Episode

Why I Moved to Dubai — When Paris Was the Plan

Podcast
The Fashion Translator
Published
Jul 5, 2026
Duration seconds
359
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https://clairelysbastienwald.substack.com/p/why-i-moved-to-dubai-when-paris-was
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/v1/public/podcasts/the-fashion-translator-7762815/episodes/why-i-moved-to-dubai-when-paris-was-the-plan
Markdown
/podcast/the-fashion-translator-7762815/why-i-moved-to-dubai-when-paris-was-the-plan.md

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Summary

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