SANTONI BOUTIQUE & PATRICIA URQUIOLA: A NATURAL HARMONY

During Milan Design Week 2025, at 18 Via Monte Napoleone—one of the most prestigious streets in Italy—we witness yet another successful collaboration between Giuseppe Santoni and acclaimed Spanish designer and architect Patricia Urquiola.

Their creative synergy spans over a decade and now finds new expression as Santoni celebrates its 50th anniversary. Patricia Urquiola, known for her deep commitment to natural materials and conscious recycling, constantly seeks innovation and the evolution of materials. She is dedicated to weaving connections between artisanal mastery and advanced industrial technology—an ethos fully embraced by Giuseppe Santoni. This philosophy is not only embedded in the concept of Santoni boutiques but is also tangibly present in the brand’s fine leather goods.

Today marks a new challenge: to interpret and reinterpret the Santoni brand—constantly renewed year after year—by honoring the artisanal excellence of Made in Italy through a bold and refined retail vision.

So, what links Santoni and Patricia Urquiola? A shared passion and respect for beauty—seen as a balance of form, material, and color—and an ongoing pursuit of craftsmanship supported by technology, all with the goal of stirring emotion.

Perfectly aligned with the 2025 Milan Design Week theme, which places humanity at the core of its narrative and promotes design as a tool to enhance everyday life, the new boutique on Via Monte Napoleone 18 reveals Urquiola’s ability to explore deep connections between human experience and design, light and material. Her work reflects the “Connected Worlds” theme, inviting a dialogue between the dimensions that shape our lives: humanity, technology, and nature—while also paying homage to the timeless bond between art and architecture.

The boutique in Milan offers an intimate and refined atmosphere, enhanced by softly curved arches and carefully balanced lighting. A wide terrazzo-floored corridor—a tribute to Milanese tradition—leads to the main hall, where guests are welcomed into a plush carpeted space. An eye-catching backlit metal grid ceiling ensures continuity with Urquiola’s previous concept for Santoni, where interior architecture plays out in a harmonious composition of geometry. Finishes, details, and patterns are thoughtfully refined, creating an environment that is both sophisticated and welcoming.

Santoni x Patricia Urquoila Inside The New Boutique; Image Source: Santoni, Photography: Luca Rotondo

Transforming raw materials becomes a personal journey, one that forges a connection with the customer. Visitors experience a sense of “familiar comfort” the moment they step inside. Wearing a Santoni piece within a space crafted by Urquiola means living a unique, personalized shopping experience. Santoni has always prioritized the human aspect of its work—it’s not just about offering a premium product, but about building empathy and meeting the customer’s needs.

Purchasing Santoni shoes or bags begins a true relationship with the brand, one that continues through bespoke services, repairs, and personalized care. A dedicated Bespoke area within the boutique meets these exact needs, further enhancing the experience.

The interplay of luxurious materials, clean lines, and soft, sculptural furnishings creates a welcoming ambiance where contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship coexist in harmony. Fine Italian marbles such as onyx and travertine take center stage in consoles, shelving, and room dividers, adding elegance and finesse. Footwear, leather goods, and accessories are interspersed with inviting sofas and armchairs that contrast with the boutique’s architectural structure, creating a dynamic yet balanced visual rhythm.

Color also plays a starring role. Warm shades of orange, terracotta, and soft pink are paired with touches of champagne-toned brass, crafting a visually rich and immersive environment. Particularly striking is the large central sofa in Santoni’s signature orange hue—inviting, cozy, and bathed in light thanks to the grid ceiling above. There are no shadows—every element is carefully curated to guide the customer toward the products on display, allowing the fine craftsmanship and meticulous design of Santoni pieces to shine.

The boutique’s official opening on April 9 marked the beginning of a new retail concept that will be implemented in upcoming Santoni monobrand stores, starting with the New York flagship. Opened in March at 667 Madison Avenue, this 350-square-meter, two-level space reinterprets Urquiola’s design through the iconic forms of the nearby Chrysler Building. But Santoni’s international presence doesn’t stop in New York—the brand is also represented in St. Moritz, New Delhi, and Dubai, continuing to spread the values of Made in Italy across the globe.

As a tribute to the boutique’s grand opening and Milan Design Week, Patricia Urquiola also curated the window displays with two vases from her Merlate collection, designed for Bitossi Ceramiche—a brand that, like Santoni, shares a legacy of family heritage, a commitment to Italian craftsmanship, and deep artisanal roots.

The Merlate collection blends sculptural design with rich material textures, playing with solid and empty spaces to generate visual tension. Bold color contrasts enhance its graphic structure and highlight its silhouettes, using perspective to break traditional ceramic design boundaries. The result is a series of one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect architectural complexity and imperfection—mirroring the artisanal glazing techniques that define Santoni’s identity and contribute to its global acclaim.

Santoni x Patricia Urquoila Inside The New Boutique; Image Source: Santoni, Photography: Luca Rotondo

Let me close by remembering that this year marks Santoni’s 50th anniversary, and the Milan Design Week 2025 theme “Thought for Humans” could not be more in sync with the brand’s philosophy. Santoni honors what it calls its “Santoni Masters”—the artisans whose talent and devotion breathe life into every creation—through a touching campaign titled Meraviglia – Makers of Beauty for 50 Years. Captured through the lens of photographer Jack Davison, the campaign portrays these hands and faces with raw, human authenticity—expressive, powerful, and poetic.

Because Santoni stands for a true sense of humanism—one that is inherently Italian. The value of the individual is at the heart of the company’s mission. Santoni is a family, extended yet united: a collective of 700 artisans bound by genuine relationships. It is this familial spirit that fosters authenticity. And it is through this lens that Santoni seeks and shares Beauty—creating positive emotions and elevating daily life with effortless, natural elegance. (source: Santoni website)

A natural harmony.