Antonio Marras opens first global store in New York

Fashion Network

4 days ago

Antonio Marras has opened its first international store in New York. The 700-square-metre, single-level flagship (with 400 metres dedicated to sales) is located in the city's Soho neighbourhood at 121 Wooster Street and marks a crucial step in the global expansion of the Sardinian designer's eponymous brand.
The flagship store is located inside a historic 19th-century building with ornate tin tile ceilings, cast-iron columns, exposed brick walls, and concrete grit floors. The original architectural elements were enhanced during the renovation project overseen by Antonio Marras himself, who sold 80% of his brand to Oniverse (formerly Calzedonia Group) in 2022.
"I've always loved New York, I've always felt at home there, and that's how I conceived the boutique: a home where hospitality takes priority," said creative director Antonio Marras. "New York is the city that most resembles me because, like me, it never sleeps, because it is the place of encounters, entanglements, and cross-pollination. Because people come from all parts of the world, but they keep their love for their origins intact, even after generations."
The store houses a multifaceted, three-dimensional, unique installation at its entrance. The piece was created by Marras as a tribute to Sardinia's age-old tradition of looms and weaving and inspired by his Sardinian muse, artist Maria Lai.
At the back of the boutique, at a large skylight, is a luminous garden-greenhouse furnished with neoclassical and baroque design pieces, fine carpets, a large crystal chandelier, and myrtle plants in handcrafted ceramic pots. The rest of the store houses a selection of furniture that celebrates 20th-century Italian design, with iconic pieces such as Carlo Mollino's table and Mario Bellini's Camaleonda sofa.
"Soho, with its history as a creative hub and the presence of art galleries, designer ateliers, and cultural spaces, perfectly reflects the brand's values and aesthetic. Just like Antonio Marras, Soho is a place where tradition meets experimentation, where historical memory merges with the contemporary and where fashion, art, and design coexist in a constant dialogue," said Barbara Calò, CEO of Antonio Marras.
The flagship will also serve as an experiential space: in addition to clothes and design objects, it will also be home to exclusive capsules, one-of-a-kind pieces, and site-specific projects, in line with the eclectic spirit of the brand strongly rooted in art and culture.
After its acquisition by Oniverse, Antonio Marras has turbocharged its development, from retail expansion with the recent openings in Rome and Milan (Montenapoleone), which brought the number of its exclusive brand stores to 11, to product category expansion through its entry into the underwear segment with the launch of a genderless capsule line.
"Being present in New York allows us to dialogue with a highly sophisticated international audience, while strengthening our identity through an immersive and distinctive physical experience," said Sandro Veronesi, president of Oniverse.