A must-see in Milan: Armani/Silos
A stunning exhibition space created by the famous Italian fashion brand to celebrate its 40th anniversary
Forty years of uninterrupted success for a brand that has managed to create a unique, unmistakable style, giving an outstanding contribution to the history of Italian fashion worldwide. 2015 Expo year has marked (the first) 40 years of activity as a fashion designer and stylist for Giorgio Armani, who has chosen to celebrate with stylish grandeur with the opening of Armani/Silos, the brand’s latest exhibition space.
The big edifice is located in Via Borgognone 40, Milan, on a former 1950 storage area belonging to a large multinational company. The long renovation works have been personally curated by the Italian fashion designer, who has called the building ‘Silos’, “since it was the place where corn seeds, i.e. essential food, were stored. And just like food, dresses are also essential to life”.
Armani/Silos features an ample 4500 sqm space spread over four floors, the perfect synthesis of simplicity and monumentality in one single piece of architecture. The building, paying homage to Armani’s aesthetic philosophy of utmost essentiality and elegance, perfectly mirrors the stylist’s preference for simple, masterly tailored dresses (especially jackets) devoid of any superfluous stitching or overblown detail.
The renovation works have maintained the original, peculiar design of the building, which features an industriousness-evoking beehive shape that adds further meaning to the symbolic connection between the new exhibition space and the fashion designer’s creative dynamism.
The edifice features two aisled levels overlooking a big, three-height opening and hosts a gift shop, a café, a digital archive and an ample exhibition space. Set up for the launching of Armani/Silos, the exhibition is a journey through Armani’s four decades of work from 1980 until today. Spread over four floors, it showcases 600 dresses and 200 fashion accessories.
A limited edition postage stamp has been especially issued for the occasion, featuring a squiggly sketch by Armani himself of the brand’s striking Armani/Silos museum. A special tribute to a unique artist.
Opening photo: A HUGE GLASS WALL ENCLOSES THE NEW ARMANI/SILOS, OPENED IN MILAN IN EXPO YEAR 2015. PHOTO BY SGP SRL
THE OUTER FACADE OF THE ARMANI/SILOS BUILDING (MILAN) HAS MAINTAINED ITS FORMER INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
A DETAIL OF ARMANI/SILOS ENTRANCE AND GROUND FLOOR, MILAN. ON THE FOREGROUND, A MANNEQUIN WEARING A DRESS BY GIORGIO ARMANI. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
A VIEW OF THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE OF THE FORMER MILAN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, BUILT IN 1950 AND USED AS SILOS FOR DECADES. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
ARMANI/SILOS. ONE OF THE HALLS HOSTING THE EXHIBITION FOR THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMANI BRAND. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
DRESSES BY GIORGIO ARMANI. THEY ARE SHOWCASED AT AN EXHIBITION SPREADING OVER THE FOUR STOREYS OF THE ARMANI/SILOS BUILDING. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
EVENING DRESSES BY GIORGIO ARMANI. THEY ARE HOSTED IN THE ARMANI/SILOS, WITHIN AN EXHIBITION THAT CELEBRATES THE BRAND’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
EVENING DRESSES BY GIORGIO ARMANI. THEIR EVOCATIVE SETTING IS PROVIDED BY THE NEW ARMANI/SILOS BUILDING IN MILAN. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
SOME OF GIORGIO ARMANI’S MOST FAMOUS AND ICONIC DRESSES, CREATED IN THE LAST 40 YEARS AND CURRENTLY SHOWCASED AT ARMANI/SILOS. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
MINIMALIST STYLE AND A RATIONAL ARCHITECTURE ARE KEY FEATURES TO THE ARMANI/SILOS BUILDING, WHICH HOSTS AN EXHIBITION CELEBRATING GIORGIO ARMANI’S 40 YEARS’ CAREER. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
SOME OF ARMANI’S MOST FAMOUS JACKETS, CURRENTLY SHOWCASED IN THE HALLS OF THE ARMANI/SILOS, MILAN. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
THE ARMANI LIMITED EDITION POSTAGE STAMP, DEDICATED TO THE BRAND’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY AND THE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED ARMANI/SILOS. PHOTO BY DAVIDE LOVATTI
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