Here are the Best Dubai Retailers for Streetwear and Sneakers

On several occasions, Dubai has made the world’s top five shopping destinations list. Without a doubt this is pretty accurate. There are thousands of stores across the city, selling all types of products and services; The Dubai Mall alone houses over 1,200 stores, and holds the title of world’s most-visited shopping and leisure destination, attracting more than 92 million visitors in 2015.

Considering the above, it’s a quite disappointing thing to find it easy to shop for everything else in all sectors, except for the streetwear and contemporary fashion (especially menswear) sector. It’s safe to say the city is still very much behind, and slowly developing, when it comes to the streetwear and contemporary fashion culture.

While names like Bloomingdale’s and Harvey Nichols have pioneered in the global retail landscape for over a century, it’s been about two decades since they opened the doors to their Dubai flagship, and they’ve undoubtedly done well for the culture throughout. A few other boutiques came up recently, and they’ve been doing pretty alright putting Dubai on the map as well, when it comes to fashion, sneakers and streetwear.

Whether you’re more inclined to shopping or perusing sneakers, contemporary, or high-fashion items, below is a list that can be of help to you. This list will be updated as more solid streetwear and sneaker retailers emerge.

Concepts

About a month ago, pioneering Cambridge-born streetwear and sneaker retailer (and renowned collaborator), Concepts, officially went global with the opening of its new flagship store in the heart of the swanky City Walk, in Dubai. This expansion was to celebrate Concepts’ 20th year anniversary. From John Elliot, to Y-3, A Bathing Ape, Yeezy, Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Asics, Diadora, Reebok, and many more, these guys will hook you up with the best pieces – from new releases, to limited editions and vintage pieces, so you don’t feel left behind in the streetwear fashion scene.

Concepts
City Walk
39 Al Safa Street
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
cncpts.com

Bloomingdale’s

Renowned upscale department store Bloomingdale’s, also went global for the first time when it launched its ginormous three level apparel and accessories store in Dubai, which spans 146,000 square feet, as part of a venture between Al Tayer Insignia and Macy’s, Inc (the parent company).

Bloomingdale’s Dubai stocks high-end/luxury brands, and without a doubt, they’ve got some pretty solid offerings, and you won’t go wrong paying them a visit. New collections from the likes of Public School, to Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone, adidas originals, Alexander Wang, Valentino, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Gucci, DSQUARED2, and more, are just some of the goodness you’ll find in this amazing location called Bloomingdale’s.

Bloomingdale’s 
The Dubai Mall
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
bloomingdales.com

Harvey Nichols

Harvey Nichols is a British department store chain, with a Dubai store location as well. They stock similar brands and collections as Bloomingdale’s Dubai. As a matter of fact, Harvey Nichols Dubai is operated by the same company running Bloomingdale’s Dubai – Al Tayer Insignia LLC. That said, i think they’ve got more brands and contemporary menswear pieces in stock, when compared to Bloomingdale’s.

Comme des Garçons, ETQ, Filling Pieces, John Elliott, Maison Margiela, Marcelo Burlon, and Oliver Spencer, are just some of the greatly desired lifestyle brands Harvey Nichols carry, and it’s certainly worth it to check them out, at the tourist-favorite Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

Harvey Nichols
Mall of the Emirates
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
harveynichols.com

Level Shoes

Level Shoes – as the name suggests, is a massive 96,000 square feet footwear location in The Dubai Mall, which houses 40 different boutiques offering various shoe collections. In regards to highly sought-after premium streetwear and contemporary footwear brands, a particular section in this location, named “Illumitate,” should be on your places-to-check-out-in-level-shoes list; I doubt you’d be dissapointed.

If you’re into Filling Pieces, ETQ, Y-3, Rick Owens, Raf Simons, New Balance, adidas Originals, Nike, Asics, Vans, and the likes, the “Illuminate” section in Level Shoes will literally light you up, and you’ll be smiling throughout. If you’re too lazy to head over to the mall, because getting parking could be a hassle sometimes, you can also shop the latest sneakers via the company’s website.

Level Shoes also carries many amenities to gratify your specific wishes ranging from the ultimate shoe search to personal shoe styling, shoe restoration, feet therapy, culinary relief and a full-time concierge service, to make you live the Level Experience.

Level Shoes
The Dubai Mall – Ground Floor
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
levelshoes.com

Amongst Few

When a discussion about Dubai’s homegrown streetwear scene pops up, the brand name “Amongst Few” definitely comes up. Situated at Palm Strip on Jumeirah Beach Road to distinguish themselves from Dubai’s predominant mall culture, Amongst Few is the combination of a streetwear fashion imprint and a sneaker retailer.

Amongst Few’s offerings include printed tees, trackpants and accessories that utilize premium materials such as super-soft Peruvian cotton to elevate their designs which are influenced by the local culture. Talking about sneakers, the Dubai-born streetwear brand stocks adidas Originals, Asics, Jordan, New Balance, Nike, and Puma.

Amongst Few
Palm Strip
Jumeirah Beach RoadJumeirah 1
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
amongstfew.com

Upclassics

Upclassics is one “worthy mention” that needs to be on this post – which should never be slept on, even though they don’t have a physical store yet (as of the time of writing). Upclassics is a UAE online retailer that exists for two purposes only – the streetwear and sneaker culture. This retailer hooks you up with coveted premium lifestyle brands from all over the world, delivered straight to your doorstep.

Upclassics gives you access to your favorite names in progressive and fresh apparel, footwear and accessories that were previously only available abroad. Now, you don’t have to spend all your cash on shopping sprees in Europe, Asia and America.

Website: upclassics.com

 

Update (May 12, 2018): As mentioned above, this list would be updated as more solid streetwear and sneaker retailers emerge in Dubai, and i believe the time has come for that. Below are some worthy (pun intended) additions to this list.

Worthy

Coincidentally, at the time of this update, this relatively new menswear boutique is celebrating its first year anniversary since opening its door to the city of Dubai. Worthy is a multi-brand menswear boutique that blends contemporary streetwear with runway fashion.

Located in the heart of City Walk, Worthy gives you access to some of the world’s most exclusive contemporary streetwear brands, such as Alexander Wang, Gosha Rubchinskiy, Places + Faces, MISBHV, M+RC Noir, Stampd, amongst many others.

Worthy
City Walk
Unit 8-02 Al Mustaqbal Street
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
worthydxb.com

The Good Life

Talking sneakers, if you’re the type that’s got an affinity for snagging new releases before they’re sold out, The Good Life is the place for you. The Good Life is a top-tier sneaker store that kicked-off operations in heart of Beirut, Lebanon, in 2010. In a bid to further enhance the sneaker culture within the Middle-East region, the sneaker retailer expanded its brick and mortar footprint to Dubai, UAE, in 2017 and has also recently launched its online store.

The Good Life has been doing so much for the sneaker culture in Dubai, and it’s really difficult to turn a blind eye to this. They provide a good selection of highly coveted sneakers that has been previously harder to buy locally. Apart from being a sneaker retail location, The Good Life offers a space for like-minded people from different backgrounds to discuss their love for sneakers.

The Good Life stocks Nike, Jordan, ASICS Tiger, and adidas sneakers, as well as sneaker accessories, apparel and headwear. They also run a very active Instagram page, where they update followers with new releases, with dates and timing.

The Good Life
Alserkal Avenue Unit G-64,
Street 8, Al-Quoz 1
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
thegoodlifespace.com