A section of the space, with a seven-marble qualities wall on the background, coming from India, iran, China and South America, is dedicated to flowers: clients can admire a rich variety of orchids exclusively distributed by Trussardi 1911. The new concept store is open at night as well: it’s open everyday until 10 pm. Conceived and designed by the creative directore of Trussardi 1911 Milan Vukmirovic, able to interpret with his contemporary sensibility the excellences of the maison of the Greyhound, the new shop re-creates all the ground floor of Piazza della Scala.

The Café Trussardi as well, inaugurated in April 2008 (with the déhors designed by the architect Carlo Ratti and the vertical installation of green created by Patrick Blanc) now unites and shares its spaces with those of the boutique, creating a unique 400 s-m environment whose floor is made of over a thousand wooden staves painted with craftsmanship. On the first floor of the building lies the restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala, decorated with two stars from the Michelin Italia 2009 guide book, which has recently re-opened after a complete restoration.

Each of the group activity is directed by a young international talent: Milan Vukimirovic, creative director of Trussardi 1911, Massimiliano Gioni, artistic director of the Foundation Nicola Trussardi, Andrea Berton, director of the restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala and of the Café Trussardi. All the activities are created and coordinated by Beatrice Trussardi, who is managing director and head of the group. In particular, in fashion department, Trussardi 1911 represented for the group a great revolution but is a synthesis of the values that have always characterized the Trussardi world: craftsmanship, made in Italy production, use of prestigious materials, definition of the cuts, care of the tiniest details but also an eclectic and contemporary taste redefining the idea of luxury.

Milan Vukmirovic represents a way of working very close to today’s rhythms and values: as a  designer, director of a magazine like L’Officiel, buyer for a multibrand like The Webster in Miami and as a photographer has a wide overlook over all the variables of the fashion world. It’s rather the perspective and the outlook rather than Trussardi’s taste that have changed: Trussardi today is much closer to new generations whose values he represents (mobility, eclecticism, speed but also the great care for details and the taste for prestigious craftsmanship) and it is a luxury brand whose quality is easily be recognized.

Besides Trussardi 1911 there are Tru Trussardi and TJ: both expressing a more informal world, the former dedicated to the city and its rhythms, with its soft but elegant style, the latter for the spare time. Variety is one of the elements of the winning formula by Trussardi: each moment of the day and each occasion can be accompanied by a Trussardi experience.

The restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala is acknowledged as one of the greatest experiences of the new Italian Cuisine and, while it has been growing within its own walls cultivating an informal, elegant and cosmopolitan environment, it has also contributed to renovate the centre of Milan, offering a new outpost of absolute quality. The chef Andrea Berton has been able to combine experiments with a certain rigour in his proposals: the restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala is, in fact, a place where the culinary technique is never showed off and where the pure taste gets the better of complexity or of the research per se.
One of the keys to the success of the restaurant Trussardi Alla Scala has obviously been placing again the clients at the centre of the gastronomic experience: The great novelty of the restaurant has been the recent restoration of the room to make it even closer to the new identity of the brand. With a new inspiration, taken from the urban atmospheres of the contemporary world, the clients can now choose whether to spend the evening looking out on the spectacular view of Piazza Alla Scala, comfortably seating on soft armchairs, or in a more dynamic environment, right at the centre of an open kitchen with a monumental golden wall in the background. It is very important for Trussardi to keep the public away from the idea of a classic starry restaurant where one can almost be in trouble because of the gastronomic research.

Eventually the Trussardi Foundation is currently busy organizing a project which is still at an early stage when it’s preferable not to spread news. The Foundation became popular in the city because of quick and sudden events, but also because of more private and introspective projects, like the last exhibition at Palazzo Dugnani showing the films by the English artist Tacita Dean. The Foundation has a gipsy and varied identity that led it to gain over the past years an important role not only among the institutions of contemporary art in the world, but in the collective imaginary of the city.

Alessandra Iannello

Italian version

Together with around 70 international brands of luxury, women, men and kid wear, footwear and accessorizes there are also corners dedicated to relax and entertainment, thanks to an unusual division of the space.

At the core of the Kralers’ philosophy there is the individual, to whom to dedicate care to transform shopping into a moment of sharing and serenity.

