Pop-Up Boutique in Former Solar Panel Shop Decorated With Recycled Materials

　　A collective of designers in Antwerp, Belgium has set up shop within a former solar panel store, transforming the space into a lively studio and pop-up shop. The group of clothing and accessories designers has named their collective Atelier Solarshop in tribute to the site's history, and they sell their wares in the space, which they design using found and recycled materials. The group recently opened their third pop-up shop in the beautifully designed space - read on for a look inside!
　　


　　
 

　　Based in Antwerp, Belgium, the design collective works from the former solar panel shop, turning it into an event space at will. They employ recycled and found materials in their décor as a tribute to the shop’s former use. For their most recent pop-up, Atelier Solarshop scoured the streets of Antwerp for discarded mirrors, and fallen tree branches.
　　Thick, knotty branches serve as racks to display handmade clothing designed by one member of the collective. Pieces of tree stumps display vases and hand bags, and discarded wood has been used to build makeshift platforms for wallets and clutches.
　　The group constructed an arched half wall to divide the space into boutique-like areas. They cut pieces of scrap paper into rectangles, then hung the sheets in rows on either side of the wall, emulating the bark of the found branches. The effect resembles a blown-up cross-section of a tree, or a hut found in the forest.
　　The designers’ wares are arranged like an art installation, engaging visitors in a more creative way than a standard retail shop might. The mirrors are placed about to reflect the wares and the store’s wood elements.
　　Atelier Solarshop’s pop-up shops are an extension of the collective’s creativity – they combine each member’s design aesthetic with the sustainable history of their location.

J dot boutique makes foray into Abu Dhabi

DUBAI — Alif Investments, a diversified business group in the UAE, is on track to expand its presence in the country’s retail sector following the launch of six outlets of different brands in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
The Dubai-based conglomerate, which rolled out an impressive expansion plan last week, further strengthened its position on food and beverages sector by inaugurating three branches of Emily & Chilli — two in Dubai and one in Sharjah. It also launched two outlets of Meat One, a concept store offering fresh halalmeat to Dubai residents in Al Nahda and Motor City on Thursday.
The business group, an exclusive franchise partner of the renowned designer wear label ‘Junaid Jamshed’, on Friday also opened the first J dot boutique in Abu Dhabi at the upscale Al Wahda Mall, taking the total number of boutiques to three in a span of just one year.
The first boutique was launched in Meena bazaar in Dubai last year and the second in Sharjah’s busy Zamzam market this April. J dot boutique at Al Wahda Mall is the first outlet outside the bazaars and Alif Investments plans to replicate this practice by opening two more boutiques in New Dubai and Al Ain by year-end.
The Abu Dhabi outlet was inaugurated by former Pakistani cricket stars Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul Haq in the presence of Saifee Rupawala, chief executive of EMKE Group, other VIP guests and senior management of Alif Investments.
“Since its inception, J dot boutique has not only established a strong foot hold in UAE but also opened new avenues for other brands to enter and explore the UAE market,” Alif Investments chairman Arif Abdul Aziz Memon told Khaleej Times.
Junaid Jamshed features a full range of readymade, hand woven apparel along with exclusive unstitched fabrics. The collections in various categories for men, women and kids are cut to perfection highlighting the exquisite unmatched eastern designs. “J dot has witnessed success and a regular customer following in Dubai and Sharjah and the decision to open in Abu Dhabi comes due to the continued demand of our patrons,” Memon said.
“The strategic decision to open outlets at the heart of the busy and bustling consumer markets was a good idea which has certainly helped the brand get a strong consumer following and now seems to be the perfect time to explore new locations such as Al Wahda Mall,” chief operating officer Ahmed Samir said. “Our new collection is exclusively designed keeping in mind the consumer and fashion conscious people of the UAE and hence we believe that the boutique will be well accepted in Abu Dhabi too,” Samir added.
Earlier on Thursday, Ambassador of Pakistan Jamil Ahmed Khan inaugurated the outlets of Meat One and Emily & Chilli at Motor City, while Pakistan Consul General Tariq Iqbal Soomro cut the inaugural ribbons of the two outlets at Al Nahda. The fifth, an outlet of Emly & Chilli, was opened at Sahara Centre in Sharjah. “This is an extremely good opportunity for the UAE and Pakistan to create an environment in which halalmeat requirement of the UAE is met through natural and religious confidence and up to the satisfaction of people as in Pakistan all meat has to be halal,” the Ambassador told Khaleej Times.
Khan said the UAE per capita meat consumption is 18 times more than the world average. “The requirements in the UAE and Gulf can be met by Pakistan with proper strategic planning. This will bring down the cost because of Pakistan’s close proximity to the region.”
Expansion on track
Asif Jabbar, director and group chief executive of Alif Investments, said the group’s plans to expand in the Gulf’s retail sector are on track despite economic slowdown and unrest in some parts of the region. He said Gulf’s retail sector is likely to be unaffected from downturn and the group will continue its expansion drive as per the plan.
“The GCC will not be affected. It is in the Middle East and we believe that nothing will happen to this region.”
The group, which only invests in Shariah-compliant sectors, is expected to make a foray into the Saudi market next year, before looking at other countries in the Gulf. It is likely to launch three outlets in Saudi Arabia by first quarter of 2012.
Alif Investments, a Dh100 million company, is a diversified business conglomerate focusing on restaurants, packed foods, confectionery and snacks, fashion, real estate, export and imports, hotels and hospitality and exclusive writing instruments. It has the exclusive franchise rights for Meat One, the business venture launched by Pak cricket legends Saeed Anwar and Inzimam-ul Haq, and J dot boutiques owned by famous Pakistani singer-turned designer Junaid Jamshed.