RIYADH, 17 May 2005 — The internationally-known Italian fashion designer Alviero Martini opened Sunday night his first clothes and accessories boutique in the Kingdom in an upmarket part of Oleyah Road in Riyadh, sponsored by Al-Yusuf International Group (AYIG).
Dr. Ahmed A. Al-Yusuf, head of the group, said that his group is happy being the distributor chosen by Alviero Martini which already has boutiques in Italy, France, US, China, Korea, Taiwan, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Dubai.
“It’s one of the best brand names in the fashion industry,” he said.
The boutique cost SR8 million, excluding the opening inventory.
Asked his opinion of the potential of the Kingdom as market for his products, Martini said he was optimistic.
“We’re already in Dubai, Kuwait, Beirut and now Saudi Arabia. We’re familiar with this area.”
Martini added that he had visited 75 countries, promoting and opening stores for business. “I used to travel for pleasure. Now, there’s no more pleasure. Every place I go I have to work.”
“This is business but this is another way to approach life in a way that I like very much,” he added, “Because I meet and come to know people. I have friends all over the world.”
To his customers who want to benefit from his designs, he expressed his thanks and the hope that they continue patronizing his products.
The products, he said, were the most important thing. “After 15 years I can tell you that at the beginning it was just a product... But it’s not just a product. It is a deep concept because it’s a natural concept.”
Martini added that his company “has been growing fast,” and he expects that it will generate revenues amounting to 30 million euros this year.