Groupies is a vintage kilo store located near the historical context of San Lorenzo in Milan. It is open all week except for Sunday and sells everything from recycled clothes to second-hand accessories and shoes for both male and female customers.
Groupies’ owner, Alice Cipriani, began in a stall at a flea market in 2005 and ended up opening the shop in 2011. It is quite small but well-organized: there is a corner dedicated only to denim, shelves with vintage dolls, barbies and collectable toys, metal hangers filled with multicolor shirts and blouses for every taste.
While each piece on the first floor has its fixed price, the second floor is designated to kilo shopping and the final cost depends on the weight of the products.
Alice never buys from private sellers. She acquires the items from shops that sell in bulk and she chooses every single one of them herself. She is also a stylist and her collection is for sale at the store.
The main inspiration for the designs comes from her travels: one jacket may be decorated with Thailandese embroidery and enriched with a particular Mexican patch — this combination creates original one-offs unavailable elsewhere.
Therefore, the fashion line changes every season according to the tendencies of the moment, not only in Milan but in foreign countries as well, since a lot of her clients are not local. There is also the possibility of renting clothes for shoots and special occasions.
The store might be the perfect place to spend an afternoon snooping around and looking for one of a kind pieces in a special underground atmosphere.
Alice created an inspiring community offline and online (@groupiesvintage) where vintage lovers can interact and discuss trends and style, but also share their fashion ideas and ask questions.
Individuality and authenticity are the main reasons why Groupies works and continues to surprise its visitors: everything is customizable!
