Jil Sander Announces the Opening of its First Store in Dubai

Milan/Dubai, February 23, 2009 – Jil Sander announces the opening of its first store in Dubai. Located in the Gate Village Building 1 of the Dubai International Financial Center, this 80 square meter store will reinforce Jil Sander’s presence in the United Arab Emirates

This new Dubai location is part of the on-going strategic development to both introduce the sophisticated brand to the Middle Eastern culture and strengthen the Jil Sander store network. With Villa Moda one of the leading luxury goods retailer in Middle East, Jil Sander ties up a strong, competent partner which perfectly transports the brand’s core values of purity, perfection and modernity to the Middle Eastern market. This philosophy and the artistic direction of Raf Simons have made Jil Sander to one of the driving forces in fashion.

The Dubai freestanding store concept was created to respect the Jil Sander aesthetic: in line with Jil Sander’s expertise in architectural and geometric forms, the design combines a discreet and informal elegance with exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

The new Dubai Store will offer women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, accessories, cosmetics as well as the recently launched eyewear collection. The total product range is offering a sophisticated, contemporary look that respects and highlights the beauty of women for which the house is renowned for. And at the same time underlining its appreciation for the cultural richness we are surrounded by.

About Jil Sander

Jil Sander, the high-end luxury brand, is the epitome of modernity and sophistication. Its unconditional dedication to contemporary design combines elegance and purity with innovative materials and exceptional craftsmanship. Jil Sander products, which include women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags & accessories, cosmetics, eyewear and jewelry are distributed worldwide through its network of directly operated stores and through independent retailers. The JIL SANDER Group is controlled by Onward Holdings Co. Ltd., a Japan-based group specializing in apparel. Currently, Jil Sander counts 70 total doors worldwide, amongst which 29 are company owned and 41 are franchisees (4 USA, 18 Far East, 17 Japan, 26 Europe and 5 Middle East).

About Raf Simons

When Raf Simons was named Creative Director of Jil Sander in July 2005 he stated: “I couldn’t be happier to work for a brand as pure and clean as Jil Sander. I am eager to carry on the simple, pristine design that the Jil Sander name has come to represent.” Praised by the international fashion press, Raf Simons’ captivating fashions express visionary strength, technical perfection and a reduction to the essential. His precise cuts, his constant search for the perfect proportion and the new silhouette combine both futurist and emotional elements.

Jil Sander Women’s Spring/Summer 2009 Collection

The Spring/Summer 2009 Women’s Collection, which combines tribal elements with the refined elegance of the ‘20s - early ‘30s, embraces modernity with decorative accents and takes the Jil Sander aesthetic forward with a touch of grace. The collection also alludes to more emotional aspects like femininity, sensuality and fluidity with fringes cascading over fitted coats and straight dresses, deep necklines and softly billowing contours in a color range that includes deep, dark tones alongside a palette of fiery, intense shades.

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