In a dazzling prelude to New York Fashion Week, the iconic Italian luxury brand Bvlgari transformed Brooklyn's industrial chic Skylight at The Refinery into a nexus of high fashion and artistry on September 4th, 2024.
The event, marking the New York debut of the Bvlgari Studio platform, saw a confluence of celebrities, innovative designs from the Tubogas collection and multidisciplinary art, setting a new standard for luxury experiences in the heart of New York's trendiest borough. Built in 1884, the historic Domino Sugar Factory building celebrated its 140th anniversary this year, an achievement shared with the Jewelry House, embodying a unique blend of tradition and innovation that mirrors Bvlgari's spirit.
The star-studded affair witnessed a glittering array of celebrities and influencers. Legendary supermodel and philanthropist Naomi Campbell, actresses Dakota Johnson and Paris Jackson, and actor Damson Idris attended, highlighting Bvlgari's wide and enduring appeal.
As the sun dipped below the Manhattan skyline, visible through the venue's sweeping windows, additional luminaries including Monica Barbaro, Olivia Culpo, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Kelly Wearstler, Aurora James, Charlotte Lawrence, Martha Hunt, DJ Myles Hendrik, and Isabela Ferrer invited awe with their style and unmistakable Bvlgari glamour. Bvlgari Deputy CEO Laura Burdese and Bvlgari President of North America Hervé Perrot warmly welcomed the distinguished guests to this extraordinary celebration.
The Tubogas Collection Reimagined
A highlight of the night was the introduction of the sixteen new additions to the Tubogas collection. Displayed in sleek vitrines, standout designs included a sinuous three-gold bracelet that seamlessly blended yellow, white, and rose gold, and a statement necklace featuring the Tubogas technique accented with brilliant-cut diamonds. Laura Burdese, Bvlgari's newly appointed deputy CEO, emphasized to WWD that these new creations "bring it to life in a very modern and contemporary way.”
She further articulated the brand's vision: "New York is the perfect setting," she said, adding that "Seoul is a vibrant and modern and contemporary city in the East, and New York is the same for the West. It [New York] is the perfect setting to gift our guests with a very unique experience."
The choice of venue was no coincidence. "It's a very contemporary location that also merges past, present and future," Burdese explained, noting that the "vibes are exactly in line with what Bvlgari is." She elaborated, "The location was built in 1884, the same time we [Bvlgari] were born, so it's really the same value. But at the same time, it was rebuilt and reborn. This concept of eternally reborn is Bvlgari."
A Sensational Bvlgari Evening
The Bvlgari Studio platform brings together diverse artistic talents to reinterpret the brand's iconic collections. "They love the brand," Burdese said of the various artists. "Some already collaborated with us in the past, and they were super excited to co-create something new, inspired by the artistic side and the legacy and modernity of the new Bvlgari collection."
The evening's entertainment was curated to provoke emotion. "[The artists aim] to make audiences tonight feel emotionally something different," Burdese explained. From the digital artistry of Antoni Tudisco to Christopher Bauder's kinetic light sculpture composed of 252 moving lights, the event was a feast for the senses.
Looking to the future, Burdese sees limitless potential for the Bvlgari Studio concept which first debuted in Seoul. "It's an endless kind of concept. We want to continue to create and collaborate with these different artists in different ways, and in different form of arts. So, I would say it's limitless."