A longtime leader of Milan's retail scene, Clan Upstairs, at via Pontaccio 15, has recently opened a new creative space, Clan Upstairs Base, just next door at Via Pontaccio 19. It occupies 150 sq. meters of a historical building with inner arched ceilings, three shop windows and interiors characterized by a low-impact philosophy, raw materials and upcycling-driven design. The new location offers various forward-thinking brands including the newborn private label of the store, which is also called Clan Upstairs.
Clan Base aims to help raising projects and collaborations that debuted in the main store. Its ambition is to become a versatile and transversal hub open to networking and connections with other companies while helping clients and guests live unique experiences.
The new location is designed to draw attention, help different worlds getting together and speak with each other. It recently hosted a shopping experience and collab with Subdued and launched a new aerobic discipline, Aerowear, among various other projects.
SI asked Fabio Bisogno, Clan Upstairs’ founder, about the new project.
In this time of important changes I think it's important being able to remodel one's own business and launch new projects. After many important collaborations developed inside Clan Upstairs, I felt it was time for me to express myself through my own product that first of all could answer the consumer's true needs without leaving apart the most emotional aspects that make a piece of clothing unique. Therefore Clan Base is the ideal container for sharing my vision of fashion.
What type of client are you aiming at?
I would like to reach a niche consumer who has his or her own personal style, and looks for timeless and always modern iconic pieces.
What are the characteristics of your brand?
The Clan Upstairs brand originates from a synergy between know-how and experience, retail and companies. I offer a selection of iconic pieces I thought of as I know exactly what the client desires–timeless iconic pieces that cannot miss from a man's and woman's wardrobe such as, for instance, T-shirts decorated with vintage prints, unlined cotton jackets, polo shirts and cargo trousers made with Japanese cotton fabrics. They all originate from a blend of Northern European and Japanese inspiration, though expressed through Italian codes and manufacturing know-how. Their fits are regular and don't follow the trend of the moment though they range from XS to XXL. Also colors and silhouettes are clean and essential.
Yes, it is as Made in Italy is unbeatable and through this personal project I would like to give always more space to some of the best Italian manufacturers and artisans. It is a sort of a "back down" aiming to bring back the past and live it today. The opening of this space reflects the intention to make Clan become always more a lifestyle.
How are consumers behaving today? What are they looking for most?
This is the moment for testing them as we notice that clients are looking for important, special and top quality pieces, though, at the same time, we also notice that customers are also ready to dare to look for pieces whose fits are different from what they usually buy.
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