Christian Louboutin Makes His Way to the Middle East

The maker of the red-soled shoes, Christian Louboutin is expanding to the Middle East. The much loved shoe designer who counts A-list celebrities such as Dita Von Teese on his list, will be opening a boutique at the Mall of the Emirates in September which follows a recent opening in Jeddah and subsequent stores to be launched in Riyadh and Beirut.

A long time visitor to the region, Louboutin has homes in Egypt and Aleppo and seems to have sourced many of his recent inspirations from the Arab world. His Spring/ Summer 2010 collection, for example, features fabrics sourced in Damascus. During his last visit to the region he carried a notebook and pencil with him at all times ready to quickly make a sketch when an object or idea moved him. “You have to leave your imagination and your eye drifting and looking around. You have to be perceptive in any details in life,” he said in a recent interview.

Louboutin recently signed a joint venture with the Chalhoub Group, the Middle East’s largest luxury retailers and distributors, to develop the brand in the region. The company will spend between $6 million to $10 million launching stores at the Mall of the Emirates, Beirut and Riyadh. The move will undoubtedly help increase the Louboutin’s market share in the region.

So the 12 centimeter high heeled red-soled pumps that every woman wants may soon appear in abundance in this part of the world. The September launch is eagerly awaited for.