Natural materials skilfully patterned by local craftsmen and a refined and modest architecture created by Andrea and Luca Marastoni make this store a cosy place able to tell the history of Alto Adige and to interpret the emotions and love for nature of the Kralers.

Among clothes and brand stands find their space the fireplace area for specific readings about fashion, mountain, arts and architecture and a relax area, projected also for disabled friends, with the possibility of tasting savoury or sweet delicatessen, together with a selection of coffee. Of course, there is also an area dedicated to children, with tables where to draw, 3D videos and entertainment by qualified and multilingual personnel. Eventually, the Kralers thought of a “cuddle” area for the four-legged friends.

“The wellness and the satisfaction of clients entering a shop have always been the guiding principle in our business activity”, explain Daniela and Franz Kraler whom we asked to tell us their philosophy.

How did it come up the idea of a store centred on the service to the individual?
Our desire was to provide an ever better and complete service to our clients. The focus is the love for our job, calling for a constant and continuous improvement to transmit to our clients the emotions that we live ourselves. Love. Passion. The search for beauty for ourselves, for the other. A pleasure for us who are willing to transmit to others, beyond the mere commercial gain.

What do you think will be the most popular additive service?
There is no privileged additive service. Each detail had been treated as “the” detail, so to organize a space in symbiosis with everything. Each function is necessary to the others and all of them are necessary for the final result. We wouldn’t let any client leave the shop with an incomplete product and this is the same principle we were inspired to when organizing the space.

How can many luxury brands live together in one single space?
The answer is the space. What we guarantee to the maison is the division in “box”, so to create distinctive and neutral display areas that emphasize the beauty of the exhibited items. The strength of fashion, of luxury, that we are honoured to deal with, allows for ambitious combinations, like a valuable item of the Sixteenth century combined with a modern and minimalist architecture. The experience of many years of this job allows for some freedom. The provocations, in fact, are justified by the sincere love for what we do.

Francesca Zottola
Italian version

The first meeting is dedicated to the experts of the field and takes place at the Old Harbour of Genova from 4th to 8th May. Will be gathered brokers and charter agencies operating in the luxury navigation.

From 15th to 17th May the protagonist is the Arsenal of Venice with Mare Maggio, tour starting from the past and projecting into the future, in one of the most fascinating areas of the city, symbolic place of the marine and the naval art.

From 8th to 10th May it’s the time of Hong Kong Gold Coast Boat Show, showing the last novelties in terms of navigation and luxury especially from Asia, through events, concerts and fashion shows, followed by the 14th edition of Internautica 2009, that will take place at the Marina Portoroz in Slovenia and will host the most prestigious brands of the yachting industry, of accessorizes and clothing.

From 15th to 21st May takes place in Rio de Janeiro the Rio Boat Show, with top products presented by the most important brands of the sector concerning also the fans of water sports and fishing, among boat races and testing.

Follows, from 20th to 24th  May, the Beirut Boat Show, important date for the brands aiming to an expansion in the middle-eastern markets. On exhibition, besides sailing boats and yachts, accessorizes, instruments, clothing for the fans of navigation, fishing and water sports.

To conclude, from 21st to 24th May in Australia, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, the biggest show on water of the Asia-Pacific region. Besides Australian brands, will be present firms from the five continents that, supported by the dealers of the region, will present their products to an international public. Will be launched novelties, among the others, by Grand Banks, Sunseeker, Montebello.

