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OSKELLY Aims To Shake Up The MENA Luxury Fashion Market
The Eastern European platform will use investments of over $1 million to revolutionize the Middle East’s $89 billion fashion industry.
OSKELLY, the luxury fashion resale platform from Eastern Europe, has set its sights on the United Arab Emirates and is poised to reshape the nation’s fashion landscape. Armed with an investment fund exceeding $1 million, the company plans to digitize the fashion resale sector, advocate for sustainable consumption in the Middle East, and rejuvenate the region’s $89 billion fashion resale industry.
OSKELLY will begin its expansion by introducing a fashion wardrobe ecosystem aided by digital and AI solutions catering to Emirati users. The OSKELLY app allows for both buying and selling of pre-owned luxury items, with social tools enabling users to bid on items and showcase their collections.
Founded in 2017 by the sibling duo of Albert Oskanov and Zaira Keligova, OSKELLY boasts a European user base exceeding 500,000 and an extensive portfolio spanning over 3,000 luxury brands.
To combat counterfeit items, OSKELLY has devised a comprehensive offline authentication process, employing an in-house team of experts to scrutinize the quality, authenticity, and condition of luxury goods both during the uploading phase and before dispatch. Once certified, items undergo pre-sale preparation, including steaming and minimal restoration, before being sent to buyers in branded packaging.
Despite phenomenal growth, OSKELLY’s mission is about much more than commercial success. Albert Oskanov, the CEO and co-founder, emphasizes: “It’s about our mission to create a community-driven fashion ecosystem in the Middle East. We’re here to rewrite the luxury fashion resale story, and we’re driven by a genuine desire to make a difference at every level — from our wardrobes to the world in which we live”.
Also Read: Mobile Trends Shaping MENA In 2024
The Middle East’s fashion industry market, valued at $89 billion, stands as fertile ground for OSKELLY’s expansion. The second-hand luxury bag market in Dubai alone is estimated to be worth $68 million, with the UAE’s total market revenue now around $3.5 billion.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.