As the global art and design calendar turns toward the Venice Biennale 2026, Louvre Abu Dhabi is extending its curatorial vision into product design. The institution has introduced its first-ever bag, developed in collaboration with Venetian luxury maker Dellaluna. Notably, the release positions fashion as a continuation of architectural storytelling, while reinforcing cross-cultural dialogue through craft.
Architecture translated into object design
At the core of the project lies the museum’s iconic dome, designed by Jean Nouvel. The structure’s intricate “Rain of Light” effect, therefore, becomes the defining visual language of the bag. The east-west silhouette, which remains flat like a pochette with a short strap, features geometric embossing that mirrors the layered lattice of the canopy.
Consequently, the design bridges monumentality and intimacy. While the dome spans 590 feet and weighs over 8,000 tons, the bag condenses its architectural rhythm into a handheld scale. Moreover, the use of taupe togo leather and 18-karat gold-plated hardware introduces a restrained material palette that emphasizes texture over color.
“For Louvre Abu Dhabi, being a universal museum means focusing on what unites us: the stories of creativity rooted in our shared humanity,” said Lamya Al Nuaimi, development, marketing and communications director at Louvre Abu Dhabi.
“The Louvre Abu Dhabi Bag, created in collaboration with Dellaluna, reflects this universal exchange, showing how ideas, materials and craft travel across cultures and histories,” she said.
Craft, time and cross-cultural exchange
Although the bag appears minimal, its production reflects a highly intensive process. Each piece requires approximately 150 hours of craftsmanship, and as a result, aligns with the slow design ethos often associated with collectible design objects. Priced at 2,500 euros, the piece positions itself between fashion accessory and functional artwork.
“Collaborating with Louvre Abu Dhabi is the greatest honor of my career, not only because it has long been my favorite museum in the world, but because it brings Dellaluna full circle. The brand was born as a love letter to Venice, to the original meeting point of cultures. Louvre Abu Dhabi carries that same spirit into our time: a universal museum, the first of its kind in the Arab world, built on the conviction that civilizations are richer in dialogue,” said Silvia Paulon, founder and creative director of Dellaluna.
“To create something together with an institution that embodies everything the brand was founded to honor feels profoundly meaningful. I have always believed that beauty only endures when there is culture behind it, and this collaboration is the truest expression of that belief,” she said.
Venice debut and exhibition context
The bag will debut in Venice during a private event at the Fortuny Palazzina, a historic residence recently reimagined by Chahan Minassian. Therefore, the launch situates the object within a broader exhibition context, where architecture, interiors and collectible design intersect.
Importantly, the timing aligns with the opening of the Venice Biennale 2026, reinforcing the bag’s positioning as a design artifact rather than a conventional retail product. Furthermore, the collaboration reflects an ongoing trend in which museums expand into design-led merchandise, although here the emphasis remains on narrative continuity rather than branding alone.
Ultimately, the project underscores how institutional identity can translate across mediums. By transforming architectural heritage into a tactile object, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Dellaluna demonstrate how design operates as both cultural memory and contemporary expression.