MILAN — A Milanese meets Caribbean vibe now resonates from the neighborhood where Leonardo Da Vinci once lived and where The Last Supper is housed.
Philanthropist Carolina Bonfiglio, a former Goldman Sachs banker and the cofounder and chief executive officer of the Walkabout Foundation, opened the doors to Popettina, a new concept store that houses everything from tableware to pre-loved ensembles. Whether it be a pair of Givenchy sandals, a coffee table book, a Prada bag, kids’ clothes, a summer dress by Johanna Ortiz or Limoges plates hand-painted in Barcelona, they all have one thing in common: they are centered around the colorful, convivial aesthetic curated by the Argentinian, Uruguayan aesthete who spent her formative years between Connecticut and the Dominican Republic.
“I was longing for a deep connection with home but at the same time, I wanted to plant roots here,” she said on Monday, pointing out that even the rattan bar-turned-cash register and the Indonesian palm-shaped lighting are all for sale. Popettina is a term of endearment for her daughter Delfina, she explained as she showcased artisanal purses made in Colombia in the shape of a monkey and which were also made available in other jungle fauna and flora shapes. “These were sold out in five days,” she said, adding that the focus is searching for unique treasures found worldwide.
Inside Popettina Milano, where the entrance is adorned in Johanna Ortiz for Schumacher & Co. wallpaper.
Courtesy of Popettina
The store was designed by Milan-based Droulers Architecture studio founded by sisters Virginie and Nathalie Droulers. The space is an immersive journey: a fresh, sunny environment rich in atmosphere, where the founder’s Latin American influences intertwine with her own collectible passions like mushrooms of all shapes and sizes. The walls are alive with exclusive wallpapers: a palm motif by Johanna Ortiz for Schumacher & Co and mushroom toile de jouy by Stella McCartney for Cole & Son, also designed with a mushroom motif.
“We truly believe she has created a reflection of what lies within: a beautiful world made of curiosity, refined taste, intellectual depth, and unique objects,” the Droulers design firm said.
Bonfiglio, formerly Gonzalez-Bunster before she was married, lived in London for 17 years, before moving to Milan four years ago. During her time in the U.K. she worked for Goldman Sachs and the Clinton Foundation. She founded the Walkabout Foundation with her brother Luis Gonzalez-Bunster in 2009 after Luis’ spinal cord was injured in a car accident at the age of 18. She continues to serve as the charity’s CEO, while raising four children in Milan. “You know they have a saying, if you want something done, you should ask a busy person,” she commented, adding that she hopes Popettina will become a design and fashion hub bringing together the local and global design curious alike.
The concept store is located on via Boccaccio 14, while purchases can be made on Popettina Milano’s Instagram shop for those not in Milan.
Popettina Milano
Courtesy of Popettina Milano
