Fortela Boutique
ENG The Fortela Boutique on Via Sirtori, in Milan’ s Porta Venezia district, perfectly reflects the mood of the brand.
How did it come about, and what are its defining features?“ It’ s a truly exclusive space,” explains Alessia Giacobino,“ which I originally bought back in 2009 to house the headquarters of my first brand. When the need arose to combine the men’ s and women’ s collections in a single showroom, I managed to get the space back from my tenant; it was the perfect solution for Fortela. When I believe in something, I make it happen. Today, the concept is that of a real home, in line with our goal to share rather than sell. As soon as you walk in, you feel a sense of warmth, from the sofa area to the little in-house bar. The atmosphere is undeniably sophisticated, but despite the refined aesthetic, it retains a remarkable formal balance. During the renovation, we uncovered a wooden coffered ceiling by removing the old reed matting. Then, as we stripped away the dated wallpaper and layers of paint on the walls, fragments of long-hidden frescoes re-emerged, and I chose to keep them just as they were: exposed, raw, and textured. I also decided to preserve the large cast-iron columns supporting the lofty wooden ceilings. Even the window frames, though necessarily remade, faithfully follow the original profiles. As for the interior décor, I truly indulged myself, creating charming combinations of furniture and objects from vastly different eras, but the final impression is far from forced or eccentric. One of the most striking features is the fitting rooms, crafted from a towering dark wood boiserie I sourced in France. Inside, the mouldings have been faithfully reproduced, almost mirrored, in a vintage velvet of brick-toned burgundy, the same hue used in the Fortela logo. And when the door closes, you’ re enchanted by the addition of exquisite 18thcentury tassels. Among the boutique’ s most beautiful areas is the space with a 1970s marble fireplace, enriched by a black lacquered wooden bar with brass detailing. Surrounding it are Fortela’ s orange velvet armchairs and a brass-and-smoked-glass table, complete with hidden display trays. Finally, there’ s a vast partition wall clad in fabric featuring a Gio Ponti design; here, vintage brass handles form a striking play of shapes,” concludes Alessia.
fortela. it
Project Director Rita Baiguera Graphic Designer Cristina Zanacchi Intervista Stefania Vitale- Rita Baiguera