Gone are the days when doing online business was considered a novelty. Today, one is bombarded with adverts scrambling for attention.
In this competition, the idea behind a business and the way it is executed matters most. The more novel the idea, the more chances of success.
The Rabbit Hole, an online thrift store, is one such concept, inspired by the famous Lewis Carroll book “Alice in Wonderland.” As the name suggests, the store has almost everything on offer, and at cheap rates.
Layan Kassas, a 17-year-old Syrian at Dar Jana International School, came up with the idea to make it easier for people to buy affordable goods.
“I was scrolling through a famous Instagram-based thrift store, just thinking of how inspiring it is that people outside of Saudi Arabia have created a community of stylish thrifters. Then I thought to myself: ‘I wish we had thrift stores in Saudi Arabia.’
“In this digital age, the projects you are capable of working on are limitless, so I decided to create @jeddahthrift, the Rabbit Hole,” Kassas told Arab News.
Items at the Rabbit Hole include books, shirts, dresses, bags, and more. Items to be added soon include sunglasses, stickers, pins, and even shoes. It is also currently planning on opening an unused items section. “At the Rabbit Hole, you can shop 100 percent ethically and stylishly,” Kassas said.
“The name of the thrift store actually came to me easier than I expected. ‘Alice in Wonderland’ has always been my favorite tale, and I kind of linked it with thrifting. When Alice fell down the rabbit hole (into Wonderland) all the items surrounding her were unique and peculiar. That’s what I wanted to create — a platform for unique items from unique people.”
Kassas wishes to inspire the creation of more thrift stores in Jeddah and the Kingdom.
“I’ve always been very inspired by how thrift stores sort of had their own community of stylish people,” she said. “I decided to rely on what my mom always tells me: ‘No matter what emotions you go through, you’re never alone.’
“I was sure that out of the 3 million people living in Jeddah, I wasn’t the only one wishing we had that same community in Saudi Arabia. When the idea came to me, I almost felt like I was responsible for giving myself as well as all the other people — who share similar feelings — an opportunity for it to come true.”
Recycling items by selling or donating them to thrift stores has a positive effect on the environment and disempowers unethical production and the use of sweatshops, she added.
“Aside from the opportunity for us to express our style using unique, vintage, or street trends, the benefits of thrifting go way beyond just fashion. Unfortunately, some of the most renowned fashion brands use sweatshops.
“In addition, the fashion industry has been contributing to global carbon emissions for years now, and even wasting water. For example, making one pair of blue jeans uses up to 1,800 gallons of water. That’s the equivalent of the total water an individual drinks in six years. Today, with multiple emerging local businesses, stores, and thrift shops — all of which offer great product quality — we have the freedom to favor and support local businesses and thrift stores,” Kassas said.
“Shop at thrift stores. Support small businesses. Stand for the unprivileged. Save the environment. All while being stylish.”
Startup of the Week: Venturing down the rabbit hole to a thrift shopping wonderland
https://arab.news/cmddk
Startup of the Week: Venturing down the rabbit hole to a thrift shopping wonderland
- Recycling items by selling or donating them to thrift stores has a positive effect on the environment and disempowers unethical production and the use of sweatshops
Sharp shooting: Highlights from ‘In a New Light,’ the Kingdom Photography Awards exhibit
DUBAI: The exhibition of work by the 30 winners of the Kingdom Photography Awards runs until May 25 at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah
Khaled Khazim Sarai Al-Ghaithi Al-Shammari
‘A Serene Night’
This year’s Kingdom Photography Awards received more than 1,300 entries from Saudi Arabia-based photographers, and a total of more than 6,000 photographs. “Each image submitted reflects a distinct vision — capturing moments that inspire, challenge, and celebrate the richness of human experience,” Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission, writes in the exhibition catalogue. “The remarkable work featured in the exhibition … stands as a testament to what happens when vision meets talent.”
Al-Shammari’s winning image, the photographer writes in the catalogue, shows “Hasalat, located in the southwest of Qassim near Dharya, captured in a serene night where trees stand still beneath the stars.”
Huda Ali Al-Neb
‘Riyadh; Saturated’
Al-Neb won for this image from her series that “playfully explores the beauty and significance of Saudi architecture, a theme that has fascinated me since childhood,” she writes. “In first grade, I learned that the traditional buildings I grew up with were made from mud, and I wondered what they would look like if built with colored sand instead. This series … brings to life those childhood fantasies.” Al-Neb adds that she hopes to expand her project to “showcase historic buildings across Saudi Arabia.”
