AGNONA Albemarle Street is the first standalone store for the brand in the UK and became the destination for the elegant cocktail party celebrating the opening. The event was attended by Edie Campbell, Alexis Foreman, Annely Bouma, Yasmin Mills and Jemma Mornington.
The store concept is designed by the Ciarmoli Queda Studio under the creative direction of Simon Holloway to evoke the Brands origins – as a fabric mill to the haute couture.
The boutique houses a full range of ready to wear, knitwear, the home collection and a unique edit of the brand’s iconic capes available for exclusive personalized custom orders in a limited selection of beautiful cashmere fabrics.
The new store concept is inspired by the Industrial architecture of the original Agnona fabric mill which was situated in the Biella region north of Milan. The rational, modular metal Nero Metal fixtures form a changeable perimeter of shelving and hanging punctuated by wooden display elements evocative of the “navetta” a component used to weave the precious yarns across the warp of the storied Agnona looms.
This narrative of textile expertise is literally explored in hand crafted plaster walls, treated to evoke the texture of the “Nuvola” or cloud cashmere of the brand’s signature scarves, in the woven metal screens suspended from the ceiling to the hand-woven herringbone woollen rugs resting on a floor in Ceppo di Grè – a signature stone from the Milanese region of Lombardia.
The neutral color palette is enhanced by sleek mid-century inspired furnishing in Eucalyptus Frise’ wood and velvet upholstery in shades of pale taupe, nude and unexpected citrine.
A romantic note is crafted in the sleek panels of artisanal hand embroidered silk wallpaper depicting teasles, a natural type of thistle used in the weaving process to brush and refine the noble fibres that Agnona creates, in a naturalistic exchange with exquisitely drawn goldfinch.
“I wanted to create an environment that reflects the purity and richness of Agnona, at once recalling a beautiful history while indulging todays customer in warmth and style”
Simon Holloway
