Why I Moved to Dubai — When Paris Was the Plan

For a long time, Paris was the plan.It made sense on paper.Fashion capital. Creative energy. The city that shaped so much of what I thought I knew about this industry.But life has a way of offering you something better than the plan you had.Dubai was not what I expected to choose.And then, it chose me — and everything shifted.Not because Dubai is more glamorous,But because it asked something different of me.It asked me to build from a different foundation.To think about fashion, about business, about what I actually wanted to create — without the weight of expectation that comes with a city that already has a very clear idea of what fashion should look like.Paris is extraordinary. And this week, as the industry gathers there for Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2026, the pull of that city is impossible to ignore.But home, right now, is Dubai.And I think I needed to go somewhere unexpected to understand what I was actually building.If you have ever chosen the city that surprised you over the one that made sense —I would love to hear about it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clairelysbastienwald.substack.com