Gucci has officially opened a new boutique at the Dubai Mall, where Italian design and contemporary art take center stage alongside fashion. Sleek lighting flows from above, highlighting the minimalist materials that characterize the space. The marble, arranged in a captivating geometric pattern, pays tribute to Italy’s rich architectural heritage. This refined surface is intermittently accented by bold splashes of yellow and acid green fabric, colors that beautifully enhance Gucci Ancora, the signature shade envisioned by Sabato de Sarno for the brand.
Brushed steel elements shape the very essence of the environment, creating a distinct morphology. The design’s intention is to foster a sense of detachment, a concept that has become Gucci’s hallmark in exhibition spaces. This approach elevates the garments to the status of art, treating them with the same reverence as the masterpieces displayed in galleries.
Contemporary art finds a welcoming home within this innovative space, as it does in all of the brand’s new boutiques. Curated by Truls Blaasmo, the selected works showcase regional talents like Chafa Ghaddar, Nasser Almulhim, Sami Hayek, and Sarah Almehairi, alongside renowned Italian and international artists such as Lucio Fontana, Alighiero Boetti, Richard Prince, Günther Förg, and Flavie Audi.
In this setting, a moccasin placed beside a Fontana canvas transforms into a collector’s item, blurring the lines between fashion and art. Design emerges as a third protagonist, exemplified by a re-edition of Vico Magistretti’s Maralunga, elegantly draped in leather. This fusion of art and design was anticipated, as both realms increasingly contribute to the identity of fashion houses and enhance the narrative of their collections.
Gucci’s commitment to this integration is evident in its Design Ancora project, launched at the recent Fuorisalone, which reinterprets iconic works of Italian industrial tradition. Additionally, Gucci Cosmos, an exhibition conceived by British artist Es Devlin and curated by Maria Luisa Frisa, celebrates the maison’s rich history from its inception in 1921 to the present day.
Through these initiatives, Gucci not only showcases its fashion but also reinforces its position as a cultural beacon, where art, design, and fashion converge in a harmonious dialogue.