Ale Al Zadjali is a 24 year-old award-winning fashion designer; he is the brain behind the ‘Esque By Ale’ line of clothing.
With virtual reality becoming the new equation of a shopping paradise, will we see the demise of more stores, both locally and internationally, asks Ale Al Zadjali
Claire’s is closing and I am having a personal crisis! I was always fascinated with the store and it has certainly been my first go-to for last minute presents, because my nieces are obsessed with it, my female friends are obsessed with it and, honestly, I’m obsessed with it! The store was just nice to look at. Toys’R’Us is getting the same treatment, but I’m less bothered by that and that’s mainly because the last couple of times I walked in, the games just looked boring. I don’t think it’s because I’m older now, but I do believe that the new toys aren’t as exciting anymore. Yes, both closures are currently limited to the USA, but, naturally, they will take full effect internationally soon enough.
This isn’t my point though; reading about those two stores hit me with a reminder, or what I call, ‘the new reality’. It’s where physical shopping is no longer a thing, I mean if you walk around malls you see more and more stores closing down – and not all of them are being replaced. We literally have malls and extensions open up, with a store or 2 only…
It’s kind of scary to think about, maybe it’s just for me because I’m old minded and I prefer to feel the item I purchase. And, as a designer, I prefer for my customers to be able to do the same. Study, admire and be able to count every hem on what I create before purchasing it. However, the Internet is here to make it clear that virtual reality is the new shopper’s paradise and you can’t blame people. As humans, we are selfish and we want more especially when express shipping is a thing.
