Sarah Andelman Cooks Up Starbucks’ Next Collaborative Collection
Partnering with four Milanese creatives to transform the iconic barista apron.
In the run up to Milan Fashion Week, curator and consultant Sarah Andelman heads up a new Starbucks collaboration with four Milan-based creatives.
The exclusive project extends upon The House of Coffee’s inaugural collection with Lucas Zanotto, which saw the artist rethink coffee culture through a number of boldly animated lifestyle and homeware products. Bringing new voices and styles to the creative platform, the latest collaborative series follows Francesca Ragazzi, Carolina Castiglioni, Sara Battaglia, and Galib Gassanoff as they put their spin on the coffee brand’s iconic barista apron.
Certain to be behind every drink ordered at Starbucks, the green-washed apron has become a long-standing motif of the brand, going back as far as the 1980s. Its presence has been witnessed by many customers including Plan C founder Castiglioni. Taking a fascination to the ubiquity of the uniform, she recreates a workwear-inspired version which she says is “not decorative but intrinsically linked to functionality.” Adding, “A uniform can have a strong identity while also being beautiful to wear.”
While Castiglioni looked closely at the Starbucks imprint, Vogue Italia editor Ragazzi and founder of fashion brand Institution Gassanoff found inspiration in the home-cooked meals and family dinners that the simple apron is often associated with. “My grandmother Alda was able to transform embroidered and hand-painted tablecloths into true gestures of hospitality and sharing,” she mentioned. “[My design] is a tribute to her tablecloth of friendship.”
Tapping into her love for fashion, designer Battaglia harnesses her own artistic codes for the limited-edition collaboration. Creating a “practical piece that elevates with meaning,” Battaglia’s design comes to life in an A-line dress with red collars and pleats that transform the apron beyond recognition.
Similar to the previous collection, the Apron Project will be available in limited numbers at the Starbucks Roastery Reserve in Milan through the course of Fashion Week.
Find out more by visiting Starbucks’ Instagram page now.
