Perhaps we are becoming disillusioned with fast fashion, or maybe we crave something that no one else has while keeping costs down, but second-hand fashion is booming in the UAE right now. It may have been a little slow to get going (when I arrived almost two decades ago, there was just one second-hand store in Dubai) but today there is a huge choice. So, whether you are after designer bags and clothes, or prefer the thrill of digging through rails to unearth a treasure everyone has missed, there is somewhere for you, and for every budget.
While the UAE may not yet have the kind of flea market culture that has tourists tripping over themselves in cities such as New York, London, Milan or Paris, changing attitudes to dressing is fuelling a wealth of shops and online platforms that even a few years ago were hard to find in the region.
Now, as we are becoming aware of the harm done by fast fashion, businesses are springing up that allow us to rent new pieces each week, without breaking the bank or the planet. Of course, this is a region devoted to high-end designer names, and the sheer range of preloved big-name pieces available allows for a big selection. This is a boon for customers looking for those hard-to-get items, high-end bargains, or just looking to help create a circular economy.
Reems Closet
One of the originals since 2008, Reems Closet is a consignment and preloved store that has built a solid reputation for quality and authenticity. Backed by the vast knowledge and eagle eyes of the owner Reem Mohammed – who can spot even the tiniest of flaws – customers can be sure that they are getting exactly what they pay for.
With a store in Jumeirah Plaza that has new arrivals daily, a weekend-only pop-up inside La Brocante vintage furniture shop, and an online shop, Reems Closet has a comprehensive collection of designer and other goods, all carefully assessed and priced according to condition, so customers can shop with confidence. Known for amazing finds, expect big queues at the Jumeirah Plaza store, especially at the weekends.
Al Quoz and Jumeirah Plaza, Dubai; reemscloset.com
The Luxury Closet
Bursting with authenticated big-name pieces from the likes of Gucci, Versace, Bvlgari, Chanel, Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton, the prices at The Luxury Closet are a reflection of the quality that's on offer. While this means that sometimes there seems to be little difference between the original and the new price, this is because its pieces are in very, very good condition, and have passed all the required checks for authenticity.
For fashion heads who missed a key piece the first time around, The Luxury Closet really is a go-to, be it a piece from the Versace x Fendi collaboration, or to finally get a pair of Cartier 1895 Solitaire Diamonds 0.41 cts 18k white gold stud earrings, currently over 40 per cent cheaper than the original price.
The website also offers video shopping and a personal shopping service.
Al Barsha, Dubai; theluxurycloset.com
Shop Cloudset
This nifty online site, with a pop-up inside the Dubai Marina beauty salon FaceRoom, allows customers to rent or buy preloved designer clothes, shoes and accessories at a huge discount. A pink Sicily handbag by Dolce & Gabbana, for example, can be rented for four days for just Dh360, while a pair of star print Saint Laurent aviator sunglasses are on sale for just Dh320, a whopping 70 per cent off the original list price.
Dubai Marina; thecloudset.com
Endless
Another rental and sale site, Endless is less about big designer names and more about smaller, more niche brands. The upside of this is there is less likelihood of someone else wearing the same dress to an event, and the prices are very pocket-friendly. Categorised by event to take the pain out of online searching, these include Brunch, LBD, Race Day or even Bump Friendly, so just a few clicks bring up a sleek Helmut Lang multi-slit little black dress available for Dh160 for three days rent, or a sweetheart fitted midi cocktail dress by Alex Perry in lilac, that is perfect for a summery wedding, that can be rented for three days for only Dh500. Same-day delivery is also available.
endless.ae
Retold
Owned and run by stylist Jelena Dancetovic, Retold is a comprehensive store filled with preloved high-end and high-street finds. Stocked with the likes of Dior, Miu Miu, Fendi, Bottega Veneta and Celine this is a treasure trove, known and loved by the fashion-savvy crowd, meaning that deals don't stay around for long. Filled with everything from gowns to unworn pieces (with labels still in place) to vintage must-haves, devotees check in almost daily for the newest arrivals.
Al Ghurair Centre, Al Quoz; shopretold.com
Thrift for Good
Since 2020, Thrift for Good has been giving second-hand clothing a second chance in the UAE. Offering everything from pre-loved babywear – starting at just Dh5 – through to designer finds, Thrift for Good is trying to foster a zero-waste, sustainable mindset while raising money for charity. With 100 per cent of monthly profits going to Gulf for Good's children's charity projects, to date, it has raised over Dh3 million for those in need.
If you love digging through rails to unearth treasures that others have missed, this is the place for you. In addition, and in keeping with its zero-waste thinking, it runs weekend projects such as teaching children to make a tote bag out of old jeans, or partnerships with influencers to sell off their wardrobes for charity. If you think Thrift for Good doesn't have high-end pieces, think again, as you never know what will have been donated. Be prepared to move fast though, as many others have the same idea.
You can also pick up second-hand books in-store or online here.
Palm Jumeirah, Times Square Centre and Quoz; thriftforgood.org
WHAT ARE NFTs?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.
An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.
This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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EA Sports FC 24
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Tuesday, July 11
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court
Adrian Mannarino v Novak Djokovic (2)
Venus Williams (10) v Jelena Ostapenko (13)
Johanna Konta (6) v Simona Halep (2)
Court 1
Garbine Muguruza (14) v
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
BIG SPENDERS
Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 395bhp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: from Dh321,200
On sale: now
Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sucker%20Punch%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%202%20to%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
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Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
India Test squad
Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Vijay, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur
Match info
Wolves 0
Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')
Man of the match: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
THE BIG THREE
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
19 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 5 (2011, 14, 15, 18, 19)
French Open: 2 (2016, 21)
US Open: 3 (2011, 15, 18)
Australian Open: 9 (2008, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21)
Prize money: $150m
ROGER FEDERER
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 8 (2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09, 12, 17)
French Open: 1 (2009)
US Open: 5 (2004, 05, 06, 07, 08)
Australian Open: 6 (2004, 06, 07, 10, 17, 18)
Prize money: $130m
RAFAEL NADAL
20 grand slam singles titles
Wimbledon: 2 (2008, 10)
French Open: 13 (2005, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20)
US Open: 4 (2010, 13, 17, 19)
Australian Open: 1 (2009)
Prize money: $125m
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Most wanted allegations
- Benjamin Macann, 32: involvement in cocaine smuggling gang.
- Jack Mayle, 30: sold drugs from a phone line called the Flavour Quest.
- Callum Halpin, 27: over the 2018 murder of a rival drug dealer.
- Asim Naveed, 29: accused of being the leader of a gang that imported cocaine.
- Calvin Parris, 32: accused of buying cocaine from Naveed and selling it on.
- John James Jones, 31: allegedly stabbed two people causing serious injuries.
- Callum Michael Allan, 23: alleged drug dealing and assaulting an emergency worker.
- Dean Garforth, 29: part of a crime gang that sold drugs and guns.
- Joshua Dillon Hendry, 30: accused of trafficking heroin and crack cocain.
- Mark Francis Roberts, 28: grievous bodily harm after a bungled attempt to steal a £60,000 watch.
- James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson, 56: for arson and over the seizure of a tonne of cocaine.
- Nana Oppong, 41: shot a man eight times in a suspected gangland reprisal attack.
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
More on animal trafficking
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