Marwin Pastores Javier
‘Coffee and Tea’
“Each of the 30 selected photographers reveal the possibilities of the medium, demonstrating its power to inspire, provoke, and inform,” curator Mohamed Somji writes in the exhibition catalogue. “(They) challenge traditional notions of what makes a ‘good’ photograph. (The works are) attentive to the rhythm of places, daily rituals, social habits, and connections between people.” Javier’s winning image shows a roadside vendor of hot beverages in Tabuk.
Mohammed Othman M Alshahrani
‘An Evening of Baloot’
Alshahrani’s winning image, shot in the town of Bisha in Asir, shows the photographer’s father, uncles, brothers and cousins playing the popular trick card game Baloot, which, Alshahrani says in his artist’s statement, is “a tradition in many homes and gatherings, sparking lively competition and bonding.”
Kawthar Ali Ibrahim Alghasham
‘A Moment of Waiting’
The images in the exhibition, curator Mohamed Somji writes, “reveal character through subtle interactions, glimpsing personal, spiritual, and familial reflections, or showing known scenes from unexpected angles.” Alghasham’s winning image is an example of the latter. “As sunlight floods King Fahd Airport’s lounge, a solitary man’s pause defies the frenetic nature of travel,” Alghasham writes in his artist’s statement.
Salman Fahad Alanazi
‘After the Storm, 2030’
Alanazi’s dramatic image of a sandstorm hitting Saudi Arabia’s capital was taken before the launch of Saudi Vision 2030. Since then, he says, “with major projects like the Riyadh Green Project, which reduced dust in the city, alongside the creation and planting of nature reserves,” no similar “Hollywood-like dust wave” has been seen in Riyadh.
Tradition drives the contemporary at Downtown Design Riyadh fair
- Rugs, light fixtures, furniture seek to redefine modern design
- Carpet ‘The Noorah’ based on Saudi Arabia textiles on display
RIYADH: Design is always evolving, but at Riyadh’s first Downtown Design fair, it is tradition that is shaping the contemporary.
From elegant, oversized rugs to gleaming light fixtures and bold statement chairs, artisanal pieces line up the exhibition halls at Riyadh’s JAX District, showcasing a medley of heritage pieces that are redefining what modern design looks like.
Trame Paris’ collaboration with Maison L. Drucker brings new meaning to Parisian cafe bistro chairs. The “Enlace” collection utilizes an algorithm to generate unique digital patterns that make every customizable chair a one-of-a-kind piece.
Ismail Tazi, founder of Trame, said they were “continuing this conversation between technology and craftsmanship.”
He added that as an Arab he was “very proud because ‘algorithm’ is derived from Al-Khwarizmi — a Muslim scholar who was born in today’s Uzbekistan.
“So it’s really something that represents me today and how I’m looking to balance my own heritage and still be part of this cultural revolution and define a new Arab aesthetic within this digital revolution.”
Iwan Maktabi, a brand that specializes in contemporary takes on antique rugs, displayed a number of eye-catching carpets — particularly a piece called “The Noorah.”
Made of handwoven wool and silk, the black base of the wall rug stands out with pink, orange, and silver accents, embellished with gold motifs; and is inspired by traditional Saudi Arabic textiles.
Jordan-based Naqsh Collective centralizes the concept of engravings, which is one of the first forms of art.
Blending architecture and design with traditional embroidery methods, their work becomes a mode for storytelling. One of the pieces on display is derived from the embellishments on women’s thobes, specifically around the collar.
Nermeen Abudail, co-founder of the collective, said: “In this piece, we talk about how the ladies did their embroidery in the backyards. They sat together collectively creating motifs inspired by their flora and fauna.
“Each pattern comes from a region. Amulets, flowers, cyprus trees — each holds a name, comes from a region and tells a story of why it was embroidered.”
Each piece is hand-cut, inlaid, and finished with solid brass on walnut wood.
The four-day event, running until May 23, showcases collectible works and ultra-high-end collections presented by international galleries, independent designers and manufacturers.
