Three things to do at Robinsons this weekend

The Robinsons department store features eye-catching vertical gardens. Courtesy Robinsons

The famed Singapore-based chain Robinsons opened at Dubai Festival City last week. At 200,000 square feet, it is being touted as the UAE’s largest department store, and it stocks 600 brands, including 90 that are exclusive to Robinsons. The bright and airy space is done up in wood and marble, and has cascading vertical gardens designed by French botanist Patrick Blanc – a throw to the flagship store on Orchard Street in Singapore. Here are three things to do at Robinsons this weekend.

Visit the Sultani exhibition

Under the dome on the first level of Robinsons is a display of 18 traditional gowns, each of which has been worn by a prominent Emirati woman in the past. The exhibit is courtesy of Dr Reem Tariq El Mutwalli, and is based on her book Traditions Renewed – Changes in women's Traditional Dress in the United Arab Emirates During the Reign of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1966-2004). The exhibition will be on display until June 30, while the book sets are being sold exclusively at the Fashion Library Café at Robinsons.

Discover local designer talent

In a bid to support local talent, Robinsons has partnered with the Dubai Design & Fashion Council to launch The Collector, a platform that will exclusively present the works of five Emirati designers who have their own labels. These include: ready-to-wear labels YNM by Yasmine and Nesreen Al Mulla; Mimi Designs by Mariam Al Mazro; and Twisted Roots by Latifa Al Gurg; plus jewellery by Alia bin Omair; and luxury leather goods from HanaH by Hana Al Matrooshi.

Shop for brands not available anywhere else in the UAE

Perhaps what’s most exciting about the new department store is that it is the only destination where shoppers can avail themselves of as many as 90 new-to-the-UAE brands, spanning 10 categories. While it’s impossible to list them all, here are but a few names that you can browse through. Furniture and home accessories from John Lewis; shoes from Vic Matié and Donna Carolina; bags from Céline Lefebure and Kwanpen; scarves from Marc Rozier; hats from Bedach; jewellery from Lamie and Didier Dubot; swimwear and lingerie from Mimi Holiday, Loveday London and Maison Lejaby; menswear from Ivano Triolo, Fingercroxx and YMC; womenswear from Paul + Joe Sister, Fyodor Golan and Sass & Bide; children’s wear from Aape and Roanna Accessories; and beauty products from Surratt, Edward Bess and Cire Trudon.