BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)

Abu Dhabi’s cultural influence is extending beyond museum walls and into global fashion, cinema and luxury design, as a new collaboration inspired by Louvre Abu Dhabi brings the emirate’s cultural identity to international audiences.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi Bag, created through a partnership between Venetian luxury brand Dellaluna and Louvre Abu Dhabi, was conceived as an extension of the museum’s narrative, drawing inspiration from shared histories, craftsmanship and centuries of cultural exchange between Venice and the Arab world.

The project was officially unveiled during the 2026 Venice Biennale and later drew further global attention after the bag appeared in “The Devil Wears Prada 2” movie, introducing a design inspired by Abu Dhabi’s cultural landmark to audiences worldwide.

According to Louvre Abu Dhabi, the collaboration reflects the museum’s role as a universal institution built around cultural dialogue and shared human stories.

The design itself draws heavily from the museum’s architectural identity. Inspired by the iconic dome designed by Jean Nouvel, the bag incorporates muted stone-grey tones, geometric patterns and visual references to the museum’s signature rain of light effect, while combining them with Dellaluna’s design language rooted in Venetian architecture.

Speaking to Aletihad, Lamya Rashid Al Nuaimi, Development, Marketing and Communications Director at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “Collaborations like this reflect Louvre Abu Dhabi’s role as a universal museum, centred on cultural exchange and shared human stories. By bringing together design, craftsmanship and cross-cultural dialogue, they reinforce Abu Dhabi as a place where ideas and creativity intersect within international contexts.

“It reflects how the museum’s architecture, values and visual language resonate internationally and demonstrates how Abu Dhabi’s cultural identity can extend beyond place, engaging with global creative industries and contributing meaningfully to contemporary fashion discourse.”

She added that museums increasingly have a role beyond exhibitions, serving as platforms that translate culture, history and ideas into new forms through design and craftsmanship.

“In doing so, they engage wider audiences and support cross-disciplinary exchange while remaining rooted in their intellectual and educational mission. Therefore, Museums, in this context, evolve from places of display into active participants in contemporary culture, extending their narratives beyond their walls and into everyday life.

“Cultural institutions are no longer confined to physical spaces but are embedded within the broader ecosystems audiences engage with daily. Art has always transcended disciplines, and here it becomes something tangible, wearable, accessible and personal, allowing individuals to carry a piece of the museum with them,” she said.

For Dellaluna founder and creative director Silvia Paulon, the project represents one of the most significant creative undertakings of her career.

“I designed the Louvre Abu Dhabi bag personally, as I do with every single Dellaluna piece, but this was profoundly different. It has been the most beautiful process I have experienced in my career,” Paulon told Aletihad.

According to Paulon, Louvre Abu Dhabi was not simply a source of inspiration but became part of the creative process itself. “It was a living subject within the creative process, almost a co-designer, very few buildings in the world possess such a strong identity and such extraordinary visual power,” she said.

The bag was handcrafted in Venice by Dellaluna’s long-time artisan, who has spent more than five decades producing handmade leather goods using traditional machinery and techniques.

Each piece requires more than 150 hours of work and is produced using centuries-old Venetian leather craftsmanship methods.

Paulon described the collaboration as a true partnership between the museum and the design house. “The Louvre Abu Dhabi team worked alongside us day by day from the very inception of the project, from the design to the finest details, the photoshoot and the launch event,” she said.

While the craftsmanship, construction and affresco techniques were carried out in Venice, Paulon said the creative direction and cultural vision were developed in close collaboration with the museum in the UAE.

“The creative dialogue, the cultural direction and the vision were shaped in the UAE in close collaboration with the museum’s team. The bag belongs to both places,” she said.

According to Paulon, the greatest challenge and greatest privilege was ensuring the design properly reflected the significance of Louvre Abu Dhabi itself.

“It is the first universal museum of the Arab world, a place that carries within it a profound cultural statement about dialogue, openness and shared humanity. This was not only a professional responsibility but a deeply personal one. This has been the biggest honour of my career,” she said.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi bag is available for purchase through Dellaluna’s store and website. For more information, visit https://dellaluna.com/products/louvre-abu-dhabi-bag.