Diala Makki Takes Bazaar Arabia To Discover Louis Vuitton’s New Les Extraits Murano Art Edition Collection In Venice
From visiting the Murano glass factory to collaborating with Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, the TV host shares insight into her 24-hour trip…
When I first got the invitation to travel to the historic city of Venice with Louis Vuitton, a Maison that holds so much cultural and historic value in the luxury industry, I was delighted to be one of the few handpicked personalities to represent our region.
The friendship that I have built over the years with Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, the Maître Parfumeur of the house – through previous visits to Les Fontaines Parfumées creative atelier – changed my entire perspective on the complexity, beauty and methodology that go into bringing to life perfumes that stand the test of time. Perfumery is a very personal creative process and not simply a chemical equation. It has the power to transport you emotionally to different states of mind and being – and that in itself is a very magical voyage.
My 24-hour trip with Louis Vuitton started with a visit to a Murano glass factory. I attended a masterclass with the glass-maker Simone Cenedese, whose glassmaking factory has adopted a modern approach to this very precious and traditional craft. There I witnessed first-hand the process of creating the colourful stoppers for the special limited-edition perfume bottles crafted for the Les Parfums Louis Vuitton’s new Les Extraits Murano Art Edition collection.
“It was a challenge, yet a fascinating one to collaborate with Jacques Cavallier Belletrud and Louis Vuitton to translate the design of these bottles. The challenge was to reproduce identical petals for each bottle which is close to impossible since everything is handmade,” Simone tells me after the masterclass.
Since the 14th century, the craft of glass blowing was not only associated with Venetian culture but it was also perfected to the extent that it elevated Venice’s historic social positioning. Glass makers throughout history have worked with artists and designers from around the world and, by extension, their oeuvre became collaborative in nature – an approach to creativity that has been transmitted down through generations.
Besides working with Jacques, Simone was also aligning his artistry with that of renowned architect Frank Gehry, who famously designed the Fondation Louis Vuitton – among other iconic buildings. The two men worked in tandem to reimagine the 5 Les Extraits bottles in a way that was a tribute to the craft of glass making and in particular the excellence of the Murano glass artisans. The bottles, in their own unique way, are a collection that celebrates humanity and the power of collective partnerships.
“It took many conversations and trials to reach the final product we saw today,” explains Simone. “It’s an honour and a big responsibility for me to collaborate with Louis Vuitton, which has such a long heritage and strong history and produce glass caps for the bottles designed by Frank Gehry. This project for me represents a motivation for the young generation to keep this craft alive.”
“[Perfume] has the power to transport you emotionally to different states of mind and being,”
Diala Makki
On this very strong note, I left the glass factory to head back to the Cipriani hotel where I checked in for the night. Then I got ready for an evening designed to celebrate craftsmanship, collaboration and creativity. And as luck would have it I was fortunate enough to be seated next to my friend Jacques, with whom I share a lot of common perspectives regarding, life, luxury, the power of perfumery and mostly humanity.
The Les Extraits Murano Art Edition collection is truly an ode to humanity, art, tradition, disruption and emotion. It features five olfactory scores created in a contemporary manner that reflect the spirit of travel. The scents, Dancing Blossom, Cosmic Cloud, Rhapsody (my favourite), Symphony and Stellar Times – which had been deconstructed to their very core architectural nature without the usual formula of top, heart and base notes – were on display in the dream location of the Aman hotel, which was originally a palazzo in the 16th century.
And it was there, flanked by blooming flowers, Venetian mirrors and glinting Murano glass chandeliers that I had the chance to discover the completed stoppers Simone had created for Louis Vuitton for the first time. The bottles are a remarkable association of artists from different creative walks of life, coming together to form true works of art. Ones that are limited to just 50 pieces. Also, the five fragrances housed in the Art Edition Masterpiece series are only available to order.
One night in Venice surrounded by these creative minds spent in meaningful conversation is what I always hoped would be a part of my job as a fashion journalist. And with Louis Vuitton, it was just that. A beautiful 24-hour experience that I will cherish forever.