Delvaux opens its first boutique in Rome 

The interior design project is by the studio Vudafieri-Saverino Partners - based in Milan and Shanghai - which has been responsible for the world concept of Delvaux boutiques since 2012: over 42 worldwide, of which 15 in Europe, 7 in Japan, 17 in the rest of Asia and 3 in North America. The concept, created in collaboration with Delvaux’s Chairman and CEO Jean-Marc Loubier, uses the language of interior decoration to celebrate the Belgitude and creativity of the Maison in a different way according to the characteristics of each city. This makes every Delvaux boutique unique. 

 

The leit motif of this new flagship store is the Domus Romana, the typical house inhabited by the upper classes in the ancient Rome. The concept arises from the equivalence between the boutique plan and the layout of the traditional Roman homes, articulated between: Atrium (entrace), Tablinum (living room), Peristilum (the private, inner courtyard) and Triclinum (formal dining room). Delvaux collections and accessories are thus to be found in rooms that recalls a modern Domus Romana. A succession of areas from public to more and more intimate: the result is a shopping experience that offers a progressive sense of exclusivity. 

 

Entering the boutique, the customer is welcomed to the first two rooms of the "domus": the Atrium and the Tablinum, where an original Venini chandelier of the ‘70s stands out. A very rare piece made of 500 hanging glass rods in the shape of “Fiocco di Neve”. The chandelier illuminates a wooden sculpted and painted Italian gaming table from the 17th century. A decorative element worthy of a museum collection. The entrance’s floor, in Travertino Navona marble, presents a lozenge pattern with brass inserts, giving a further touch of preciousness to the rooms. 

In the Rome Flagship Store, the iconic Delvaux wardrobe - whose forms, colours and volumes are reinterpreted differently depending on the store where is located - was revisited under the inspiration of the Baroque architecture of Borromini. A choice that, together with the use of a gold background, is a homage to the Eternal City. 

A pale gold patina on the interior walls, by the artist Filippo Falaguasta, gives the boutique a warm and unique ambiance. 

The shopping experience continues in the Triclinum, the dining room of Roman times that has been reinterpreted as a VIP Room: a space for a deeper relationship with visitors who want something special. Guests are welcomed by vintage sofas and armchairs upholstered in grey velvet and a 1950s’ FontanaArte coffee table. On the wall, bag templates dating back to the '50s form an abstract composition. The result is a store with a distinctive, warm and friendly personality, full of references and citations that lead guests to discover the collections as well as Delvaux’s belgitude. 

 

Founded in Brussels in 1829, Delvaux is the oldest fine leather luxury goods house in the world and has been active without interruption since its beginnings. Creator of more than 3000 designs, Delvaux filed the first ever handbag patent in 1908, thus becoming inventor of the modern handbag. Since its creation, la Maison has been both avant-garde and true to the finest traditions of craftsmanship while conveying the grandeur, heritage and symbols of Belgian culture. Official purveyor to the Royal Court of Belgium since 1883, Delvaux has remained steadfast in its devotion to sharing and celebrating Belgian cultural references and values.