Starbucks Teams Up with Sarah Andelman for a Special Winter-Inspired Collaboration

Emphasising collectible luxury partnerships instead of mere beverage consumption

Starbucks

Starbucks is officially entering the realm of high fashion and technical living with the introduction of “The House of Coffee.” Introduced at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery during Milan Fashion Week, this ambitious initiative reinterprets coffee as a cultural tradition. Curated by Sarah Andelman, the innovative founder of the renowned concept boutique Colette, the initiative regards the brand with the esteem of a luxury label. Esther van Onselen, VP of Brand and Customer Experience, articulates that the project “treats the brand akin to a fashion house — where our creations can be worn, collected, exhibited, rather than merely consumed.”

Starbucks

For its initial winter release, Starbucks collaborated with three separate brands: outerwear leader K-Way, ski expert Nordica, and premium pet brand Poldo Dog Couture. The line showcases quirky, oversized-eyed character illustrations by artist Lucas Zanotto, shown on recycled nylon rain coats (€140 EUR), professional-grade Spitfire TI FDT skis (€600 EUR), and green pet puffers (€250 EUR). Andelman observes that the objective was to “provide a small vessel of joy” through exclusive goods that function as “genuine collectibles.” Andelman stated, “I admire the Starbucks Reserve Roastery concept, which I experienced in Tokyo, and I had previously visited the one in Milan. Consequently, I was instantly intrigued by the prospect of introducing a unique activation in this exceptional location, which already exemplifies Starbucks’ expertise.” Milan is the origin of our journey. More than 50 years ago, Howard Schultz, the inventor of Starbucks, entered an Italian espresso bar and observed a phenomenon absent in America: the coffeehouse as a daily routine, a social cornerstone, a venue for prolonged interaction and connection. That event influenced the evolution of Starbucks. Upon contemplating the ideal location to develop a culturally resonant creation, the decision was unequivocal: return to the city that initially inspired us.

The selection of Milan as the debut site is both strategic and sentimental, revisiting the city that initially inspired Howard Schultz’s concept of the coffeehouse as a “social anchor.” In the near future, the six-week engagement will evolve into “The Apron Project” in late February, showcasing bespoke designs by prominent fashion figures such as Carolina Castiglioni of Plan C and Francesca Ragazzi of Vogue Italia, aimed at supporting various charitable organisations.