Italian version

Beginning with the always glamorous Milan, where new stores opened. Rodo chose the very central La Rinascente store for his new corner shop, following the other sale points in Dubai, Tokyo, London, New York, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Taipei and Bangkok. Created by the architect Bonciani, the Florence brand proves again its exclusivity in the beige and gold furnishing hosting the new P/E 2009 bags collection. This is the realm of nabuk, of rock python, of silk satin, of metallic Napa leather, and of soft patent leather, all enriched with silver or gold-plated jewel-fastening.
New prestigious boutique also for Mauro Grifoni, who chose his location in a patrician building in Via Santo Spirito 17, in the heart of the Fashion Quad. Three-hundred s-m distributed over three sale floors and two for offices, designed by the architects Pasti and Perbellini under the supervision of the Grifoni stylistic team. Luxury and simplicity, with a bit of history.
Not far from here, you can find the first Milanese single-brand Grant shop. To welcome the fashion victims at the entrance, in Via Manzoni 40, there is a Murano glass chandelier with the maison’s symbols pending: a heart, a bear, a butterfly, a small perfume bottle. Minimal space on 90 s-m and two total white levels with a silver touch, for a children-fashion all glamour and elegance. Coming opening, 26th March, for La casa di Dodò, new show room of reference for all the fans of domestic design and furnishing. The exhibited creations are made by the master of the contemporary living Domenico De Palo, author of installations representing his personal search into the material, the shape and the pursuit of beauty.
Eventually, in the heart of the Milanese movida, Corso Como, was born the first European Fila flagship store. Not only sports-wear, but a dynamic and innovative project where, the impact of the spaces created by the Swedish design agency Grow is followed by the opportunity to purchase the exclusive Vintage and Gold lines, the fashion and lifestyle collections by the co-branding Fila-Wimbledon and the most exclusive products in limited edition.

Coming soon also for A N G E L O, opening in April in Bergamo a new 100 s-m corner consecrated to men-women fashion. The boutique will continue also on this occasion the cooperation with the Milanese showroom of arredamento Fragile, in Via Rutilia 11, already target of an international public of  modern art collectors and fans.

The memorable Pal Ziler di Venezia shop has been re-opened instead, with a renewed outlook, thanks to the architect Roberto Tognon, already author of the last shops in Tokyo, Hamburg and at the airport of Venice. The fashion victims, who can not waste one minute of shopping, at the end of April will be able to enjoy the mutli-brand store AV Argentovivo, situated at the Leonardo Da Vinci airport of Roma Fiumicino, Terminal A. The space is aimed at creating a multi-sense path along which each brand should have the setting most suitable to its mood. So, from the central mirror-covered platform, generates a waving movement leading to the corset, underwear, homewear and beachwear collections by Argentovivo, Bacirubati and Patrizia Pepe, to the men collections by Julipet, to one section devoted to cosmetics, bijoux, hosiery, eyewear and, since next fall/winter, also to the new proposals by Kenzo underwear & beach wear.

With regard to “summer purchase”, if you want to enjoy a sunny weekend at the seaside, here are some of the ideal destinations for your holidays, now to write down even on the shopping agenda.

In Forte dei Marmi, the brand of luxury Severi opens its flagship store, the first of many other single-brand stores expected soon both in Italy and abroad. The brands, born in the early 1990s and turned into society only in 2005, is one of the examples of Made in Italy in the world. After cornering the markets of Middle and Far East, the second generation Severi, led by the designer Maria Grazia Severi, introduces in Italy as well its exclusive collections, ranging from clothing to knitwear, up to luxury accessorizes.

On the Adriatic side, instead, the first flagship store is for Le Rosse 41 Italia. It is located in Jesi, in Via Pergolesi, and it has been designed as an old-fashioned and romantic environment, with prevailing wall paper-patterned walls, oak-beamed on the ceiling, ancient chandeliers and old mirrors and armchairs.

From North to South, one arrives to Nola, where has been inaugurated the first show room of Silvian Heach Kids, the collection consecrated to the youngest and hosted in the CIS, one of the most important distribution pole of centre-southern Italy and of the entire Mediterranean area, at the doorstep of Naples. Eventually, in the small town of Salemi, in Sicily, Massimo Piombo has inaugurated his boutique in the sophisticated and exclusive 17th century site of the Collegio dei Gesuiti. After Milan and Portofino, he chose an historical location that preserves the town’s relics and the memoirs of the Debarkation of the Thousand, to confirm the company’s mood: timeless, discrete and a bit artistic elegance.

Italian version

Serravalle, Castel Romano, Barberino and from September 2008 also Veneto Designer Outlet di Noventa di Piave: four centers dedicated to high level shopping at reduced prices, four destinations not to be missed by fashion addicts.

However, McArthurGlen, does not only mean “outlet”. The group, in fact, recently expanded with the inclusion of a new division McArthurGlen Luxury Retail, aim of which is to bring full price retail into airport departure lounges, into shopping malls and other strategic locations. The first of these new projects is called Collezioni: it gathered an exclusive portfolio of luxury brands in a single location, at the Venice Marco Polo Airport.

