“….An idea of surpassing, between sand & asphalt.

A city with a high temperature climate where elite businessmen from the world over come together.

The double buckle signature of John Lobb is back – but with a Middle Eastern difference…”

Dubai, UAE; Renowned British bootmaker John Lobb will premiere its latest ‘Spirits of Capitals’ collection in an exclusive exhibition at the Dubai Mall from 2^nd-12^th November 2011. The bespoke line was created as a celebration of 11 major cities of the world, and captures the essence of each city in a shoe. Spirits of Capitals has made waves in its global tour, setting new benchmarks for innovation and creativity in the world of fine shoemaking.

Spirits of Capitals design teams were assembled in each city and given the task of creating two sets of shoes that best embody their city. The teams consisted of men from various walks of life – John Lobb team members, artists, clients and writers to name but a few, and the result: astounding. There are the Balmoral-style Oxfords reminiscent of Paris, the Derby low boots of London and hand stitched platform moccasins of Taipei. The other inspirational cities include New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Moscow, Beijing, Seoul, Geneva – and of course, Dubai.

The two sets of sandals representative of Dubai make a true Middle Eastern style statement, and epitomize the concept of personalized luxury. Both pairs of sandals are inspired by the classic John Lobb William monk shoe, perhaps one of the most iconic shoes ever created. The double buckle of the Dubai sandals provide an adjustable instep fitting for ideal comfort at all times, and the extra supple insole is sheathed in lambskin. Made from either calfskin or crocodile, the sandals are set to make waves within the local and regional fashion avenues, with the crocodile option the most expensive sandal in the world.

Speaking about Spirits of Capitals in Dubai, Renaud Paul-Dauphin, CEO of John Lobb said, “Bespoke. Is there a more evocative word to those who appreciate beautiful things? A word in which the unique replaces the ordinary. An experience to serve those men who are the masters of their personal style. To celebrate the art of bespoke bootmaking, John Lobb takes you on a journey with Spirits of Capitals. Imagine a pair of John Lobbs that embodies the spirit of your city and John Lobb will craft it. The journey now stops in Dubai to pay tribute to one of the most fascinating cities in the world.”

John Lobb shoes and boots are arguably the best in the world, all made by hand and highly exclusive – it is this philosophy of individually created shoes that gave rise to the Spirits of Capitals concept. The brand has been making the finest shoes and boots for gentlemen since 1866 and is now owned by the Hermès Group. Its rich heritage is reinforced by timeless qualities of craftsmanship, service and style.

Spirits of Capitals shoes are available only in bespoke form, a unique and exciting journey that begins with a series of foot measurements and ends with a custom-made pair of shoes six to eight months later. The collection can be sourced at the John Lobb boutique in the Dubai Mall, with prices starting at AED 27,000.

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For press information, please contact

Schneider PR

Sandra Schneider

Telephone: +971 4 3219033

Mobile: +971 50 5240120

Email: sandra@schneider-pr.net

SPIN GEAR is an inimitable rollercoaster experience replete with sound and special visual effects. It occupies the largest floor space within SEGA Republic, spanning over 16,145 sq ft – more than 20 per cent of the total area. SPIN GEAR has a total track length of 380 metres and a maximum track height of 13.55 metres. Its array of spins and accelerations will deliver a truly exhilarating experience for adventurous and fun-loving guests at the park.

A total of 400 people per hour can enjoy the ride, which is billed to be one of the most popular attractions at SEGA Republic.

Mr Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Retail, said that the highest standards of safety mark every operational aspect of SEGA Republic. “Adventure, fun and entertainment in a totally safe and secure environment – that is the operational philosophy of SEGA Republic. As one of the keenly awaited rides which is already a hot topic of discussion amongst adventure lovers, SPIN GEAR has undergone rigorous testing and has now entered final commissioning and testing.”

He added: “SPIN GEAR will appeal not only to youngsters but to everyone who is young at heart. In fact, the varied spread of nine thrilling attractions and over 150 amusement games are guaranteed to satisfy any guest preference.”

