The UAE capital is set to host the Comité Colbert, a group of 84 French luxury houses and 16 cultural institutions, as it presents Flânerie Colbert Abu Dhabi, French Luxury in the 21st Century, a series of initiatives in multiple locations across the emirate. The idea is to explore 21^st century French luxury as well as French culture and its dialogue with Emirati culture.

Taking place from November 12 to December 14, 2019, the series of special events, with the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), will take place at the House of Artisans at the Al Hosn site, The Galleria Maryah Island, the annual Abu Dhabi Art fair, and Louvre Abu Dhabi, where the events will also echo the themes of the 10,000 Years of Luxury exhibition, which will be presented from 30 October until 15 February 2020. Below, we round-up a few of the many showcases that we can’t wait to experience:

• Chloé’s Casanova dress & it’s collab with Van Cleef & Arpels:  The timeless Karl Lagerfield ‘Casanova’ dress along with 350 other objects ranging from jewelry to furniture & design will be showcased at Louvre Abu Dhabi to acknowledge various takes of luxury over time. Together, Maison Chloé and Van Cleef & Arpels will also be bringing a custom installation to underline the savoir-faire of the Maison in a ‘Making Luxury’ theme with an illustration of iconic couture dresses from spring-summer collections-‘Crétoise’ from 1984 & Look 57 from 2019. The installation will adorn Van Cleef & Arpels Boutique at the Galleria Mall from 12-23 November.
  

  

• Boucheron’s joint creative project on the theme of ‘The luxury of sophistication (techniques)’ at Galleria: Boucheron has worked collectively with its partner houses, Ercuis Paris and Fontainebleau to give light to the theatrical theme which will be portrayed through a miniature representation. The display will entail  historical decorative items from the auditorium at the Fontainebleau Theatre in an intimate space at the Boucheron store.   The windows will flaunt the reproduction for over a month to emphasize on the houses’ expertise together with Maison Boucheron’s Serpent Bohème and Animal collections.
  

  

• Cartier’s Perfumed Cloud and bejeweled tiaras: A 1914 tiara, a gold and rose-cut diamond mystery clock from the 1920s, a 1928 vanity case  studded with emeralds and rubies 1928 vanity case and other pieces dating almost half a century ago. Cartier has more in store with an art installation ‘The Perfumed Cloud’ that tantalizes our senses. The immersive journey with which each step visitors are taken to Cloud 9, was imagined by in-house perfumer, Mathilde Laurent and brought to life by Transsolar Klima Engineering.
  

  

• Christian Dior’s  will spill the tea on the making of it’s classic Lady Dior handbag
• Guerlain will converse with  a practitioner of Talli handicraft on the art of sealing and finishing fragrance bottles.
• Other luxury houses in dialogue with Emirati artisans: Hermès will deliver on leather and saddle-making skills; Hotel le Bristol on chocolate-making; Louis Vuitton on painting techniques. Embroiderers from Maison Lesage, Chanel’s subsidiary will give masterclasses in company with expert Sadu weavers. Among other cross-culture dialogue and luxurious artsy scenes at Louvre and Galleria Mall, the House of Artisans at Al Hosn will be home to an exhibition with cross-cultural craft demonstrations, workshops and talks from November 12 until November 28.