The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

It is an
indispensable sight next to hockey fields, tennis courts and golf courses
worldwide. It can be found on mothers watching their children play, on fathers
hitting a bit of a ball themselves and on spoiled little rich kids who have an
entire wardrobe filled with it. The ‘it’ thing we are talking about is Burberry
and its unmistakable tartan print.

This
British brand has dominated high-end luxury markets worldwide with its trench coats, polo shirts, scarves and flats, symbolising
wealth and class.

By opening its first branch in Egypt, Burberry is embracing this strategy,
offering extremely high priced designer items that the average Egyptian can’t afford. The
Cairo branch of Burberry is located in Mohandiseen on the corner of Geziret El
Arab Street and Lebanon Street next to Bershka and Pull and Bear.

As is
customary with many high-end brands brought to Egypt, the Burberry collection
isn’t completely up-to-date. The shop space is fairly small too. Downstairs is
a section with shoes, scarves and bags. The famous Burberry scarves with the
tartan print are ridiculously expensive at 2650LE. Yes, it is high quality but
it’s also just a scarf. A nice, thin belt will set you back 1575LE. Bags start
at 5200LE for the smallest size. A laptop bag will set you back 6350LE and will
only fit a small laptop.

Compared
to the bags’ prices, the shoes on display are practically a bargain: ballerina
flats start at 1995LE, whereas a pair of pumps can sell for 2850LE. These
prices may be cheap compared to those of the other accessories, but they’re
still preposterously high.

The
shop’s upper level holds the clothing collection, where you can lay your hands
on the brand’s signature trench coat. It is available in several colours such
as camel, gray and black. Ladies’ coats start at 6450LE while men’s coats are a
bit more expensive at 6690LE. A pair of jeans sells for 1900LE and a pair of
smart trousers costs 1995LE. A men’s shirt retails for 1375LE and above, while
a polo shirt costs 1150LE. The cheapest items in the men’s section are the ties,
which start at 950LE.

Of
course, the products are of good quality and designer fans will appreciate the
clothes, especially the coats and the jeans; but the prices are absolutely
absurd. The staff at Burberry is friendly but as is the case in any expensive
shop, they tend to follow you around a bit.