Alessandro Bergamin reads an object by what time has done to it: the fade in a pair of jeans, the skin of old leather, a patina no workshop can recreate. His two shops are built on that eye.
Bergamin is an architect and designer by training, with 26 years of experience, and he now spends his time curating shops in São Paulo, Brazil. Studio Bergamin, in the Jardins neighborhood, describes itself on its official site as a store of curiosities, novelties and eccentricities, and by his count it is approaching its 17th anniversary. Paradiso Vintage is the second shop, in a warehouse in Santa Cecília.
His method is clearest in a recent find: a pair of huge, very old bags made from kilim rugs, originally used on the sides of camels. He built a wooden structure inside, added an upholstered lid and kept the original leather straps, and they became an ottoman, bench and coffee table with hidden storage. They sold within days.
Paradiso, he says, keeps reinventing itself: it has been a café and a restaurant, and now vintage clothing sits alongside the objects. For Locals Insider he explains how the two shops differ, how he sources and what he wears, and he ends on his São Paulo picks for galleries, museums, restaurants, bars and design stores.
I love this kind of transformation, taking something full of history and bringing it into the present in a completely different way.
Alessandro Bergamin
How Studio Bergamin Started: When Everything Felt Monochromatic
Studio Bergamin is approaching its 17th anniversary, and it was born out of my personal inspirations — music, cinema, history, fashion, architecture, and design. At the time, everything felt very monochromatic, and I missed colors, personality, and things that sparked curiosity.
Drawing on my Italian roots, my background in architecture and design, and, above all, following my instincts, I decided to create a space that brought together a little bit of everything I’ve always loved. That’s how Studio Bergamin came to life — a place full of discoveries, special finds, curiosities, and eccentricities, where every piece has its own story and personality.
Architect, Designer, Now Shop Curator: What Happened to the Client Work
I’m an architect and designer by training, with 26 years of experience. Over the years, I’ve worked on a wide range of projects involving architecture, product design, and interior decoration.
These days, I no longer run an architecture and design studio for clients, as my shops and all the work involved in curating their collections have gradually taken up more and more of my time. But I’ve never lost my passion for design.
I still create and develop personal projects and, every now and then, I also take on something for former clients or close friends.
Two Shops, One Curious Eye: Studio Bergamin vs Paradiso Vintage
Studio Bergamin came first, followed some time later by Paradiso Vintage. Studio Bergamin is more focused on interior decoration, with a carefully curated selection of special objects, ceramics, artworks, antiques, and furniture full of character.
Paradiso Vintage, on the other hand, was born with a freer, more experimental spirit. It’s a space where I can explore new ideas and bring in inspirations I discover around the world. Housed in a large warehouse, it brings together vintage pieces, objects inspired by the past, and, more recently, a selection of vintage clothing and pieces inspired by vintage styles.
Paradiso is constantly reinventing itself. We’ve had a café, a restaurant, and now fashion has become part of the mix. I love having the freedom to combine different things, experiment, and transform the space.
In the end, the two shops have very different curatorial approaches, but they share the same curious eye and a passion for discovering special things.
Studio Bergamin is at Alameda Lorena, 1889, in Jardins, and Paradiso Vintage is at Rua Barão de Tatuí, 339, in Santa Cecília. Find the shops online at studiobergamin.global.
Why Vintage? A Grandfather Who Could Make Just About Anything
I’ve always had a passion for vintage, and I think it comes from my natural curiosity and all the influences I’ve gathered throughout my life, from classic films to fashion, architecture, and design. My grandfather was a very skilled craftsman who could make just about anything, and he taught me a lot about working with my hands.
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by old tools, the shape of a pair of vintage eyeglass frames, or the way people dressed in different eras. I’ve always loved hunting for unique finds, especially pieces that carry the marks of time. A patina that’s impossible to recreate, the fading of a pair of jeans after years of wear, or the beautifully aged leather of an old piece of furniture.
To me, that’s what vintage is all about: appreciating the beauty that time brings to things, valuing the craftsmanship and character of the past, and finding ways to bring those pieces into today’s world, mixing old and new in a natural way that’s full of personality.
From Camel Bags to Coffee Table: The Most Unusual Piece He Has Sold
I think our shops have become known for their special, often unusual and one-of-a-kind pieces that you rarely come across twice. We’ve sold some really curious things over the years, but one of my most recent finds was a pair of huge, very old bags made from kilim rugs, originally used on the sides of camels to carry food and supplies.
