Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Luxury jewellery designer Caroline Gaspard let her imagination roam free as she drew inspiration from heroic epics and spy and gangster films ... and produced the world's most expensive belt.
Boasting a buckle featuring empty Kalashnikov rifle bullets encrusted with diamonds, the belt is made of alligator leather and the French-based Akillis store has already sold three pieces at BD19,452 each.
The belt and its craftsmanship are in stark contrast to existing design patterns and stands out from the ordinary, fashion experts say. It breaks free from conventional jewellery design and old school motifs of using hearts, small animals and floral patterns that are so common in contemporary jewellery designs.
"People who buy into ultra-luxury are in it for the image and price is definitely not an object of contention for such people," said Ms Gaspard, CEO of Akillis. "My clientele pay for the uniqueness of my designs."
Akillis has its flagship boutique in Rue Volney, in Paris, with select distributors across the world stocking its products.
Akillis recently announced plans to expand its distribution network throughout the Middle East and India through the opening of boutiques, appointment of franchise partners, shops with larger stores and retail corners across the region as part of its first phase of expansion.
Each and every piece of jewellery is made in France and is crafted by Parisian artisans. The jewellery is a bold, yet elegant, display of beauty.
Akillis says its designs are comfortable to wear, following the curves of the body like a second skin.
The Middle East region has been identified as an increasingly important market for the company as it is an extremely receptive market for luxury products, explained Ms Gaspard.
"In France, we sell a lot of jewellery to customers from the Middle East and India and a brand cannot be classified as truly global if it is not represented in the Middle East or India. The region is obviously a high-growth and high-income region and is a major player in the world of luxury," she recently told reporters.
Against the backdrop of the global economic recession, Akillis boasted a turnover of $14 million last year. While the global economic downturn that began in late 2008 brought recession to the United States and Europe and the rest of the world, the global downturn has not dented the demand for luxury goods and the crisis had little impact on spending habits among the rich and super rich, said Ms Gaspard.
She noted that despite a tougher economic climate, self-reward and pampering remained strong factors for buying luxury items.
