TALKING SHOP
ONE BLOCK DOWN
If any city can lay authentic claim to culture and creativity as core assets, it is Milan, Italy's fashion and design capital. Set just a stone's throw away from the Piazza del Duomo, the most renowned silhouette in the city's historical centre, is One Block Down. Since 2009, the multi-brand streetwear boutique has been curating the finest selection of footwear, apparel and accessories. One Block Down now boasts two retail locations in Milan and one in Rome, solidifying itself as one of Italy's top destinations. We sat down with One Block Down's founder Patrizio Vita for a conversation about community, art, design and future plans.
"Within the ever-changing landscape of Milan's contemporary culture, Vita took on the challenge years ago to create a sense of community in his local environment, aiming to stimulate, spread knowledge and bring like-minded people together."
Subcultures are our passion. It's what we like most about what we do, and it's what we love to share with everyone."
Vita cites his fine art background as a strong source of inspiration to bring his vision to life and form One Block Down's identity. "Art and aesthetics are inherently Italian traditions that fascinate us. It's who we are and where we come from, therefore we are always bringing an artistic sensibility to everything that we do.
"This mindset is reflected in products, as well as in the store's interior design. The latest selection of footwear is prominently displayed in the centrepiece of the space, an imposing semi-circular iron structure reminiscent of an amphitheatre.
"A lot of the architecture in our store is custom made in Italy, produced from upcycled materials."
Moving forward into its second decade, Vita's objective for One Block Down is to keep engaging with people from different subcultures, and infuse a sense of newness in the Milanese scene by reframing cultural aspects from a One Block Down-perspective.
"Through our knowledge and affection, we would like to update our craft, and repurpose and modernise old things in a new way."
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