Chapter 100 (2) - The Mysterious Art Museum
Momentster, as the car stopped and I stepped out onto the street, I was astonished.
''What is this? The entire city looks like an outdoor department store.''
My first visit to the Sanctuary of Fashion felt like a dream. Especially striking was a district with five huge buildings arranged in a star shape, covered by a transparent, arch-shaped roof. It was almost shocking.
Not a single buildingcked an artistic design, and each store seemed too luxurious for a mere mortal like me to step into. After closing the car door and sending the driver to a nearby parking lot, Monica stood next to me, gazing at the street.
"The Quadrtero district epasses areas like Via Montenapoleone, Spiga, Sant''Andrea, and Borgospesso. This way," she said.
Monica had not been pulling me along, I would have stood there with my mouth agape for at least 30 more minutes. Then, a fly would have probably flown right into my mouth.
As we walked toward the potential site for her store, Monica pointed out and exined various signboards we encountered.
When you go to Borgospresso street, there are stores of famous luxury brands and local Italian brands. It''s not really a ce to buy clothes, but rather for kitchen utensils, dishes, small essories, and high-end household goods.
Ah, is it like the international market in Busan? No, that''s not quite a fairparison.
Monica continued her exnation.
Over there is Spiga street. Its an emerging luxury brand street. When you want to visit stores like Colombo, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Bton, and Moncler, you go there.
Oh, the very brands famous for their first birthday parties. I''ve heard of them too.
Monica gestured towards another direction and said,
On Sant''Andrea street, there are chic select shops and big brands like Chanel and Prada. Especially Prada, its famous for having a wide variety of products that you can''t find in their other stores.
Wow, Prada. The Devil Wears Prada. I''ve seen that movie.
Then, Monica pointed out thest street.
This is Via Monte Napoleone street. It''s a 500-meter street connecting the subway stations, lined with gship stores of the world''s top designers. And my store will be right there.
Wow, the entire long street connecting subway stations is a fashion street?
I followed Monica towards Via Monte Napoleone, ncing around. The luxury stores she had mentioned on the other streets were also here. Alberta Ferretti, Versace, Armani, Prada, Etro, Dolce & Gabbana, and more.
Are these all gship stores? Amazing.
I should buy a gift for Youngju when Ie to work here.
Of course, I will also buy something for Mom.
Mom is a woman too. She might seem uninterested in luxury goods, but that''s probably because she never thought she could have them. I''ve seen her nce at the disys in luxury brand stores while walking with her.
This time, I should buy her a proper bag.
Youngju has been so grateful for various things; I want to buy her something.
What should I buy for my brother? I''ll have to think about that.
Following Monica through the numerous fashion stores, we reached the center of Mn. Before Monica even exined, I recognized the potential site for her store.
Unlike the bustling stores around, there was onerge store standing empty in the middle.
Is this the ce?
Yes.
It''s quite spacious, isn''t it?
Yes, it was originally used as a gship store by an emerging Italian designer.
The store looked over 200 pyeong (about 660 square meters) by Korean measurement. Moreover, it was spread over two floors. Renting such a store in the heart of Mn must require a lot of money.
Monica took out a key from her bag and opened the closed store door.
There are still stores that use old-fashioned keys? Ah, Ive noticed a few stores around here that don''t use electronic locks. Well, there are shutters on the outside of the door, so it should be fine.
Entering the store with Monica, I saw an empty white space.
It seems like nothing has been done yet. Ive only removed the previous interior.
Did the person here leave because they were sessful?
One particrly important thing for Koreans.
When moving to a new ce, if the real estate agent says that the previous upants moved to a bigger house because they were sessful, it makes one''s heart flutter. It''s like wanting to receive some sort of energy from the house. The same goes formercial properties. If the previous business owner was sessful and moved to their own building, it makes one more inclined to choose that ce.
Monica grinned and shook her head.
No, the owner and designer expanded thepany too fast and then everything copsed in an instant. Now, theyre running away from debts.
................
Wow, is it okay to do business in such a store?
Damn, I shouldnt have brought it up. It feels ominous.
I quickly changed the subject.
So, you want me to take charge of the store design? You mean, like murals?
I want to entrust you with everything - walls, floors, ceilings, and the exterior.
Wow, this is bigger than I thought.
Just with paintings?
Ill leave it entirely to the artists judgment.
........................
Although Im a bit worried, its actually easy to decide the design direction. Every fashion brand has a logo. The ultimate goal of store design is advertising, so the logo of the fashion brand bes the main symbol.
"Have youe up with a brand logo yet?"
Look at me, I don''t even know Monica''s brand name, let alone the logo.
Monica catches the hidden meaning in my question and says with a smile,
"Yes, but we don''t have any prototypes yet. The factory isn''t operational, so we only have the design."
"Can you show me?"
"It''s on myptop, I''ll show youter."
"Oh, then can you just describe it roughly for now?"
"Ah, I hope a wonderful paintinges out with my brand logo!"
Monica sped her hands together and spoke earnestly.
"My brand logo is ''Water Lily''!"
"."
Darn, Water Lily... Lotus flowers?
The brand logo is the flower I least like to draw? Why of all things, sigh...
Read ahead by supporting me on Ko-fi
.