Designed specifically by the gaming experts at SEGA® Corporation, the world’s leader in indoor entertainment, SPIN GEAR complements an assortment of high-tech attractions and amusement games spread over five zones – Speed, Sports, Adventure, Cyperpop and Redemption. SPIN GEAR anchors the Adventure Zone of the theme park.

The themed ride tells a story based around the evil plans of Dr. Eggman, who is Sonic the Hedgehog’s arch nemesis. Dr. Eggman has taken over an old factory facility and has developed a prototype weapon, SPIN GEAR, for capturing Sonic the Hedgehog. Now all he needs are ‘test subjects’ and there is only way to escape his evil plans – on a rollercoaster ride that will have everyone’s head spinning.

The largest SEGA Republic indoor family theme park in the Middle East region, SEGA Republic is scheduled to open this summer, along with KidZania®, an edutainment concept for children, and the 22-screen Reel Cinemas. The three new entertainment facilities will add
to the already successful leisure portfolio at the mall, which includes Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo with over 33,000 aquatic animals and the world’s largest acrylic viewing panel; the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink; and the world’s tallest performing fountain.

The Dubai Mall is the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination covering 12 million square feet, equivalent to 200 football fields. And soaring visitor numbers are driving business, with mall retailers reporting a 33 per cent jump in sales from December to April, said Mr Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, in an interview with Pan Arab television station Al Arabiya.

The Dubai Mall is also now the region’s single largest new employment generator, creating 10,000 jobs this year. Retailers have created an estimated 7,500 jobs and Emaar Malls Group has hired thousands more people to work in management, operations, sales, marketing, security, parking and other services.

Mr. Alabbar said: “The Dubai Mall is a catalyst for Dubai’s economy, driving the retail sector and employment. The formal opening of the mall on May 8, 2009, by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, attracted a record 160,000 visitors – over 10 per cent of the city’s population. With 750,000 visitors every week during the Festival@The Dubai Mall, the mall is on course to achieve annual visitor traffic of 37 million.”

“The Dubai Mall is one of the most significant investments in retailing in the world. It has introduced 165 new retail brands and concepts into the Middle East and unveiled flagship stores of international brands. The world famous department stores Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s are making their Middle East debut at the mall. This reflects the strength of Dubai’s retail sector and the appeal of The Dubai Mall to the global retail industry,” explained Mr. Alabbar.

According to recent research by CB Richard Ellis, Dubai is the fourth most-attractive city for international retailers next only to London, Paris and New York City. The study mapped the global footprint of 280 of the world’s top retailers across 67 countries. It revealed that 46 per cent of these global retailers are in Dubai compared to London (60 per cent), Paris (49 per cent) and New York (47 per cent).

With 1,200 retailers, The Dubai Mall has the largest collection of international brand names under one roof. If all the shop fronts were lined up, they would stretch 23 kilometres. More than 900 shops are already open, and the remaining 300 will open in the next three months. Visitors can also choose from an array of international cuisine at two food courts with a total seating capacity of 3,000.  The mall also has over 14,000 car parking spaces.

Leisure attractions at the mall include The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo featuring over 33,000 aquatic animals including sharks and rays, and with the world’s largest acrylic viewing panel and a walk-through tunnel; the Olympic-sized Dubai Ice-Rink; and The Waterfall, an indoor spectacle that traverses the four floors of the mall. The daily shows at The Dubai Fountain are an added draw for visitors. 

Located on the 30-acre Burj Dubai Lake, The Dubai Fountain is the world’s tallest performing fountain. Designed by California-based WET, the creators of the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas, The Dubai Fountain is over 900 ft (275 metres) in length. It features powerful water nozzles which shoot water sprays to heights of over 500 ft (150 metres) – equivalent to that of a 50-storey building. Over 6,600 WET Superlights – the most advanced incandescent large fountain lights available today – and 25 colour projectors will create a visual spectrum of over 1,000 different water expressions that will appeal to visitors.

Other entertainment features opening in the next three months include KidZania®, an innovative children’s ‘edu-tainment’ concept that is being introduced to the region for the first time; SEGA Republic, a 76,000 sq-ft indoor theme park; and the 22-screen REEL Cinemas with a total capacity of 2,800 seats.