The Store of a Friend of Mine
Well what can I say , this guy has always been my guardian angel.
Believe it or not I met him 10 years ago in a contest of young good-looking men and women to dispute the role of salesperson for my new home emporium flagship in Sao Paulo called Sig and Joelle. There he was quiet and ironically silent, only now I finally know the reason why.
This kid patiently listened and learned and absorbed everything he could without ever talking too much. He would just wisely watch. Through the many phases of my careeer he was always present, piling up products, developing samples, experimenting prototypes, selling, buying, managing the store, you name it, he was always there. Part of his job was to check on me in a hospital in India, rescue me from an angry American Indian, negotiate with a Turkish antique dealer, support me after a streneous discussion with a Chinese interpreter at a trade show.
There he is, moving like Nureyev in his own new stage. It was about time.
As usual he is upset, he does not like to take pictures while he works, the music is loud probably some of this tremendous Brazilian pop bands that melt within new the store, space furnished with exotic stone Buddhas, japanese old screeens,c eramics made in Brazil and of course an enormous amount of traditional Brazilian icons searched I believe in his trail through the north, probably Bahia. Coconut artifacts luxuriously arranged near daybeds from Minas Gerais that would easely be mistaken with Thai opium beds. We could say is has learned to be a magician.
As a strong believer with his own principles, he writes in the walls what he thinks and make it apoint to be a serious statement in a red background, you almost feel a little guilty when you read that whatever you do you have to be perfect on it otherwise don’t do it.
Bahianas candlesticks are everywhere blended with straw rugs that could fit in any small beach house in the neighborhioods of Sao Paulo.
What can I tell you, he offers me a drink? No he doesn’t but not as a guest, or a client I feel awfully at home and incredibly proud of him.
Delfina
Rua Delfina 112- tel. 38 16 28 62
Vila Madalena São Paulo / Brasil
