Delvaux makes its debut in the United Arab Emirates with its first boutique in the Middle East, located inside The Dubai Mall on Fashion Avenue. Designed by Vudafieri-Saverino Partners, the boutique introduces the Belgian Maison’s universe through an interior design concept that combines heritage, craftsmanship, decorative art and hospitality culture.
The concept by Vudafieri-Saverino Partners
The concept uses the language of interior decoration to express Delvaux’s identity through a narrative approach that interprets context, tradition, savoir-faire and contemporary creativity.
Each Delvaux boutique is conceived as a unique address, where the Maison’s creations enter into dialogue with museum-quality decorative artworks. In Dubai, the design challenge was to represent almost two centuries of brand history and its status as an icon of high craftsmanship.
Delvaux heritage and craftsmanship
The spatial narrative recalls the invention of the modern handbag, with the first leather model created in 1908, and the Maison’s archive, which includes more than 3,000 pieces.
Among them are iconic models such as The Brillant, created in 1958, The Tempête, from 1967, The Pin, from 1972, and The Lingot, from 2022, all handmade. The project also highlights Delvaux’s historic role as official supplier to the Royal Court of Belgium since 1883.
Design, art and architecture inside the Delvaux boutique
Tiziano Vudafieri and Claudio Saverino combine design, art and architecture to reflect the brand’s savoir-faire, heritage and artisanal culture. The boutique hosts imposing and contemporary creations, where elegance occasionally opens up to a more ironic tone.
On Fashion Avenue at The Dubai Mall, the space opens with a clean-lined storefront in optical white tones outlined in black. Like a precious case, it reveals a large fabric-covered portal that immediately conveys the Maison’s refinement, sophisticated taste and attention to detail.
Furniture, materials and Flemish references
The entrance hall is defined by curved wall units, conceived as a contemporary interpretation of traditional Flemish furniture, combining intimacy, comfort and functionality.
This area opens onto a large portal decorated with antique leather-cutting tools sourced directly from Delvaux’s Brussels atelier. Framed by a majestic marble surround, a small bar with a custom-made counter in the same material and nickel velour finishes recalls the traditions of European cafés as places of gathering, exchange and conviviality.
The lounge area features armchairs with Angolo poufs by Tato, a re-edition of the design classic created by Corrado Corradi Dell’Acqua in 1963.
VIC lounge and decorative surfaces
A vestibule upholstered in soft burgundy fabrics, with pale gold niches, leads to the VIC lounge, Very Important Customer. The space is decorated with custom-made wallpaper inspired by De Stijl and the work of Piet Mondrian, with pale gold metallic shades on a silver background.
The lounge invites customers, conceived as guests, to discover the collections in the comfort of a reserved and dedicated environment. The floors are in natural oak Point de Hongrie parquet, while the walls are treated with Marmorino, a marble-inspired stucco decoration that enriches the surfaces through texture and material depth.
The space includes the Inge sofa by Marta Sala Édition and two Little Big Chair armchairs by Norr11.
A window display inspired by the Atomium
For the opening, visitors were welcomed by a window display inspired by the Atomium, one of Belgium’s symbols, built for the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958.
The reference connects to the year in which The Brillant model was created, one of the Maison’s signature handbags and an icon within the world of leading luxury brands.
Belgitude and dialogue with the context
The visionary strength of the Delvaux universe emerges in the ability of Vudafieri-Saverino Partners to design boutiques that are always different and original, where the “belgitude” of the historic leather goods Maison remains clearly recognizable while being harmoniously introduced into the cultural context of each country.
The project creates a fusion of distinct elements, maintaining balance, identity and mutual respect between Belgian heritage and an international setting.
“It is both a pleasure and a commitment for Delvaux to be present in such a diverse and cosmopolitan city. We are here to meet and establish a real dialogue with new customers whose discerning taste we know, bringing a different offer that combines genuine traditions, know-how, extreme quality and lively creativity. We aim to establish close relationships with our customers in the name of the timeless values of our Maison,” comments Jean-Marc Loubier, CEO of Delvaux.
Location: The Dubai Mall, Fashion Avenue, United Arab Emirates
Project: Tiziano Vudafieri and Claudio Saverino, Vudafieri-Saverino Partners
Area: 213 sqm
Design team: Elena Pessina and Vanessa Ramponi
Local architect: Antefixe societé d’architecture
Lighting designer: Studio Amort – Walter Amort
General Contractor: Havelock One
Custom-made furniture: Barth
Seats: Tato, Marta Sala Édition and Norr11
Carpets: Equipecasa
Lighting: Formalighting
Photos courtesy: Xavier Ansart