Will you wear burqa shades?

Will you wear burqa shades?

A branding agency in Dubai has come up with a pair of sunglasses made of gold and inspired by the traditional burqa.

November 25, 2009 10:26 by kippreport

The Dubai-based office of branding consultancy GS Fitch has come up with a pair of sunglasses designed to resemble the burqa. According to the company’s Web site the “BQ” sunglasses are made from resin and gold, since the metal is a “renowned status symbol.”

It goes on to say that the glasses, which are primarily aimed at women in the region, “perfectly marry modernity and tradition.”

While the glasses are not yet out, interested buyers can place orders on the site. If enough people register interest, Fitch say they will look into production. You can also upload a picture of yourself and try out the glasses virtually.

“I had always been fascinated by the burqa,” Olivier Auroy, managing director of GS Fitch Dubai, told The National. “I wanted to create something for modern women in the Gulf that would reflect their culture.” He told the paper that the concept has so far managed to elicit interest from a member of the royal family and a local manufacturer.

Frankly, Kipp thinks the whole burqa angle is only a marketing ploy. BQ’s look like any other pair of sunglasses, except that they are quite big. And golden. Nonetheless, the marketing ploy is fresh, and the glasses target a market that has money and an interest in gaudy, luxury items.

Do you think the sunglasses will become a symbol of tradition-cum-style in the near future?