Shopping in Turin

…with a sneak peek at Mialuis leather bags

By Stefania Manfrè

Turin is a city that is constantly evolving, a simmering cauldron of creativity that is expressed in many fields: from art and theater, to music and fashion.

“Elegant, well-mannered. But beneath Turin’s prim exterior lies a fierce vitality. Turin, more than any other Italian city, mixes old with new, tradition with innovation.”

The Wall Street Journal

Where to Shop in Turin

Walking along its elegant shopping streets, 18 kilometers of which are covered by porticos that conveniently keep the rain off, you will not be stuck for shopping opportunities when shopping in Turin. People who live in Turin consider the glittering designer boutiques in via Roma the heart of the city.

via Roma Turin

Here you can find scores of luxury brands and the big international chains. Not far away is via Garibaldi, Turin’s longest shopping street where you will find smaller shops and more mid-range brands. But, Turin is much more than via Roma and via Garibaldi.

via Garibaldi Turin

The city caters to all types and tastes so you should also take the time to explore the streets away from the main arteries of via Roma and via Garibaldi. Who wouldn’t agree that it is always a thrill for dedicated fashion shoppers to stumble across a great find? Just off the beaten track, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find ateliers’ workshops, concept stores and fashion designers’ stores with stunning window displays, showing Turin’s home grown designers are at the cutting edge of arts and fashion design.

Despite being close by, they are not always so easy to find though. You’ll need to keep a sharp eye out for some of them. Many workshops and stores can be found tucked inside Turin’s ‘palazzo’ courtyards (so look out for the signs on walls) or you may need to phone ahead in some cases to be able to see the collections. Alternatively, some of the stores sell online. However, if you’re in Turin, it’s always worth popping into the stores though to get a feel for the place, the people and the stories behind the designs and the business itself – many of which are family run businesses with inspiring stories that make the temptation to buy all the more powerful!

One such company, if you are looking for slightly off beat leather stuff, is Mialuis:

Founded in Turin by Mariaelena and Roberto Mallone a brother and sister duo who were born here, they turned a dream into a passion and opened Mialuis in 2010. Evocative and full of meaning, the brand name comes from MIA, a play on the nickname of Mariaelena’s mother (Maria Luisa) and her own nickname LUIS.

Stylish, elegant and sophisticated, Mialuis designer bags are unique, quality products. The colors and shapes take center stage adding a pop of individuality and a touch of magic to an outfit. Each bag is infused with the creative passion of the artisan who made it. Created especially for women who love quality fashion and style these are truly ‘Made in Italy’. Mariaelena draws her huge pool of inspiration from her travels, the people she meets, the food she eats and the wine she drinks to create a personal archive of original, natural influences that she works into her gorgeous designs.

Marielena says:

“Our bags are soft and practical and we are pleased to think that they could become what people wearing them really need: the right accessory able to raise emotion, to enter everyday life, becoming even more important, essential”

Mariaelena lives in Turin with her husband and her two children, Francesco and Mariabeatrice.

Stefania Manfrè is fashion blogger at http://chicchissima.blogspot.it/

Additional contributions by Lara Statham