Modern Alchemy: Stone Island with OMA/AMO

A new concept to host the brand's communities. Launching in Chicago on October 20, 2022 48 East Oak Street For its 40th anniversary Stone Island partners with OMA/AMO to revolutionize its stores’ ID to create points of references, hubs for its communities, spaces transcending transactional activities designed to experience the wealth of the brand research and experimentation on design and product manipulation, to share experiences and interact with its fans. The new store concept by OMA/AMO features altar-like spaces highlighting Stone Island’s devotion to technology and development, shared by its followers. Niches for archival pieces and prototypes – results of years of experimentation in Stone Island’s lab in their Ravarino headquarters – showcase past thinking and future ambitions about product design. Beyond shop opening hours, the space will host public presentations, salons, workshops, and private events. The stores form a base for current and new customers, complementing the brand’s online presence. Stone Island’s approach in transforming materials from typical into unique inspires and informs the new stores’ architecture by OMA/AMO. The stone-like palette of the spaces is formed with specially treated off-the-shelf materials – without actual concrete or stone. Shredded paper and resins are compressed under high pressure to become durable “concrete panels”. Cork - the central material to the Stone Island stores – is burnt, sandblasted and coated, turning dark an