Our Timeline
HOW IT ONCE STARTED, WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHERE WE ARE GOING NEXT.
Clothing collector and vintage enthousiast
Alexander Marchesan
is the driving force behind the store, and it is from him that the store takes its name. In the mid-2000s, he had a vision and immediately began working tirelessly to bring it to life. Three years later, A. Marchesan was born.
2008-2011
THE IDEA TURNS INTO REALITY
In 2008, the name A. Marchesan was introduced to the fashion scene. At that time, an annual vintage fair was held in Stockholm, predominantly showcasing women's clothing. It was decided that A. Marchesan would present its collection of classic menswear at the event. With no similar store existing at the time, it was uncertain how the public would react. The result? A resounding success! The press quickly took notice of this unique menswear brand, with a television feature helping to spread the word. As a result, A. Marchesan garnered attention, and new connections were made.
In September 2009, the first physical store opened its doors through a temporary shop-in-shop within a large interior design store in Kungsholmen, Stockholm. Originally intended to last only three months, the store remained in place for a whole year due to its immense popularity.
In the summer of 2011, another temporary store was established, this time in the prestigious Sturegallerian at Stockholm's Stureplan. The response was overwhelmingly positive, attracting many new customers. With this success, plans for the first permanent store began to take shape.
2012-2018
THE FIRST PERMANENT ADDRESS
In the spring of 2012, the time had finally come. On 10th April, the first permanent store opened its doors for the very first time. This was something entirely different from the previous temporary locations; the business had reached a new level. A classic gentlemen’s outfitter, spread across three distinct floors, with bespoke interior fittings in dark-stained oak. The furnishings were partly constructed from elements of some of Stockholm’s iconic menswear shops that had disappeared over the years—pieces Alexander had carefully curated through years of collecting.
The store quickly became a meeting point for like-minded men of all ages. Often from different backgrounds and with unique personalities, but all sharing a common interest in vintage clothing and, more often than not, a passion for good aesthetics in general. It was a place where one could engage in detailed discussions—conversations that might not have been possible with their usual circle of acquaintances.
Beyond the product range, the store's interior played a significant role in giving it its distinctive and entirely unique character. This atmosphere was appreciated not only by customers but also in the worlds of television and film. Over the years, everything from commercials to music videos and crime dramas were filmed in the store. During this time, we also developed the store's first in-house products: our shirts, which have since become highly regarded for both their quality and design.
2018
THE TIME OF ADVERSITY
By 2018, the store had been operating for four years, and more and more people had discovered it over the years. The future looked bright, but suddenly, when no one could have predicted it, disaster struck. The property owner had made an agreement with a nearby restaurant to expand and take over our space, against our will. We couldn’t believe it—the store, which was entirely unique in its own right, was being forced to close to make way for yet another restaurant! But there was nothing we could do.
In the summer of 2018, the store closed its doors for good, and the dismantling of the interior began. Some elements could be salvaged, while others were lost forever. This was undoubtedly the darkest period in the store’s history, but anyone who has worked with Alexander knows that he is a relentlessly stubborn person who never gives up, and this determination would prove invaluable in this difficult time.
2019-2021
THE STORE IS REBUILT
Work to find a new location began immediately, and we were fortunate! Just 350 metres from the old shop, a new space became available. There was no time to waste, and it was quickly decided that we would take over this beautiful new space, featuring three large display windows and a prime corner position. While the location had great potential, the need for renovation was significant. As mentioned earlier, some of the original furnishings had been salvaged, and these were integrated with newly custom-built oak fittings. It was essential that the design of the store would be both aesthetically pleasing and functional for its purpose.
On the upper floor, a dedicated suit department was created, complete with fitting rooms and an office with a window overlooking the store. Along the open space of the upper floor, an original balustrade was installed, dating back to the period of the building's construction, around 1905-1910. All the beautiful window frames were hand-painted in dark oak, and parts of the stucco mouldings were restored and completed.
On the ground floor, the old display cabinets and shelves were reassembled, combined with new custom-built fixtures. A stunning curved staircase was built to connect the two floors seamlessly.
This was a major renovation. Throughout 2019, 2020, and almost the entire following year, work continued to rebuild the store from the ground up.
In November 2021, the store was finally completed and ready to open its doors to the public—something that had been eagerly anticipated by the store's loyal customers!
2022-2024
THE STORE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE
In 2022, during the first year in the new store, many new customers found their way to us, and to our great joy, many loyal customers returned as well. The design of the new space opened up opportunities to expand the business in two important ways. One of these was the development of an online store. Downstairs from the main shop, there is a workshop, and photo studio. From here, we run the website you are currently reading, which was launched over Christmas 2024.
The second area of growth has been the development of our own products. As the business has expanded, we’ve been able to dedicate more and more focus to our own collection. Currently, it includes shirts and knitted garments, but exciting new additions are constantly in development! Our goal is for our collection to closely match the quality and materials of the vintage pieces we offer.
We now look forward with great anticipation to what the future holds for the store!
