Louis Vuitton and Versace in Khor Al-Zubair
High heels and high Hopes: Shamoukh boutique’s story
AL-ZUBAIR – In the remote town of Khor Al-Zubair in Basra governorate, high-end brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton seem out of place among the modest local shops. Yet, Hussein Al-Miyahi and his partner Ali Karim have defied expectations by opening Shamoukh, a women’s fashion boutique offering luxury goods.
Located 20 km south of Al-Zubair, few traders invest in high-end goods here due to the area’s modest living standards. However, Al-Miyahi and Karim launched Shamoukh, a store that avoids Turkish and Chinese products, opting instead for renowned international brands sourced from stores in Kurdistan’s Erbil. Their boutique features luxury bags, shoes, and accessories from top brands.
“Our products are authentic brands like Chanel, Versace, and Louis Vuitton,” said Al-Miyahi. Shamoukh offers items such as high-heeled shoes up to 8 cm from brands rarely found in the city.
Unlike their previous unsuccessful ventures, Shamoukh was carefully planned and market-researched for over two years.
“Our city desperately needs this project, and we have been thinking about this store for three years,” said Al-Miyahi.
The partners decided to source their inventory from Erbil, a major marketing hub in the region. They bring global brands like Dior, Chloe, Saint Laurent, Just Cavalli, Versace, and Louis Vuitton to Khor Al-Zubair.
“Our prices are good despite offering major brands of bags, accessories, and shoes,” said Karim, who said they also offer a delivery service to their customers.
“Despite previous failures, we have succeeded now after comprehensive planning and study by opening the Shamoukh store, which has eased the burden on women and girls by providing their necessary needs right here,” Karim explained.
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