Roberto Cavalli stores: when design becomes visionary aesthetics

In today’s post, we talk about Roberto Cavalli stores and their great visionary style. More generally, we will touch on the theme of contract furnishings and, specifically, we will talk about the rules for creating custom-made furnishings for exclusive stores. Let’s get started!

We can say that, in the international luxury fashion scene, there are brands that build their identity through stylistic consistency and brands that sculpt it with audacity and a desire to amaze. Roberto Cavalli undoubtedly belongs to the second category.

Since the 1970s, the brand has embodied a glamorous, theatrical, animalier aesthetic, where the imagery is often based on sartorial excess. It is therefore not surprising that when it came to creating his concept stores, Cavalli wanted to push the boundaries of the conventional, relying on those who knew how to translate that powerful and distinctive imagery into shapes and surfaces. The choice fell on Il Piccolo, a Brianza-based company renowned for its excellence in bespoke interior design. It was the early 2000s and the challenge set by the designer was clear: to transform the physical space into a three-dimensional spectacle, capable of embodying every fibre of the brand.

Il Piccolo did not simply accept the assignment, but took it to the next level. At a time when luxury retail was beginning to reflect on new experiential languages, the Brianza-based company took the concept of furniture to a visionary dimension. The Roberto Cavalli stores we designed and built are not simply retail outlets, but total environments where the brand’s identity is expressed through mirrored steel, flowing curves, jewel-like handles, Swarovski inserts, fine leathers, sophisticated furnishings and so on.

We can say that this is an aesthetic that aims to amaze, that aims for the wow effect as a strategy, that pursues the spectacularisation of space as a design signature. And this is true for all Roberto Cavalli stores. In such a context, the role of the interior designer was to engineer solutions that, on paper, seemed unachievable. In other words, his mandate was to standardise processes that started from unique works. To put it another way, the mission was to bring to a global scale environments that seemed born for the exclusivity of an art gallery.

The challenge was truly daunting, because the client wanted custom-made furnishings for exclusive stores. In short, it was one of the most difficult tasks that can exist in the world of contract furnishings.

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>>> Contact us and let’s talk about it! <<<

The language of the future of Roberto Cavalli stores: unusual materials, lighting and shapes

The approach to the interior design required a convergence of rare skills. Which ones? Custom carpentry, artistic metalwork, tailor-made upholstery, lighting design and special processes.

Each material had to meet two seemingly conflicting requirements. The first was aesthetic wonder, while the second was functional solidity. The curved super mirror steel counters, for example, not only had to be spectacular to look at, but also had to be able to withstand daily wear and tear and constant interaction. More generally, every piece of furniture and accessory in the Roberto Cavalli stores challenged the laws of spatial perception and even those of statics. The reflective surface, the play of light and the integration of leather and glass created an immersive dynamic that captured the visitor’s attention.

In other words, the interiors had to amaze, but also last over time, without losing any of their strength or beauty.

What solutions were implemented? We designed, tested and installed furnishings that, until then, had been considered pure exhibition art. Some examples of the contract furnishings we designed and then built in the Roberto Cavalli stores? We can mention the introduction of fibre optics, Swarovski crystal elements and sculptural handles. These were not just decorative elements, but real cornerstones, functional to the shopping experience.

Every piece of furniture and furnishing accessory contributed to a specific goal: to make the customer feel inside the Cavalli world, an aesthetic habitat that could not be confused with anything else in the world of high-end fashion. Even the leathers used to upholster the furniture and walls were selected and treated according to very strict specifications. Specifically, they had to be precious, but also resistant, so that they would last for years to come.

The uniqueness of the Roberto Cavalli store design required that form and message coincide. Every curve spoke of sensuality, every reflective surface evoked night-time glamour, every detail became an aesthetic statement. And this was true for every Cavalli store. The end result? Bespoke furnishings for exclusive stores that faithfully conveyed the identity of the fashion house.

How do you create furniture for a luxury store?
We have over 50 years of experience.
>>> Contact us and let’s talk about it! <<<

An industrial method for managing creative imagination in contract furniture

What might have appeared to be a collection of artistic installations was actually the result of a rigorous method. Our studio brought organisational and technical expertise to the project, two aspects that made it possible to replicate unique commercial environments on an international scale. All without ever falling into sterile standardisation.

The balance to be struck was extremely delicate: in each of the Roberto Cavalli stores, the brand’s visual identity had to be guaranteed, wherever in the world it was located. However, it was also necessary to adapt to local regulations, architectural constraints and different commercial logics.

Working simultaneously on single-brand boutiques, corners in department stores and shop-in-shops meant mastering different design formats, each with its own specific requirements. This is hardly surprising: contract furniture suppliers are called upon to orchestrate all these different realities, going through the classic stages of the trade, namely technical design, prototyping, craft and industrial production, logistics and on-site installation.

The internal processes of our luxury carpentry workshop have been adapted and enhanced to cope with this leap in scale. Coordination between carpenters, blacksmiths, glaziers, upholsterers, lighting technicians and fitters has become a daily occurrence, as has ongoing dialogue with architects, brand managers and retail managers. Interdisciplinarity has been the key to success in the design and construction of each Cavalli brand store.

