What does a typical Dubai apartment look like? Creamy white plush sofas with a glass dining table on the side and matching leather chairs? Vases and ornaments complement the decor as if it’s straight out of a Pottery Barn catalogue?
Well, Hungarian photographer and filmmaker Peter Richweisz’s pad is nothing like that.
As soon as you step into his one-bedroom apartment on Shaikh Zayed Road, you’re hit with the black and white tiger stripes on the wall in the hallway. Dark furniture dot the space and eclectic art pieces adorn each room, accentuated by his rose-themed wallpaper. And then there’s the extremely friendly dog, Manu.
Richweisz, a known name in fashion circles in the UAE, recently launched The cARTel, a store and gallery featuring clothes designed by a mix of 30 artists and designers. And when he showed The Directory the gems in his closet, it was easy to see where the inspiration for his unique concept came from.
Vintage jacket
This is a piece I would never throw away because it has a very special story behind it. I got the jacket from Hungarian designer Tamas Kiraly who had got it from Yves Saint Laurent himself. It’s a vintage piece from the 60s. I’d like to think that I was second in line to receive the jacket from the great designer. When I plan an outfit it all starts with my mood. I am partial towards jackets and it’s the first piece I pick when deciding what to wear.
Issey Miyake jacket
I really like it. There’s no story behind I, I just think it’s an unbelievable piece, the colours and the fabric come together perfectly. I am not a fan of big brands as such I like getting things custom made or I scour the shops in places like Hong Kong, Shanghai or London or I copy a style and have it made in the way that suits me best. I might change the fabric or imitate a particular cut. Men’s wear fabrics are quite drab you have the usual greys and blues but I like some outrageous colours. So the Issey Miyake jacket is special as it was a departure from my usual purchases.
Tail coat from Shanghai
I got this made in a tailor shop in Shanghai. I have a few tails but this is my favourite. I like this because when you put it on it takes you out of the everyday context. You can really stand out since no one wears tails anymore, you come off as different. It’s associated with Royal Ascot or some gala dinner but I love the shape of it because its quite masculine. Unfortunately the weather of Dubai does not suit tails.
Jail Jeans jacket
We had received this collection at the cARTel and when I was unpacking it I tried it on and bought it on the spot. I didn’t let them put it on the shelves. It’s quite unique in terms of cut and quality. It’s not a jacket you would see on the streets usually. I am a fan of the designer Chris Jasler I saw his work at Manila Fashion Week.
John Galliano jacket
It looks amazing. It’s one of those pieces that hard to wear though, it looks great on a hanger. Even though its a piece of art I must have worn it just twice in my life.
Red pony hair shoes
I used to be a big collector of shoes and this red coloured pony hair pair is one of my favourites. I picked it up in Los Angeles from a place called Shoes for the Stars. The designer is a friend of mine. I love the play of textures.
Savile Row suit
It’s my design with their perfectionist execution. I wore it for the races a few years ago and got a lot of comments on it. I am a fashion photographer and I come across a lot of designers and my travels take me to different fashion shows and boutiques around the world, these inspire my creations. I decided to start getting bespoke clothing done because whenever I would go shopping in Dubai I noticed that men’s fashion was always toned down. I like out of the box pieces and it was difficult to find these. They play it safe with colours here and the fabric choices are too conventional for my liking. So when I design something I think of the cut I would like or the shape and the colour. I might take ideas and play with them too, sometimes it comes of wrong other times I have a winner.
I like my accessories. I wear suspenders and vests quite often. I am big on ties but I do not like the conventional ones, I like funky ones.
*The cARTel is located at Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. Go to thecartel.me
