FASHION CITY - Where Milan

Shopping
B&B Italia – Extending over a surface area of one
thousand, seven hundred square metres, this elegant,
multi-level store, situated right in the very heart of
Milan, also offers an outdoor area. It stocks a wide
range of furnishing items created by Antonio Citterio,
Naoto Fukasawa, Patricia Urquiola and Vincent van
Duysen. Open Mon 3pm-7pm; Tue-Sat 10.30am-7pm.
www.bebitalia.it. Via Durini, 14. T: 02 7644411. M1 San
Babila. Map G5
CAPPELLINI – More than a shop, this is a place where
fantasy becomes reality. Set against a stark white
backdrop, you will find the kaleidoscopic creations
of a company which, over the last few years, has
interpreted the most innovative international trends.
For style and glamour aficionados. Open Tues-Sat
10am-1.30pm/2.30pm-7pm. www.cappellini.it. Via
Santa Cecilia, 4. T: 02 76003889. M1 San Babila. Map G4
Carlo Belgir – An atelier founded over one hundred
years ago, where it is still possible to savour the
pleasure of an impeccable consultancy service
which advises customers about everything related
to home fabrics. It stocks fabrics, sofas, cushions,
carpets, bed covers and objets d’art suitable for all
types of interiors, from the most classic to the most
contemporary. Open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm. Saturday
by appointment. Via Salvini, 4. Tel: 02 76409714.
M1 Palestro. Map H4
CASSINA – An elegant, sophisticated space, located in
the highly central Via Durini, for a brand that boasts
over 80 years in the industry. There is something to
excite the eyes of all design lovers (including the
legendary chaise longue by Le Corbusier). Cassina
continues to produce sophisticated, elegant furniture
created by some of the best designers in the world.
Open Mon 2.30pm-7pm; Tues-Sat 10am-7pm. www.
cassina.com. Via Durini, 16. T: 02 76020745. M1 San
Babila. Map G5
CHRISTOFLE – Just a short distance from the highly
central Piazza San Babila, Christofle evokes innovative
modern design and the elegance of times
gone by with its beautifully crafted silver cutlery,
tableware, crystal jewellery and gift objects. Over
time it has become increasingly oriented towards
contemporary design. Among the latest innovations,
cutlery and candelabra resulting from a collaboration
agreement with the young, visionary French designer
Ora Ito. Open Mon 3pm-7pm; Tues-Sat 10am-7pm.
www.christofle.com. Corso Venezia, 6. T: 02 781948.
M1 San Babila. Map G4
C&C – An expression of Italian taste and elegance, C&C
offers an extensive line of intricately constructed
cotton, linen, silk and other fabrics woven with natural
fibers from Italy. Fabrics feature rich textures and a
range of colours. This versatile collection also includes
velvet and cashmere characterized by pastel and
vibrant hues. Open Mon-Fri 10.30am-7pm.
www.cec-milano.com. Via Zenale, 3. T: 02 48015069.
M1 Conciliazione. Map C5
Da Driade – A cult store for the globally designaddicted
offering furniture, objets d’art and
accessories designed by some of the biggest names
on the international design scene. The merchandise
is showcased with a unique style, inspired by art and
the cinema. An absolute “must” even if only to admire
the contrast between items by Fukasawa, Sipek,
Starck and the extraordinary 18th century frescoes of
the palazzo in which the shop is located. Open Mon
3pm-7pm; Tues-Sat 10am-7pm. www.driade.com. Via
A. Manzoni, 30. T: 02 76023098. M3 Montenapoleone.
Map F4
Danese – A small shop, with a vaguely understated air,
for one of Italy’s legendary design brands. Recently
subjected to a makeover, it stocks minimalist objects
and items that owe much to the genius of Bruno
Munari and Enzo Mari (designers of some of the best
pieces of the collections, created in the 70’s and still
in production today). Open Mon 3pm-7pm; Tues-Sat
10am-1.30pm/2.30pm-7pm. www.danesemilano.
com. Piazza San Nazaro in Brolo, 15. T: 02 58432104.
M3 Missori, M3 Crocetta. Map G6
È De Padova – A temple of high-class Italian design,
each floor of its flagship store is dedicated to a specific
sector – bedroom furniture, living-room furniture,
accessories, office furniture – all featuring simple,
clean-cut, classic contemporary lines. Prime examples
are the items designed by Vico Magistretti. In addition
to its own brand, it also offers a small selection of
limited edition accessories chosen from among the
best brands. Open Mon 3pm-7pm; Tues-Sat 10am-
2pm/3pm-7pm. www.depadova.it. Corso Venezia, 14.
