For brothers Bruno and Marco Castelli, garments are not just articles of clothing; they are a channel for storytelling. The narrative begins with the origins of the fibers and the techniques used to weave them. From the cuts of the patterns to the precise craftsmanship of the tailors, each step adds another dimension to the tale. So when the duo tapped interiors studio AMLab Creative Laboratory (Cuneo, Italy) to design their newest Get Store (Fossano, Italy), a boutique for luxurious men and women’s apparel and shoes, it was only natural that the shop’s concept would form the next installment of the saga.
By looking to the past, AMLab found an anecdote to the growing proliferation of disposable, mass-produced clothing. “Our mission was to create a friendly atmosphere designed with refined details and inspiration drawn from the ’50s, an era of prosperity, when the skilled artistry of hand-sewn attire was highly valued and the label ‘Made in Italy’ was an indication of international success,” explains Salvatore Maligno, general manager of AMLab.
Since the owners select only the finest handcrafted, authentic Italian fashion to display in the shop, it was important that the decor reflect the same discerning taste, encouraging a harmonious dialogue between the clothing and its milieu, as much as between the brothers themselves. The design team captured the nostalgia for the timeless elegance of the ’50s through the use of a calming, muted palette and meticulously crafted, traditional materials, such as espresso-colored marble, polished copper, rich walnut wood tones and the Op-Art styling of the hexagonal cement floor tiles.
While the material finishes reference contours and styles popularized during this time, they’ve also been interpreted in a contemporary manner. The angular cashwrap, for example, mixes modern, glossy black lacquer with vintage-feel dark timber. Flanking a backlit display for shoes and handbags, a feature wall, clad with a 3-D puzzle of copper rectangles, cleverly disguises the dressing-room doors. Diffused illumination and translucent shelves formed by reinforced pebbled glass keep the atmosphere open and airy, while sinuous black swags with large spotlights complement the delicate ceiling arches and allude to the bright lights of a ’50s film set.
AMLab has cultivated a balance between sophistication and comfort that evokes the enduring charm of yesteryear, while safeguarding the tradition of handmade clothing crafted with love and pride – a principle the brothers will be honoring in their future menswear-only shop in the same city. As a result, shoppers at Get Store extend the storylines of these beautiful garments by writing the next chapters within their own lives.