The Milan boutique is renovated and true to Hermès’ sustainability values. After a closure that had left lovers of the French Maison and tourists who have always made it a safe passage point in the city bewildered, it has finally reopened. After all, Hermès has been in the Milanese capital since 1947 and it is therefore normal that the French Maison wanted to give new life to its corner in the fashion district. A refined space that with its almost 1000 square meters is the largest Hermès boutique in Europe. Warm colors and a truly impressive staircase, made of pink marble with a bronze railing, will certainly welcome an international clientele. Inside all the collections of the famous Maison, for him, for her and to decorate the house with a style with a sure charm from beyond the Alps.
Hermès has impressed the essence of its historic building into the Milan store. A subtle harmony joins the Maison’s identity to the city; a joyful dialogue where Parisian inspirations are fused with the uniqueness of Milanese architecture. Façades and interiors, interpreted by volumes, colours and materials, celebrate the surrounding area.
The journey begins right from the entrance, where the Hermès ex-libris welcomes visitors with its renowned inlay. Clients are first drawn to a space dedicated to the Maison’s colourful women’s silk collections, adjoined by fashion jewellery. Men’s silk appears past the stairs, while a small courtyard is dedicated to Beauty and perfumes under the lights of a kaleidoscopic window. Further on this floor is an area dedicated to the equestrian universe, which caters for both horses and riders. Throughout this level, the floor is coloured in a bright Venetian-style mix of terrazzo and ceramic tiles inspired by the designs of the Faubourg Saint-Honoré boutique, drawing a perfect harmony between the historic Hermès flagship store and Milan’s Quadrilatero della Moda fashion district. The boutique also finds its leitmotif in the shape of the arch, soft and slender in its lines, taking visitors on a journey through the other boutique’s universes. During their discovery, they can admire the curved lines of the staircase which also evokes the stairways of the historic Parisian boutique, here lined in pink marble with bronze railings and a leather handrail.
The stairs lead to the first floor where the leather goods collections are displayed. Men’s ready-to-wear and accessories are unveiled under a glowing vaulted ceiling in addition to a dressing room and a VIP room. The area between these two universes houses a new section dedicated to bespoke Hermès projects. Proceeding to the second floor, an expansive space presents the whole array of the collections for the home for the first time under the same address, which includes the art de vivre, furniture, and tableware. Further along is showcased the women’s universe with ready-to-wear and shoe collections, as well as watches, jewellery and a new area dedicated to repairs.
The clients’ journey continues to the third floor, an area where Hermès know-how can be experienced to its fullest. Next to the atelier that houses an expert leather artisan and a tailoring room is a private space designed as a special sitting room where wood panelling and mahogany furniture welcome customers with a homely feel.
Original objects, paintings, and sculptures have been especially selected for the store’s decor, immersing visitors in an eclectic, artistic atmosphere. The ground floor bookcase houses, for instance, a miniature of the Faubourg Saint-Honoré store created in wood by Italian artist Michele De Lucchi, while an original model of French artist Nathalie Du Pasquier’s Beta scarf is displayed on this same floor.
For the occasion, a limited-edition collection will be offered solely in the Montenapoleone store, including a silk twill scarf, a Constance bag, a skateboard and longboard all featuring the Faubourg Tropical pattern, as well as leather Gris-gris in the shape of cocktail glasses as an homage to the Milanese tradition of aperitivo.
To celebrate this reopening, a bespoke window display has been created by Italian designer Luca Nichetto which interprets the Hermès 2021 theme – ‘An Odyssey’ – through an installation entitled ‘Mythological Renaissance’, depicting four mythological tales revisited in a surreal tone. The design of the store is an achievement resulting from the work of the Parisian architecture agency RDAI, which interprets Hermès’ know-how and harmonises it with the spirit of the location. By plunging into the archetypes of Milan’s culture – the capital of design – the new via Montenapoleone store is a place where Italian materials and designs were thoughtfully selected.
As with all of Hermès’ real estate projects, the renovation of the Milan store is part of a responsible and sustainable commitment. Local materials and the use of Italian craftsmanship took centre stage in the project. The marble, terrazzo, floor mosaics, stained glass windows, staircase railings, and carpets were sourced and produced in Italy, and all the work was carried out by companies based in the region.
Hermès’ strengthened presence in Milan underlines the link that binds the Parisian Maison to its Milanese clients, based on a common interest in well-made objects designed to last, and a shared passion for craftsmanship and know-how. Come into the beautiful world of Hermès.
Yakymour 