T: 02 777201. M1 San Babila, M1 Palestro. Map H3
EDRA – One of Milan’s best kept secrets, hidden away
in the heart of the old Brera district, Edra offers
amazing, futuristic furniture. Set against a surreal
background, we find the huge sofas by Francesco
Binfarè, the flower armchairs by Masanori Umeda and
the sleek Paesaggi Italiani bookshelves by Massimo
Morozzi, art director of the company. Open Mon-
Sat 10am-1.30pm/2pm-7pm. www.edra.com. Via
Ciovassino, 3. T: 02 86995122. M1 Cairoli, M2 Lanza, M3
Montenapoleone. Map F4
Entratalibera – Established by Bruno Rainaldi, a
designer strongly oriented towards the world of art.
Eight hundred square metres of pure creativity, in
which mass-produced furniture and objects – such as
Casprini, Slamp, Gaia & Gino – coexist with amazing,
sculptorial design pieces. off Map
FLOS – A hallmark symbol of design applied to
lighting. Since the Sixties, it has offered elegant light
collections resulting from collaboration with the best
international designers inc Achille Castiglioni, Antonio
Citterio, Jasper Morrison and Philippe Starck. Open
Mon 3pm-7.30pm; Tues-Sat 9.30-1pm/3pm-7.30pm.
www.flos.com. Corso Monforte, 9. T: 02 76003639.
M1 San Babila. Map H4
FONTANA ARTE – Just a steps from the Duomo,
customers will find themselves immersed in an
immaculate, almost museum-like space. The
protagonists of this Italian luxury lighting brand
are its lamps, crafted mainly from steel and glass,
based on an idea of discreet, functional elegance
that has withstood not only the test of time but also
passing fads to remain a leader in advanced glass
manufacturing and lighting design since 1932. Open
Mon 2pm-7pm; Tus-Sat 10am-1pm/2pm-7pm.
www.fontanaarte.it. Via Santa Margherita, 6.
T: 02 86464551. M1 Cordusio. Map F5
HASTENS – An enclave of Nordic design just a stone’s
throw from Milan’s cathedral. It offers the worldrenowned
Swedish bed in all possible shapes and
forms. For those in search of the utmost in comfort
combined with natural materials and artisan working
techniques. Open Mon 2pm-7pm; Tues-Sat 10am-
1pm/2pm-7pm. www.hastens.com. Via G. Barellai, 6.
T: 02 39663500. M3 Missori. Map F6
Italian Design
Credit for the consummate success achieved
by “Made-in-Italy” worldwide goes to all
those Italian companies which, during the
Twentieth Century, revolutionized each and
every sector of industrial design, creating
and signing pieces that are recognized
throughout the world for their quality,
creativity and attention to detail.
In fact, it is not mere chance that Milan,
considered one of the design capitals of the
world, is home to all of the most important
names in the field of industrial and interior
design: Cassina, associated since the
very beginning with masters of the calibre
of Gio’ Ponti and Le Corbusier; Fontana
Arte, a pioneer in the innovative use of
glass in lighting technology; Azucena,
which has produced the furniture of several
of Italy’s most famous architects; Arflex,
whose foam rubber revolutionized the
padded furniture industry: O Luce, with
its catalogue of timeless lighting systems;
Kartell, which made plastic an art form;
Tecno, with its modular furniture; È de
Padova, which introduced Milan to the
supremely light elegance of Nordic design;
Simon, which has always considered design
as a cultural spearhead; Poltronova,
with its commitment to design as artistic
experimentation, renowned worldwide
for its armchair inspired by Joe Di Maggio’s
glove; Danese, with its revolutionary desk
objects; Artemide which, way back in
1967, received a design Oscar for its Eclisse
lamp; Zanotta, the author of irreverent,
playful shapes at the beginning of the
‘70’s. Gufram, visionary manufacturers of
sculpture-furniture; Flos, which endowed
light with new expressive forms; Flou,
inventor of the “textile” bed’; Alessi which,
thanks to the best signatures on the
International scene, wrote the history of
design by giving kitchen utensils a totally
new and modern look; Driade, which
not only discovered Philippe Starck but
also several other famous contemporary
architects and designers; Luceplan,
which transformed lamps into supremely
beautiful high-precision toys; Cappellini,
with its innovative ideas for interior design;
Moroso, which, since the fifties, has
tirelessly innovated its superior quality
upholstered furniture and interior accessories
and Edra, renowned, for the past twenty
years, as an icon of contemporary furniture.
KARTELL – This is the flagship store of a brand that
has become a household name worldwide. It
offers furniture, accessories and lamps, designed
by designers of international renown, interpreted
in a wide array of different colours. One of its latest
innovations includes shoes made entirely in plastic.
Open Mon 3pm-7pm; Tues-Sat 10am-7pm. www.
kartell.it. Via F.Turati, corner of via C. Porta, 1.
T: 02 6597916. M3 Turati. Map G3
La Gallina Matta – Furniture, home accessories
and also romantic, exquisitely decorated fabrics and
table linen. Restructuring and interior design service
www.wheretraveler.com 33