How did the McArthurGlen phenomenon spread out in Italy?
The path that McArthurGlen traced in Italy from 2000, year in which the Serravalle Designer Outlet was launched, to 2008, year in which the fourth Designer Outlet was inaugurated in Noventa di Piave, was marked by important growth and expansion factors. Four real shopping cities, equipped to offer such a wide range of fashion and luxury brands so to guarantee an annual growth of over 10%.

A formula that works…
The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet formula privileges, since always, service and quality both in terms of leisure and product range, thanks to the presence of brands considered top player on the international market. The high quality of services is supported by the care of architecture and by the stricter and stricter liaison with the territory, so to transform a cult shopping location into a real tourist destination. 

A few months after its opening, what have been the responses of the public in Noventa di Piave?
Veneto Designer Outlet of Noventa di Piave is a project to be evaluated in the long run. It was born in September 2008, and it already recorded an extraordinary number of visitors, more than half a million, and it is expected to experience another important phase between 2009 and 2010.

That is?
The 11,000 m2 realized in phase I will be followed by a second stage with a further 10,000 m2 for retail activities. The stores, currently 60, will increase their number to 120, together with a proportional increase of parking spaces and food areas. The goal we set when we projected the opening of this Center was, indeed, that to offer the best to our public. For instance, the main square was conceived to be in harmony with a classical style, homage to Palladian art, displaying a central fountain lined with porticos and animated by high level brands’ stores.

What is the catchment area of the Noventa outlet?
The outlet became, very rapidly, the flagship of our Group in Italy, able to satisfy the need of a geographical area inhabited by over 4 million people, spreading from Venice to the provinces of Mantua and Brescia, and stage of important tourist flows: Jesolo, for instance, in on the way.
As far as it concerns architecture and services, Veneto Designer Outlet represents excellence, also in terms of facilities, though, as I mentioned before, the project is still underway and has to be evaluated in the long run.

If it is true that “cheap” is more and more “chic”, how do luxury customers approach the shopping idea of an outlet?
The standard consumer is very variable. The hard core is made of women aged between 25 and 45, characterized by a strong predisposition to shopping; then, of course, there are families, driven by a different approach to shopping, but having in common the search for quality and why not, for quantity.
Regardless of the item they can afford, in an outlet they can choose the brand they like among a wide-ranged offer.

Other types of consumers?
Sure the outlet does not lack mix and match consumers, that is, those that shop in McArthurGlen Centers and also in boutiques in Via Montenapoleone, in the heart of Milan. If we consider that to reach our outlets, visitors travel an average hour and a half and stop off for at least three hours, to have a very wide range of products is a condition sine qua non. What we must never forget, when we talk about this sort of shopping, is that visitors are offered with 100-120 stores concentrated in an enclosed location. Whoever comes to our Centers looks for and finds an unequalled mix of products, a high number of stores and a concentration of big brands that hardly could find anywhere else.

What is the relationship between big names and outlets?
Thanks to the reliability of our name, McArthurGlen, big names choose to open their store in one of our Centers. Our Designer Outlets offer, in fact, an excellent product handled directly by Top Brands owning selling points within the Centers, able to guarantee to the consumer the chance to purchase high quality items at reduced prices. Very often the maisons engage into loyalty marketing operations, so much so that inside the stores you can find collections catalogues that you only find, elsewhere, in leading branches. Obviously, to own a space in an outlet gives the chance to the maisons to sell off unsold items of the previous season, avoiding unsold stock, representing thus the best answer to financial crisis. Among the “big brands” present at the outlet there are Ferrari, Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ferrè and since very recently also Valentino, Bulgari, Dolce&Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Ballantyne and Roberto Cavalli; and many more will be the surprises for our visitors.

What is your conception of luxury?
To define luxury is hard. In “The experience of luxury” it is defined according to its geographical origin, culture or from a design or financial viewpoint. What is certain is that, for us Italians, luxury is still strictly linked to an artisan-like quality.

