A Museum for Fashion & Aesthetic Fanatics
An exploration by students into the everlasting appeal of the Armani/Silos Museum
by Cameron Khorassani, Loïc Bordier, Kiara Magana Becerra, Marifer Cota
The Armani/Silos is a sophisticated fashion art space founded by Italian luxury designer Giorgio Armani.
The museum, located near the Navigli district of Milan, features four floors which are permanently dedicated to the work of the Italian fashion icon, with the last containing the “Digital Archive Project”. The exact address Via Ambrogio Bergognone da Fossano, 40, 20144 Milano MI, Italy. Google Maps Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JADHbcUpkxbrsUEr6. For more information visit https://www.armanisilos.com/.
In addition to the permanent exhibitions, they currently have a special exhibition which relives the “artistic dialogue” between Giorgio Armani and the famous Italian photographer, Aldo Fallai.
We could not recommend this museum more for fans of fashion, aesthetic, and minimalism. The musuem displays a curated selection of clothing and accessories from Armani’s collections over the years, providing insights into his design process and aesthetic vision. Consistent with Armani’s style and the exhibits within, the building’s structure is straightforward. With that being said, in the place of an old food silos, Armani’s fashion house is nothing short of a modern architectural masterpiece. While the museum’s four floors are dedicated to showcasing Armani’s extensive career, it also hosts temporary exhibitions that explore various themes related to fashion, design, and culture. These exhibitions offer visitors fresh perspectives and insights into the ever-evolving world of fashion.
Within the massive cement walls, lie the well-curated Armani archives featuring unique outfits from 1980 until 2021.
The simple, pure cement walls paired with the impeccable lighting perfectly highlights the intricacy, colors, and overall design of each garment. The clusters of staged outfits are tasteful, not overwhelming to the eye at all. The entire building is meticulously organized in a very modern and minimalist architectural style, characterized by clean lines and sleek design elements, which effectively creates a harmonious and sophisticated environment for the outfits to truly shine and captivate the onlookers. One of the best things about this museum is the lack of barriers between the observer and the piece. Unlike other museums and fashion collections, the Armani/Silos offers observers a unique experience in this sense. In other words, there is nothing blocking museum goers from the art, creating an intimate experience in which one can carefully examine the intricacies of each article of clothing.
Living as a student in a foreign country it can sometimes be difficult to find activities or places that can fit our budget. However, the Armani Silos museum offers a discount for those who are students. Starting with the ticket in general it has a total cost of 12 euros, however if you are a student with an ID card there is a discounted ticket for only 6 euro, which in our opinion is definitely worth it.
Museum Hours:
The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The last entry is at 6:00 p.m. It’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The musuem offers the possibility to do guided tours in five different languages (Italian, English, French, German and Spanish) that last approximatly one hour. However, the maximum capacity of the group is 25 people so choose your friends.
The museum has a total of four floors, of which two exhibit a gallery of photos that represent everyday life situations, showing various Armani designs, with which viewers can identify. The remaining two floors showcase clothing from the brand’s previous collections, triggering a feeling of nostalgia in us as viewers. Likewise, on the top floor, there are screens that explain the history of some of these garments, providing us with examples of who wore them, for what event, and what year they were made. In addition, the museum has an internal coffee shop that offers a pleasant experience during your visit, where you can enjoy a coffee or eat a snack. It is a perfect place to take a break and recharge your energy while enjoying the atmosphere of the museum.
We recommmend all fans of fashion to visit the Armani Silos musuem to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the evolution and the influence of Giorgio Armani’s designs on the fashion industry. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to interact with some of the iconic pieces that allowed Giorgio Armani to become a world renowed fashion designer.
A NEW EXHIBITION
The exhibition “Aldo Fallai per Giorgio Armani” began on December 5, 2023 and will remain at the museum until August 2024. For those of us who are here for only a period of time, a semester in Milan, it is an excellent opportunity to explore new places and dig deeper into the true art and history of fashion. This exhibition contains over 250 images which, according to the official Armani/Silos website, “… either appeared in magazines or were transformed into billboards with huge media impact.” (https://www.armanisilos.com/) The exhibition aims to highlight the artistic dialogue between the two, “exploring the boundaries of [the] unique collaboration that defined the very essence of an aesthetic that has made its way into the collective imagination.” The influence and harmony between the two aesthetic pioneers cannot be overstated, as Aldo allowed Armani to transform the visions in his head into real images. With that being said, for fans of Armani and his brand, this exhibition is a must see.
The photographer Aldo Fallai made his name as a fashion photographer with a disenchanted and unconventional style. Having achieved international fame, Fallai also works for other labels and his reportages appear regularly in the Italian and international fashion titles. In the 1980s he began to address the icons of the history of art and the portrait genre, which he links to fashion in a highly personal synthesis. Tuscan Mannerism, Caravaggio, the Pre-Raphaelites and the exoticism of the French orientalists have been identified by critics as Fallai’s artistic inspirations.
The narrative pathway develops over two floors and brings together approximately two hundred and fifty shots, which either appeared in magazines or were transformed into billboards with huge media impact.
The exhibition juxtaposes images produced for different lines: the photo with the tiger cub, taken in Palermo when the troupe took refuge at the Togni circus one rainy day; the career woman, impersonated by Antonia Dell’Atte, looking directly ahead towards a bright future in the middle of the crowd on Via Durini by the Armani office. And then there’s the Venetian Lagoon, evoked in the studio, and the statues of the Foro Italico translated into a play of sharp, graphic shadows. The photographs are at once familiar and surprising, taken with inventiveness and intelligence.
While we were at the museum, we had the opportunity to speak with one of the staff members. He explained to us that when the exhibition changes, the only floors that are renewed are the ground floor and the first floor; the last two remain the same despite the new exhibitions. Likewise, he told us that the average number of weekend visits to the museum is around 200 to 300 visitors each weekend. The worker was sure to mention that the museum also offers guided tours in Italian, English, and German with each lasting roughly an hour. For those that are very much interested in the evolution and overall history of the Armani brand, we would definitely recommend taking one of these tours. While expensive, (130 euros for Italian tours and 160 euros for other languages for a group up to 25) the tours would enrich the experience as the museum does lack some information regarding each of the collections. For students like ourselves, getting a group of people to split the cost of the tour would be a cost-effective way to maximize one’s museum experience. These guided tours are offered as a way to receive specific information about each collection that would otherwise be unbeknownst to the museum goers.
Lastly, the museum staff consists of 5 people in the cafe, 6 security guards, 2 at the ticket entrance and 5 firefighters in general for the entire area in case of accidents.
Location:
Vía Bergognone 40, Milano, Italy.
To reach by metro, take Line 2, get off at Porta Genova Station. From there, walk 250 meters towards the pedestrian overpass located on the right side of the Station. Cross the bridge and continue along the street to the left, then walk along Via Tortona for 400 meters and at the roundabout turn left onto Via Bergognone.
If you prefer the tram, take Number 14 to Piazza del Rosario stop. From there, head southeast and exit the roundabout onto Via Bergognone. After 450 meters the destination is on the right.
Prices:
- Adults: € 130 in Italian / € 160 in other languages + ticket entrance cost
- Schools: € 100 in Italian / € 120 in other languages + ticket entrance cost
Contact:
Email: info@armanisilos.com or press@amarnisilos.com
Phone: +39 02 91630010 (Active from Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 a.m to 6:30 p.m, except on Holidays)
Link to the official Armani/Silos Website: https://www.armanisilos.com/
