Coming to America

For Milan-based luxury brand Valextra’s new Madison Avenue boutique, architect Marco Costanzi utilized traditional Milanese materials, including rich leather, brass, and a very special stone: ceppo di grè. “Most of the facades of the buildings in Milan are made with this material,” says Costanzi. “I started to work with the grey color of the stone and came back to design all the other elements.” The New York store also offers an exclusive collaboration with the artist Martino Gamper, who designed brightly colored patchwork handbags and accessories, as well as a special area to order bespoke Valextra pieces with customized leather, hardware, and finishing. The only question to ask: Quanto costa questo?