ANTONIO MARRAS OPEN ITS FLAGSHIP STORE IN NEW YORK

“I have always loved New York,” says Antonio Marras, Creative Director of the brand. “I’ve always felt at home there, and that’s how I conceived the boutique: as a home where hospitality comes first. ”Antonio Marras, an Italian brand with an eclectic spirit and strong artistic and cultural roots, opens its USA Flagship, choosing New York, one of the world capitals of fashion, art and design, as a strategic stop. Located in Soho, at 121 Wooster Street, the new venue marks a milestone in the brand’s internationalization journey and consolidates its global presence in one of the world’s most vibrant and innovative cities. “There is a deep affinity between the DNA of Antonio Marras and the spirit of Soho, a neighbourhood known for its vibrant art scene, cultural contamination and ability to accommodate cutting-edge creative expressions, ”says Antonio Marras CEO, Barbara Calò. “With its history as a creative hub and home to various art galleries, designer ateliers and cultural spaces, Soho perfectly reflects the values and aesthetics of the brand. Exactly like Antonio Marras, Soho is a place where tradition meets experimentation, where historical memory merges with the contemporary and where fashion, art and design are constantly interconnected”

“Opening in New York means a lot to me. New York is the city that resembles me the most, because like me, it never sleeps; because it’s the place of encounters, intersections, exchanges, short circuits, métissages and contaminations. Because people come from all over the world, yet they keep their love for their roots intact, even after generations.” commented Antonio Marras, the brand’s Creative Director. The boutique covers more than 7,500 square feet, of which 4,300 are dedicated to retail, all inside a 19th century period building, with original architectural elements that were enhanced during the renovation project: decorated tin tile ceilings, cast-iron columns, exposed brick walls and cement grit floors. At the back of the boutique, a large skylight inspired the creation of an unexpected place: a well-lit garden-greenhouse for- ms a poetic and intimate space, furnished with pieces of neoclassical and baroque design, precious carpets, a large crystal chandelier and myrtle plants in handcrafted ceramic pots, emphasizing the painstaking attention to detail and craftsmanship that characterize the brand. The rest of the furniture pays homage to 20th century Italian design, with icons such as Carlo Mollino’s table and Mario Bellini’s Camaleonda sofa, in an ongoing dialogue between past and present, tradition and innovation.

The entrance hall features a tribute to Maria Lai, the great Sardinian artist and muse of Antonio Marras, a multifaceted and three-dimensional site-specific installation created by the Creative Director: an ode to the millenary tradition of the Sardinian loom and weaving. The rigour of the loom, a rational and ordered instrument, contrasts with the passionate nature of handmade pottery. An orderly journey that contrasts with the anarchic and undisciplined dimension of the elements it incorporates. “The furnishings come from the ancient and ancestral part of the world, Sardinia, and intertwine with pieces found locally — everything feels as if it has always been there. As a welcome, at the entrance, there is a reinterpretation of a traditional loom, made of ceramic and
wood elements bound together by bundles of rope. Art, retrouvé furniture, design pieces, picture walls, drawings, furniture that transforms into something else, chandeliers, myrtle plants, sofas, and an outdoor area — all come together to create a special home in the very heart of the world,” adds Antonio Marras.

Since 2022, Antonio Marras has been part of Oniverse, an Italian group directed by Sandro Veronesi, which has given a tangible and strategic boost to the brand’s international development. The acquisition secured the resources and expertise required to face new global challenges and plan major openings, such as those in New York and Milan Montenapoleone in 2025. “The opening of the Antonio Marras flagship store in New York marks a milestone in the brand’s internationalization journey. We chose this city because it represents, as we do, the point where fashion, art and design meet, within an ever-evolving global context. Being present in New York allows us to communicate with a highly sophisticated international audience, while strengthening our identity through an immersive and distinctive physical experience,” explains Sandro Veronesi, President of Oniverse. More than a mere retail venue, the Antonio Marras Flagship store is an experiential space, where every element, from the clothes to the design objects, reflects an ever-evolving aesthetic. It will also be the home of exclusive capsule collections, one-off pieces and site-specific projects, ushering in a constant creative dialogue. A living place, open to contamination, where thought takes shape and style becomes narrative.

All images courtsey of  Antonio Marras