KOMMERSANT RUSSIA

Another very expensive menswear store opened its doors in Bolshaya Dmitrovka - it’s a monobrand shop of an Italian brand Angelo Galasso. It is for rich people who choose to stick to conservative views on the clothing and who prefer variations of classical style.

At the same time «Angelo Galasso» is a very young brand. Before creating his own brand, its owner and designer used to work for a long time for a brand that is well known in Russia - Billionaire Italian Couture, created by Flavio Briatore. And the first shop of Angelo Galasso’s own brand was opened in London in 2009. The enterprise is very successful and is developing very fast - Angelo Galasso stores opened in Milan and Moscow in this year, and the openings in New York and Shanghai are planned for autumn. Moscow store has two levels, the design has been created specially for our city by Mariquita Papi and it is overtly expensive: lacquered eben wood, artificially old fumed oak, velvet and silk, marble and gilding.

Angelo Galasso style is now of great demand. It is a specific union of accented splendor of barocco that visually demonstrates success and love to life, with a classic men suit, loyal to puritan bourgeois traditions. Of course Angelo Galasso clothes are ideally tailored and sewn, using traditional hand made technologies and the most expensive materials of the best quality. The assortment is regular - day and casual suits, tuxedos and velvet blazers, shirts, jeans, jackets, tracksuits, and also footwear and accessories: oxfords, loafers and moccasins, ties, belts, bags (from more sporty ones to those that are made for hats), humidors. Silhouettes and proportions are clear and distinct, almost fully responding to the modern rules of classical menswear - apart from the high stand collar on the shirts that have become recognizable in a short period of time. At the same time, luxurious materials and complex detailing are visible in any item from Angelo Galasso store. Even the simplest day-to-day shirts have faceted thick buttons, and ones of the evening ones are finished with crystals… All jeans have leather inserts, most often python and crocodile ones, and are decorated with very elaborate embroidered monograms that this brand uses instead of regular jeans stripes-emblems. Leather belts have very complex buckles made of carved bone and of openwork metal, there are also belts that have reptile heads buckles: snake ones on python belts and crocodile ones on crocodile belts. Ties have two layers - they have complex cuffs through which one can see silk of a contrast color. Almost all the clothes, apart from the most strict business suits are finished with thin contrast facings. These facings are a recognizable feature of Angelo Galasso.

Assortment of Angelo Galasso shops varies. This is a principal position of the designer, according to him, he is against the globalization in luxury clothing. Apart from that, the clients of the brand travel often and Mr Galasso does not want them to see the same set of clothing and accessories everywhere. Another serious advantage of the brand is the size range: one can easily find here clothes for very tall men, so the sleeves of the shirts and blazers will not turn out to be too short. And of course, one can order made-to-measure items in the shop.

ANGELO GALASSO OPENING IN MOSCOW

Designer with a world-known name, connoisseur of men and now also women fashion, Angelo Galasso, has opened his own shop in Moscow, located in Bolshaya Dmitrovka street, 20. First AG store was opened in London in 2009 and by 2011, the brand has been represented in 5 fashion capitals of the world. Angelo Galasso clothes combine in themselves Italian quality and new ideas. One of the most famous inventions of the designer is a shirt with a special sleeve for watches. It has been invented because of a former Fiat president, Gianni Anieli, who had to wear his watch over the shirt, due to his allergy. Now among the famous lovers of the brand one can find Sir Paul McCartney, David Beckham, Puff Daddy, Jay-Z and Beyonce. Gold AG abbreviation on the Italian granite facade of boutique defines what it is filled with: floors artificially made to look old, granite busts, classic chandeliers in fusion style, wall panels and shelves made of ebene wood, silk velvet in ultramarine colour.

Designer Angelo Galasso told Buro 24/7 why he decided to open the store in Moscow, where he finds his inspiration and what kind of women, in his opinion, should wear Angelo Galasso.

Angelo, tell us, why Moscow?

Because the brand has very different clients and is oriented at different fashion. I choose cities where people watch fashion trends. One can fully say this about Moscow.

All your boutiques around the world have totally different interiors. What is the reason? It would have been easier to make all the shops looks similar.

Angelo Galasso brand philosophy is to make a customer feel at home. In other words, it’s not a boutique, it’s a house. This is the principle on which we always base the interior design. Also all our clients are different. That is why, usually the clothing in Angelo Galasso stores is 30% same and 70% oriented on the city in which it is sold in and on the needs of the customers in this city. This is the reason why the interior of Moscow store differs from the one in London, for example. Moscow is different from other cities in general, that is why I want to do something new here.

What is the difference of Angelo Galasso stores from others that also offer quality menswear?

For example in a couple of months, we are going to introduce Toys for boys concept - this will be a special room where each client will be able to order something for him exclusively. Anything from the watches to the shoes. Also we have a small women collection, in which we use the elements of men’s style, and also a children collection. It has all that the men’s line has: for example Watch cuff shirts. Angelo Galasso is a boutique that doesn’t exist anywhere else and these are the clothes not to be found anywhere else in the world. We created our special atmosphere and we want to preserve it.

It’s interesting to speak of the women collection. What do you think, what kind of women will wear Angelo Galasso?

How do you see the heroine of your brand? Of course Angelo Galasso clothes are somehow oriented on business-women, but like with men collection, I want these clothes to be worn by every woman, I want them to be combined easily: for example wearing jeans, a blazer and loafers. The most important is that in the end it looks beautiful, charming and glamorous. Because our product implies it.

And the last question that one should ask an artist about. Where do you find your inspiration?

My inspiration usually comes from my heart. It also comes from everything around, for example, the pleasure that I get when I order special silk for my shirts, when I give this information to the factory… Or for example, I have diamond shoes, its creation has been inspired by my visit to an old jewelry shop where there was an auction. I think that art means to be different. When you are different, in some time what you have done, becomes art.

UPPERCASTE

NY Destinations: Angelo Galasso & The Plaza Hotel.

A richness In materials & philosophy is a driving force in today’s Menswear - lines that carry not only luxury goods but ideals that illuminate lifeless garments. Angelo Galasso, a world-renowned Italian Menswear & Haute Couture designer, used that mentality & manifested it into a physical presence with his very first US flagship store In New York at the Plaza Hotel.

For those unclear as to how prime & at the same time, extremely rare this sort of space is, know this: for a location that is a National Historic Landmark, accruing 450 million USD in renovations, & regularly being unavailable for reservations months at a time to allow its Edwardian Room to be revived as it were, into a flagship store for a Menswear line… is practically unheard of.

Galasso’s line, however, fits in perfectly with the location as it compliments the masculinity of the Edwardian Room, with its strong oak paneled walls & trussed ceiling - now outfitted with impressive shirting, outerwear, & black glossed mannequins. As Galasso puts it, “passion, sensitivity and a touch of self-irony Is the only way to remain in the path of creativity.” Enjoy.