Marrakshi Life Opens Dreamy Debut Boutique at La Mamounia
The jewel box marks designer Gabriella Khalil’s inaugural project in Africa and introduces the brand’s first furniture pieces
Launched after New Yorkers Randall Bachner and Nicholas Minucciani relocated to Morocco, Marrakshi Life creates stunning caftans, coats, and dresses from fabrics handwoven in Marrakech using a rainbow of threads that artisans dye in Fez. And while the kaleidoscopic collection has long been available at luxury boutiques around the globe, the brand had previously never had a retail space all its own. This month, however, the duo unveiled a stunning destination at the city’s famed resort La Mamounia. Working with creative director Gabriella Khalil on her first project in Africa, the team transformed an octagonal glass pavilion at the hotel into a vibrant salon.
“I think the new store really brings together the design language of Marrakshi Life through their gorgeous fabrics and palettes, with my love for vintage furniture and objects,” says Khalil. “We approached the space with an emphasis on fabric and movement, which are such important elements of the Marrakshi Life world.”
Inside, the artfully colored clothing is displayed against a sumptuous Studio Sana Benzaitar rug of earthy hues, ethereal butter yellow curtains, and black lacquer cabinets constructed by local craftsmen. “It was important to me that the Marrakshi Life pieces really stand out, as they are so joyful and full of life,” says Khalil. “The butter-toned backdrop allows the colors, patterns, and craftsmanship of the collections to take center stage while the darker rug and furniture grounds the space.”
Adding to the cinematic setting is a decadent assortment of collectible design items, including a 1960s Italian Tornado chandelier by Elio Martinelli, LRNCE ceramics, and a trio of bespoke stools upholstered in Marrakshi Life’s fabrics, the latter being the collection’s inaugural furniture pieces. “I love incorporating vintage furniture and objects into every project I do, and these pieces are such an important part of my design language,” says the designer. “I wanted to introduce unexpected furniture pieces that felt sculptural and unique in both material and form, creating a contrast with the ethereal movement of the Marrakshi Life fabric that cocoons the space. Finding pieces like the Tornado chandelier, suspended above a 1990s table sourced locally from Salmane Design, brought together such an interesting combination of periods, materials, and forms.”
While the room spans color and design periods, overall, it is a celebration of Moroccan artisanry and the intoxicating allure of Marrakech. “I have been traveling to Marrakech for inspiration for over twelve years now, and for me, it is a place of constant discovery,” says Khalil. “Being able to create something with Nick and Randall, bringing my interior design language into their world of pattern, fabric, and craftsmanship, at our shared favorite hotel made the experience even more meaningful. There were so many special parts about creating this interior. We developed and sourced almost everything locally—from working with local weavers and sourcing the rug with Studio Sana, which are handcrafted in the Atlas Mountains, to scouring vintage shops throughout Marrakech—it was such a wonderful experience.”
Equally influential was the dramatic setting of one of the city’s most iconic resorts. “Creating a space within the stunning gardens at La Mamounia was a dream for me,” states Khalil. “This hotel is such a landmark of Marrakech, and I was honored to design there. It really felt like designing a jewel box in the garden.”