Art Basel to launch new fair in Qatar
- Sheikha Al-Mayassa is leading the initiative in Doha
- Builds on ‘thriving ecosystem of culture and sports’
DUBAI: Art Basel is set to launch a new edition of its globally renowned fair in Qatar, scheduled for February 2026 in Doha.
Announced on Tuesday, the inaugural Art Basel Qatar is a joint partnership between the organization’s parent company MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments, and QC+, a cultural commerce collective.
The fair will be held at M7 and the Doha Design District in Msheireb, at the heart of the city’s creative quarter.
It promises a tightly curated showcase of leading modern and contemporary art galleries, spotlighting talent from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and beyond.
The initiative builds on Qatar’s long-term cultural vision, championed by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums.
“We have built a thriving ecosystem of culture and sports … and are pleased to welcome the Art Basel organization as our partner,” she said.
The project follows Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup and aims to further position the nation as a hub for arts, sports, and tourism.
QSI’s Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi called the partnership “part of the legacy” of the World Cup and a new chapter in QSI’s investment in culture.
Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz said the initiative “supports artists and galleries and develops new collecting audiences,” while MCH Group CEO Andrea Zappia added that it “will attract art buyers and fans from the region and all over the world.”
Art Basel Qatar will be the fifth fair in the Art Basel portfolio, joining editions in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris.
Elyanna to perform at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts
- Elyanna known for mix of Arab, Western beats
- Concerts to feature some of world’s top stars
DUBAI: Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna will perform at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race Concerts on Dec. 5 at the Etihad Park on Yas Island.
The young star is expected to sing some of her most popular tracks, including “Ghareeb Alay,” “Mama Eh” and her Arabic rendition of “La Vie en Rose.”
Her performance is a part of the Yasalam After-Race concerts, held alongside the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, one of the UAE’s biggest entertainment and sporting weekends.
Elyanna joins a high-profile lineup of artists already announced for the four-night concert series, including Benson Boone on Dec. 4, Post Malone on Dec. 5, Metallica on Dec. 6 and Katy Perry on Dec. 7.
Access to the concerts is exclusive to Formula 1 ticket holders, with each night set to feature large-scale performances at the open-air Etihad Park.
Meanwhile, Elyanna has been normalizing Arabic lyrics in the Western world, taking inspiration from artists including Lana Del Ray and Beyonce, as well as Middle Eastern legend Fayrouz.
The Los Angeles-based singer’s music is a mix of Arab and Western beats, which she attributes to her multicultural upbringing.
Elyanna has built a strong relationship with British rock giants Coldplay, collaborating with them on the song “We Pray” and joining them on stage in multiple cities, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Barcelona and Paris.
One of her standout appearances was during Coldplay’s four-night concert series in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, part of their “Music of the Spheres” world tour.
In April, Coldplay announced that Elyanna had again teamed up with the band to release a new version of “Ma Meilleure Ennemie,” a track originally performed by Belgian artist Stromae and French singer Pomme.
The reimagined version is featured on the extended soundtrack for season two of “Arcane,” the popular Netflix animated series based on the League of Legends universe.
The extended soundtrack features a star-studded lineup, including Twenty One Pilots, Stray Kids, King Princess, and D4vd.
Met returns looted Mesopotamian artifacts to Iraq after investigation
DUBAI: Three ancient Mesopotamian artifacts once housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York have been returned to Iraq after an investigation into art trafficking linked to the late British antiquities dealer Robin Symes, authorities announced on Monday.
The return was confirmed in statements by the Met and the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which led the criminal investigation. The artifacts — a Sumerian gypsum vessel from about 2600-2500 BC and two Babylonian ceramic heads dated about 2000-1600 BC — were among 135 looted antiquities linked to Symes and seized earlier this year.
According to The New York Times, the male head sculpture was sold to the Met by Symes in 1972, while the female head and the Sumerian vessel were gifts from a private collection in 1989. All three are believed to have originated from ancient Mesopotamian sites, including Isin and Ur, now in modern-day Iraq.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. said the seizure and return are part of broader efforts to undo the “significant damage traffickers have caused to our worldwide cultural heritage.”
The repatriation was formalized in a ceremony in Lower Manhattan attended by Iraqi officials and Met representatives. The museum said that it had acted upon “new information” received through the DA’s investigation that clarified the artifacts’ illicit provenance.
Authorities estimate the value of the 135 items trafficked through Symes and recovered in New York at $58 million.
