Brand renowned for Parisienne bohemian chic expands its presence in the region

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 17 June, 2015

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel is opening its first mono-brand store for the UAE at Abu Dhabi's Yas Mall, bringing the company's renowned take on Parisienne bohemian chic to a wider audience. The new outlet aims to capitalise on the increasing demand from the country's modish women who are hungry for the latest styles.

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel collections are characterised by an inimitable touch of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, a fashionable district in the French capital.

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel's first dedicated outlet in the UAE is being brought to the country under Marka Fashion, a division of Marka PJSC, the first public joint stock company focused on the fast growing retail sector in the UAE.

"Sonia by Sonia Rykiel has become renowned for its active, sporty, feminine and fun pieces that are sought after by today's contemporary, individual women - we are delighted to be able to bring the company's first mono-brand store to the UAE in conjunction with Marka Fashion," said Eric Langon, CEO of Sonia Rykiel. "Sonia by Sonia Rykiel is inextricably linked to the freedom of the avant-garde late sixties and the brand's style reflects that era of positivity, change, the casting off of the old and the embracing of a new future."

Characterized with elements of 'urban bloom,' the items in the range evoke soft resilience with floral silk shirts and shorts ripped up and restructured into asymmetric cascades. Lightweight coral jackets, bombers and trench coats in the collection reverse into leopard print, while cardigans become dresses, their sleeves hung free from the shoulders. The collection features patchwork classics in cotton linen, oversize pants and coats that can be cinched at the waist, and Chiné knit dresses that are imbued with the feel of draped granite. True to the essence of the brand, many of the items are designed to be worn over skin that's bare.

"Marka Fashion is delighted to be bringing Sonia by Sonia Rykiel to the region's forward-looking, feminine lovers of hip chic. For almost five decades Sonia Rykiel has been forging a new look in the global fashion landscape and the brand's new dedicated outlet at Yas Mall is a fantastic new addition to Marka Fashion's burgeoning portfolio. This inaugural boutique represents the first activity in the division's strategy to open eight brand locations across the GCC over the next five years," said Nick Peel, CEO of Marka.

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About Sonia Rykiel:
Developing a name for making clothes for women who wanted total freedom of movement, Sonia Rykiel termed her style 'la démode,' which expressed her aim to fit the garment to the desire of the customer, not the couturier. Her collections became characterised as having a no compromise, sophisticated style, with items marrying the movements of the body without restraint. Declared 'Queen of Knits' by Women's Wear Daily in 1972, Sonia Rykiel became an international icon, creating a revolutionary new direction in apparel.

Sonia Rykiel's direction was enhanced in May 2014 with the appointment of renowned fashion designer Julie De Libran as Artistic Director. Having an extensive background working for the most famous names in the business, Julie de Libran was brought on board to oversee the development of all lines of Sonia Rykiel's womenswear, its Sonia By Sonia Rykiel collections, the brand's children's line, its home collection and its range of accessories. Her first collection for Sonia Rykiel, Spring Summer 2015, was shown in Paris in September 2014, with her most recent show for fall 2015-2016 staged in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres store in Paris in March, 2015. She has also collaborated with publisher Thomas Lenthal and artist André Saraiva to transform the Sonia Rykiel flagship outlet into a bookstore filled with some 50,000 tomes.

About Marka PJSC
Marka PJSC (DFM: MARKA) is the first public joint stock company focused on the fast growing retail sector in the UAE. Incorporated with a capital of AED 500 million and headquartered in Dubai, Marka is a premier retail operator targeting the mid-to-high-range and luxury segments. Since incorporation in 2014, Marka has partnered with leading global brands in the retail and hospitality sectors, pursuing a growth strategy focused on acquisitions, franchise agreements and unique retail concepts.

Marka is committed to offering value to its customers through high quality products and services at optimum cost, simultaneously generating value for its shareholders and giving back to the communities in which it operates.

For further information about Marka and to learn more about its brands, visit www.markaholding.com.

For Further Information please contact:
Riham Musleh
Senior Account Manager
Cicero & Bernay Public Relations
Tel : 04 -334 29 66
Email : riham@cbpr.me

© Press Release 2015