Everybody loves Valentino. The Maison Valentino, founded in 1960 by Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, grew into one of the prominent fashion labels in the world, worn during the last six decades by celebrities, princesses, and fashionistas around the world. Under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli, the recent Valentino collections continue to impress through artistic value and craftsmanship, supported by Piccioli’s interest in innovation, creative experiments, diversity, and cinematic appearances.
From the 28th of October 2022, Qatar Museums in Doha will host a major fashion exhibition dedicated to Maison Valentino (Forever – Valentino). Running until the 1st of April 2023, the event is a tribute to Valentino Garavani and his iconic creations. For those living in the Middle East or planning to travel to Doha in the upcoming months, this is definitely on the must-see list – it will be the first and largest Valentino exhibition in the Middle East.
Curated by Massimiliano Gioni, artistic director of the New Museum New York, and the fashion critic and author Alexander Fury, in close collaboration with Valentino Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli, the exhibition promises a unique experience. Conceived as an immersive scenography inspired by the city of Rome, Valentino’s home and source of inspiration, the Forever – Valentino exhibition features over 200 Valentino Haute Couture pieces and ready-to-wear outfits displayed on mannequins by La Rosa, accompanied by accessories and fashion objects, along with private memories and precious discoveries from the brand archives.
I find the location of this fashion exhibition equally appealing. The Forever – Valentino exhibition is part of the ambitious projects of M7 Qatar. M7 is an initiative developed and supported by Qatar Museums to build a solid creative ecosystem in Qatar.
Located in Msheireb, Doha’s historical district, M7 functions as Qatar’s creative hub for fashion and design industry and a public showcase for innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. The exquisite architecture of the space, designed by John McAslan + Partners, is a modernist take on the Qatari heritage style.
The M7 exhibition programme features significant events focused on local and global fashion, design, photography, and films. It previously hosted an impressive Dior retrospective (Christian Dior Designer of Dreams (November 2021-March 2022).
