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Region Concept Space’s latest collaboration celebrated Movember as it always should have been
Text Gayathri Pullare
There was a time when Movember was just a punchline — a yearly excuse for patchy facial hair and ironic selfies. But somewhere between the moustache emojis and the hashtag activism, it became something else entirely. What began as a meme-tier media movement for men’s health has now evolved into something deeper, and we can see it in the way more traditionally ‘masculine’ men are embracing self-care.
In Abu Dhabi, Region Concept Space held The Movement Edit: Men’s Edition building off this evolved outlook on November 2. It was an event that centred around male wellness, without the fluff. Forget gym bro clichés and spa-day tokenism — this is what Movember looks like with a vision.
AKIN Barber & Shop brought grooming into focus. Born in the UAE and rooted in its creative community, AKIN isn’t your neighbourhood barbershop. It’s a space where every service, from a straight razor shave to a moustache tune-up is treated as an art form. Here, it’s all about the experience, for example, the use of fresh blades, iced towels, clean fades, and subtle scents.
Then there was BRRN BARRE, the Dubai-born movement studio that’s redefining what fitness can feel like. And for Movember, they started by removing the ‘for the girls’ label everyone seems to have slapped on Pilates and leading a mixed session.
Under the direction of Region’s co-founders Johara Saeed and Alanoud Mohammed, the concept space functioned as a sort of cultural lab where wellness was approached like art: experiential, accessible, unpretentious. “At Region, our goal is to create experiences that bring people together around shared values,” says Alanoud. “Men’s wellness deserves that same openness and dialogue,” she adds.
DJ Mr. Shef Codes curated a soundscape with the perfect energy-pumping beats. Between classes and cuts, guests sipped on adaptogen-fuelled drinks from Glam x Region Café.
The Movement Edit: Men’s Edition was about offering tools, textures, and spaces where everyone could simply be. The moustache may still be the symbol of Movember, but the message here cuts deeper, right into the heart of how men are choosing to care for themselves and each other.