Original in Italian by Francesca Zottola

Let’s start with Milan! Alain Mikli is the first Italian one brand boutique, located on Corso Como, one of the most renowned streets of the city, right next to the upcoming Fashion Town that is due to be inaugurated in 2009. Much like his first boutique, opened in 1987, all Mikli eyewear boutiques are designed by Philippe Starck and embody a luxury mood, perfection, elegance and pleasure. The architect preserved the original bricked wall, one side is painted in pearl grey, another is made of images and the ground is covered of oak parquet. The final extravagant touch of this boutique is the chandelier formed of three hundred black and white glasses.

New appearance for I Santi store on Corso Lodi 1, memorable store of the Milanese brand. The decision to undergo renovation stems out of the need to layout a new image for the store, highlighting the ability of I Santi to evolve and keep up to date while keeping faith with its own tradition.

Whomever is looking for boat clothes and accessories can drop in the Store del Buon Vento, that is the Horca Myseria Shop, owned by the famous sailing club, in which it is possible to find the best brands, necessary items to complete sea adventures with: from Helly Hansen to North Sails, from Napapijri to Murphy&Nye, from Slam to Musto, up until Rockport, Samas, Sundek. A wide corner is dedicated to Crew collections, a special service that makes out of Murphy&Nye clothes unique items thanks to the possibility to personalize them so to own a special dress for the sailing.

The Rinascente in Piazza Duomo also shows some news with the new corner Cold Method. The items characterized by a sportive look and a sophisticated elegance are displayed within a space surrounded by raw walls and white lacquered furniture.

The first central Italy one brand Zoppini store finds its location in Florence, in Piazza Stazione. Developed on two levels, the first is used for sales (50 sq m) while the lower one hosts events on a monthly basis. The brand even reached the Dubai Mall, the biggest shopping mall of the world.

New destinations are available for fashion fans also in London, world shopping capital. Furla inaugurated a new one brand store within “The Village”, an area dedicated to luxury brands inside the Westfield shopping mall of White City, and the flagship store in Regent Street, enhancing the policy of brand penetration and strengthening within the United Kingdom. Result of an elegant combination of architectonic avant-garde and materials proper of Italian architecture, it unfolds on two levels, soaking materials and finishes with the elements of the new Furla concept. 

Traffic People inaugurated in the Spitafields area its newest store, born out of Mark and Louise Reynolds’ creativity, inspired by movie heroines of the ‘50s.

For design lovers, the new Molteni & C Dada Flagship store was born in Shaftesbury Avenue. The project, realized by Studio Cerri & Associati, is characterized by the architectural use of light.

Two new Prada stores in Germany. With the opening of the Berlin and Monaco branches, the stores of the brand within Germany increase to six. The boutique in Berlin hosts bags collections, shoes and accessories for women; the one in Monaco, offers leather collections, accessories and shoes for women and leather collections and accessories for men.

Bottega Veneta inaugurated in Ekaterinburg, in Russia its new store. It lies on two levels, linked to each other by internal stairs made of black granite. The ground floor spreads over an area of 135 sq m while the first floor measures 105 sq m. The boutique reflects all the characteristic features proper of the store concept projected by creative director Tomas Maier.

Gruppo Corneliani opened a new one brand store in Minsk, capital city of Belarus. The space is situated within the Gostiny Dvor palace that dates back to the XVIII century, partly rebuilt and recently renovated. It has now been transformed into a big shopping mall, fashion crossroad and highly requested spot by the most important luxury brands. The store is spread over an area of around two hundred sq m organized according to display and emotional logics. All interior decorations are varnished with “water cycle”, whose solvents content is equal to zero, showing full respect for environment.

Canali duplicates its presence in Athens, following a powerful world retail expansion plan. The new boutique, born under the new concept, reflects the brand characteristics: quality, style, concreteness and solidity through a number of décor elements such as: dark leather columns, back-lighted by a light barrier, that enhance items exposition; a geometric composition in “Mondrian” style, made of  mahogany or polished steel inset with fumè crystals; the stone “Marfil a Pettine” peculiar element of wall covering and of the cashier area, that convey a luxury identity and a cozy atmosphere to the entire space.

The first Blumarine one brand store was born in Beirut. The new boutique, projected by Indik Studio, is located in the heart of the city and overlooks Park Avenue, the prestigious street dedicated to luxury shopping. In harmony with the style of Blumarine collections, the store interprets boudoir atmospheres from a contemporary viewpoint.

Italian version