural to Highlight and Benefit Communities from the Middle East and Africa to Asia and Beyond
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 11 June 2013
-- Evolving in a region known for its retail innovation and traditional com
merce links along the Silk Route, Kaleidoscope by Mimi, a unique online shopping experience, is now available for taste-makers across the Middle East. Offering hand-finished fashion, jewels, accessories, and interior pieces, Kaleidoscope by Mimi was created to address the need for authenticity in the Middle East’s shopping landscape. The result is a transactional online retailing experience which presents a curated ‘curiosity closet’ of collaborations with charities, vintage, and travel finds, alongside a treasure trove of bright, bohemian fashion lines using natural fabrics, as well as jewels for men and women, and accent pieces for the home. A key element of Kaleidoscope by Mimi is the site’s collaboration with a range of artisans and craftspeople around the world, through which a sustainable source of family and community income is created. None of the pieces sold online are created in factories, but designed, sourced and detailed from communities in the Middle East, India, Thailand, Morocco and beyond to deliver an authentic, one-off universal appeal. Founder and designer Mimi Shakhashir of Kaleidoscope by Mimi describes the new shopping experience: “Visiting our site is like wandering through a multicultural souk -- showcasing the craftsmanship and emotion behind clothes, jewels and interiors from around the world but inspired by the trading spirit of the United Arab Emirates – resulting in very personal and expressive pieces which make a difference for the communities in which they are produced.”
“We start with authentic raw materials and upcycle them into new, useful forms; evolving the natural and rural into urban, funky original pieces to wear or live with. Kaleidoscope by Mimi is not about fashion – it’s about global style which makes a statement and a lasting impact.”
A unique ‘view the making of this product’ option enables shoppers to see the inspiration and origin of each piece on the Kaleidoscope by Mimi site, which includes:
Curiosity Cabinet – an amalgamation of vintage and limited-edition pieces hand-selected on Mimi’s travels, as well as charity pouches and collaborations with other designers – the place to look for the newest, most quirky online ‘finds.’
Fashion – striking, comfortable statement pieces for women and men, including separates and accessories. Bright and bohemian, adaptable for travel, beach and beyond, Kaleidoscope by Mimi’s fashion incorporates traditional silhouettes from the kimono and kaftan to give them a contemporary, urban wearability. Jewelry – ‘more is more’ is Kaleidoscope by Mimi’s unisex jewelry philosophy, with both fashion and fine jewels plus a plethora of charms to protect and inspire the wearer. From pavé diamonds with precious stones to armfulls of neon bangles, the site has hand-finished pieces which originate from every corner of the globe. Interiors – textiles from Turkey, Uzbekistan, Africa and beyond are the stars of Kaleidoscope by Mimi’s interiors landscape, which includes patterned cushions, poufs, chairs and occasional tables in an array of ikat and suzani fabrics, complemented by trays, serving and conversation pieces to brighten any home. In addition to creating an interactive retail sensation in the Middle East, Kaleidoscope by Mimi’s fashion, jewels and interior accents are being snapped up by retailers from Oman to Amman, and can be spotted attracting shoppers on the beachside streets of St. Tropez, on Milan’s fashionable shopping avenues, and elsewhere in Europe and the MENA region.
“The enthusiastic market reaction to Kaleidoscope by Mimi demonstrates that there is tremendous demand for looks, accessories and pieces which are unique and mood-elevating – the ‘kaleidoscope’ is a lens through which we see different cultures, travel destinations and the statements which we all make via our appearance and our homes. Our customers join us on a vibrant journey from the rural to the urban and back, and this is something which an increasing number of people are keen to experience,” said Mimi. The aesthetic and vision behind Kaleidoscope by Mimi was fostered during the founder’s years spent creating the O de Rose retail brand in the region. A designer who was educated at ESMOD and Chelsea College of Art & Design, and a mother of three, wife of another entrepreneur and passionate about travel, culture, ‘finds’ and life experiences, Mimi Shakhashir’s new venture, Kaleidoscope by Mimi, is already setting new trends in online retail.
