Many people come to Florence, drawn by the Renaissance, a city full of glorious palaces, streets lined with leather stores, and cappuccino so frothy it mimics a fluffy cloud. And this part of Florence does exist. Yet Florence is also heaving with great spaces to explore that are edgy and forward-thinking, with Bjork being one such store.
Tucked down a side street not far from the Ponte Vecchio, at Bjork, there are no glittering jewels but contemporary fashion from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, The Netherlands, and the USA, as well as literature on fashion, photography, and art.
Bjork is an alternative space in Florence best known for its classic fashion styles. But Filippo Anzaione had an idea to challenge such perceptions while indulging in his creative passion for fashion. A Florentine by birth, Filippo lived abroad for almost three years in London, working in art direction. This not only perfected his English, with a slight cockney accent, but it′s also broadened his mind regarding what he likes and promises inside Bjork.
Bjork Florence is full of contemporary brands
From Amsterdam, FOA (First of August), with their clean lines, rich textiles and muted tones, offer the ideal winter coats or Florence-based Australian shoe designer New Kid, whose elegant ankle boots are made in Tuscany from quality custom Italian leather. There is bronze and brass jewellery by Mikinova, an American designer also based in Florence, whose sharp edges and long pendant necklaces are the perfect accompaniment to today′s fashion look plus the addition of mixed textile duffle bags by Flemish brand, lrnce, have added to the accessories on offer.
Beyond fashion, there are rows of books and magazines on design, fashion and photography, arguably the best and broadest collection in Florence. Bjork also sells art prints from emerging graphic artists from around the world. With multiple art and fashion schools in Florence, including Polimoda, this is a hub for international students who have become Filippo′s key clientele. Interior décor is stylish in a “low budget DIY way”, explains Filippo, “a mix of rich and poor materials”. Iron against marble, recycled wood pallets act as shelving on concrete floors, and its clean, slick lines perfectly showcase the contemporary items on sale.
As for the name, Bjork translates as birch tree in Norwegian. A fan of northern Europe, Filippo hopes to open a Bjork store in Copenhagen, a city known for its contemporary style and attitude of embracing new design. With events and launches happening regularly in-store, Bjork is the ideal find for stylish, modern fashion, books or something different but handmade, and as it′s just near Ponte Vecchio, it is easy to find. See for yourself and let Filippo show you what′s on offer in his little birch tree in Florence.
Photo © Sofie Delauw
