Inside the Kuwaiti Concept Store Championing Regional Designers

Founded in 2019, UNCOMMON is far beyond a typical retail store. Located in two prominent areas in Kuwait, the spaces serve as an experimental hub for the community to encourage creativity.

Launched with the aim to bring recognition to the work of local creatives, UNCOMMON provides a unique platform for regional designers such as VI BY VOGULARITY, CLAUDETTE THE BRAND, REALSELF, ROBYN and CODED NATION to be stocked alongside a carefully curated selection of sought-after deadstock pieces — difficult to source in the West let alone in the Middle East. Priding itself as the first and only physical store in Kuwait to champion emerging talent and tap into its burgeoning creative scene, this gives a competitive edge on its local and surrounding counterparts.

Both stores adopt a rustic industrial interior aesthetic, adorned with brushed concrete walls and metal fittings. The first store is located on the outskirts of the city, in Shuwaikh Industrial and consists of a retail space at the front with an open plan to the rear for events, launches and parties. In addition to the normal retail area, the second store on Ahmad Al Jaber St. in Kuwait City also offers a coffee bar so customers can relax whilst shopping.

With plans to expand into various areas of the Gulf and beyond, UNCOMMON aims to progress from a concentrated concept store into a fully-fledged player in the global department store market — broadening its reach into homeware and lifestyle products along with the creation of its own label. Visit the brand’s Instagram to stay updated on upcoming releases and information on the launch of its new app and website.