Hussain Moloobhoy, Rajat Malhotra, and Joshua Cox are the founders of Sole DXB, an annual trade show and culture festival in Dubai. What started as a modest gathering for sneaker enthusiasts in 2011 has since evolved into a regional platform, where global brands like Nike and Adidas have unveiled exclusive releases.
The trio have helped transform the streetwear scene in the Middle East by attracting not only fashion and footwear industry leaders but also artists, athletes, celebrities and style icons from the hip-hop community. Some of the world’s rarest sneakers, such as coveted Air Jordan models, are available for private sale at the event.
Before they united in their entrepreneurial venture, the trio had careers in a variety of fields. US-born Malhotra, a graduate of the Stern School of Business at NYU, moved to Dubai in 2004, where he served as the Middle East and Africa regional CEO of a telecoms business for eight years. Cox, an Australian who grew up in Dubai, attended Swinburne University of Technology, and is a trained industrial designer. UK-born Moloobhoy, who grew up between London and Mumbai and graduated from Central Saint Martins, spent four years at Saatchi & Saatchi in London before becoming creative director at the firm’s Dubai office. He is also the co-founder of brand and graphic design agency Moloobhoy & Brown.