Only through the integration of knowledge and craftsmanship has it been possible to achieve the best custom-made contract furnishings to build Roberto Cavalli stores that are truly exclusive, moving from scenographic solutions that are not only “beautiful” but also efficient, consistent and easy to maintain.

This effort at integration is fundamental in the world of fashion. In fact, every store has a dynamic life, marked by campaigns, events, capsule collections, launches, renovations and so on. On the other hand, there is really no other option: the furnishings must be designed to adapt, evolve and remain relevant.

Want to create a high fashion store?
We have over 50 years of experience.
>>> Contact us and let’s talk about it! <<<

An aesthetic that conveys and enhances the Cavalli identity

The aesthetic of Roberto Cavalli stores is unique and unmistakable. But without a space capable of supporting and amplifying it, it would risk losing its effectiveness. Therefore, our work had to ensure the brand’s visible and recognisable expressive consistency.

Thanks to the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship of our contract furnishings, each boutique has become an authentic style statement. Entering a Roberto Cavalli store is an immersive, multi-sensory experience, full of references to sensuality and opulence.

For example, the reflective surfaces of the stores created depth and movement, the fabrics and leathers conveyed the idea of luxury and warmth, and the lighting played with the materials in a continuous choreographed dance. It was a living, pulsating, prestigious architecture. An architecture designed to enhance the products, but also to convey a precise idea of lifestyle.

The strength of these environments was their ability to convey the perceptions of the Cavalli brand without the need for words. The end customer never felt like they were in a shop, but in a universe. More generally, this is one of the least visible but most decisive aspects of the collaboration between a fashion house and designers. We are referring in particular to the ability to translate values into concrete forms.

What does this teach us? Interior designers who approach contract furnishings must act as silent but decisive directors. They must create environments where every detail, even the smallest, carries with it a promise of exclusivity and, in the case of Roberto Cavalli stores, of wealth, sensuality and glitz. This type of tension makes it possible to create a retail experience where the boundaries between space, fashion and storytelling dissolve.

Want to create a high fashion store?
We have over 50 years of experience.
>>> Contact us and let’s talk! <<<

Roberto Cavalli stores and Il Piccolo: the collaboration that created custom-made furnishings for exclusive stores

The success of these custom-made furnishings for exclusive stores was not an isolated exploit. The partnership between Il Piccolo and Roberto Cavalli has led our company to take on the development and coordination of various boutiques, corners and shop-in-shops for the group on a global scale.

This lasting bond testifies not only to the success of the very first projects for Roberto Cavalli stores, but also to our ability to evolve alongside the brand. Markets, collections and commercial strategies change, but our tailor-made approach to each individual furnishing project remains unchanged. Every new contract space is approached with the same care, ambition and rigour. It is this consistent quality that allows Roberto Cavalli stores, and the brand in general, to maintain their strong and distinctive voice in the hyper-competitive world of fashion.

Another important aspect of the collaboration to create the Roberto Cavalli stores? The experience we have gained over the years with contract furniture has led us to develop cross-disciplinary skills. Such as? For example, international project management, concept design consulting, optimisation of complex supplies and multi-level quality control.

What is the result of this growth? Today, the company is a partner of choice not only for its work on the Roberto Cavalli stores, but also for other luxury brands seeking quality, reliability and vision. Brands that are looking for tailor-made furnishings for exclusive stores.

In short: in every project, large or small, the creative spark that allowed our meeting with Roberto Cavalli to become one of the most fascinating stories in high-end retail in recent decades remains intact. This has allowed us to create contract furnishings that, in more ways than one, have set the standard.

Luxury, vision, method: what can we learn from Roberto Cavalli stores today?

The most profound lesson from this collaboration is that interior design for high-end fashion retail cannot be treated as a mere exercise in style. It is rather a strategic, cultural and identity-defining act.

When a space works, as in the case of the Roberto Cavalli stores, it does more than just sell. It tells a story, attracts, excites and captivates. The specific case of this contract furniture demonstrates that extreme aesthetics can coexist with efficiency, that the most daring vision can be translated into operational reality, and that the freest creativity needs to be realised through consolidated technical and craftsmanship skills.

Il Piccolo has been able to be all this: translator, interpreter, innovator of furniture. And it has demonstrated that when it works at the highest level, Italian manufacturing is still capable of amazing the world, creating the best custom-made furnishings for exclusive shops.

Creating furniture for a luxury shop?
We have over 50 years of experience.
>>> Contact us and let’s talk! <<<

Il Piccolo, a second-generation family business, opens its showroom in Lugano. With over 50 years of experience, Il Piccolo brings with it a wealth of technical and design expertise of the highest level, thanks to the numerous interiors it has designed and furnished all over the world. In addition, Il Piccolo represents many of the best international luxury furniture brands. We design, manufacture and sell the best in design. When it comes to creating high-end fashion stores and luxury shops, such as for the Versace brand, we support our clients from the design stage right through to the completion of the project, integrating the entire process with a precise and professional service. Contact us