I came across them while hunting for vintage treasures and decided to give them a new purpose. I built an internal wooden structure, like a storage chest, with an upholstered lid, while keeping the original leather straps. In the end, they became a mix of ottoman, bench, and coffee table, with hidden storage space inside.
I love this kind of transformation, taking something full of history and bringing it into the present in a completely different way. And the funny thing is, once they were finished, they sold within just a few days!
Brazilian Design Worth Knowing: The Campana Brothers, Niemeyer and Lina Bo Bardi
Brazil has some incredible designers, with styles as diverse as our cultures and landscapes, which are a great source of inspiration in themselves. I really admire the work of the Campana Brothers, who were my neighbors for many years, as well as Oscar Niemeyer, Lina Bo Bardi, Francisco Brennand, Sergio Rodrigues, Leo Capote, Helio Ascari, and Ara Vartanian… I appreciate both the great names of the past and the new generation of contemporary talents.
And, of course, I can’t forget my uncle, Sig Bergamin, a major figure in interior design and one of my greatest inspirations for pursuing this career.
How He Sources Pieces: Trade Fairs, Small Producers and Instinct
I source pieces in many different ways, visiting trade fairs in Brazil and around the world, discovering new suppliers, small producers, and artisans who create things by hand and on a smaller scale. I love discovering these talents, both in Brazil and in other countries, especially Italy, where my roots are and which has a special place in my shops, with a dedicated selection of Italian pieces.
I also develop products based on my own designs. But at the end of the day, my selection process is very intuitive.
I follow my eye and my instincts, which have naturally evolved with all the experience I’ve gained over the years.
Alessandro Bergamin
I follow my eye and my instincts, which have naturally evolved with all the experience I’ve gained over the years. I think it’s important to never lose that essence.
A Wardrobe Built on Wear: Military Pants, Worn-In Levi’s and a 1930s Chronograph
I always wear something vintage or pieces from classic, timeless brands. My collection is made up of clothing and accessories that represent different eras, but what attracts me most are the stories, the cuts, and the marks that time has left on them.
I love mixing vintage pieces with contemporary ones, like a pair of OG-107 military pants, worn-in Levi’s jeans, a French workwear jacket, an old watch, or a piece of Navajo jewelry.
Among my favorites are a pair of military pants from the 1960s, full of wear and repairs I made myself, a pair of French workwear pants from the 1950s covered in patches, a military coat from the 1940s, and a chronograph from the 1930s with a tropical dial. I love that mix of history, imperfections, and personality that only vintage pieces can offer.
For another São Paulo take on clothes, Patrick Fortuna of Mão de Mãe talks about Brazilian fashion finding its identity in his own city.
A Melting Pot With Its Own Chaos: What the City Gives Him
São Paulo is a city that inspires me a lot, especially because of its diversity and intensity. Like any major metropolis, it has its chaos, its contrasts, and a unique energy. It’s a melting pot of cultures, shaped by Italian, Lebanese, Japanese, Korean, and many other immigrant communities, as well as people from all over Brazil.
You can see this mix everywhere, in architecture, design, food, music, art, and fashion. São Paulo is constantly evolving, bringing new trends, fresh ideas, and exciting discoveries. I love this creative and cultural energy.
It’s a city that never stops surprising me.
His Address Book: Galleries, Museums, Restaurants, Bars and Design Stores
São Paulo has so many interesting places that it’s hard to choose just a few favorites. The city has an incredible cultural, culinary, and creative scene, with something new to discover all the time.
Art galleries
When it comes to art galleries, I really like Mendes Wood DM, Luisa Strina, Nara Roesler, Vermelho, Superfície, and Galpão 556.
Museums
For museums, I’d recommend MASP, Pinacoteca de São Paulo, MuBE, Lina Bo Bardi’s Glass House, Instituto Moreira Salles, and the Museum of the Portuguese Language.
Where to eat
For food, I love mixing classic spots with more contemporary places, such as Jardim de Napoli, Tan Tan, Modern Mamma Osteria, Z Deli, Mata Città at Rosewood, SPOT, and Adega Santiago.
Nightlife and bars
For nightlife, I enjoy Jerome, Bar Secreto, Le Club SP, Exit Speakeasy, Baretto at Hotel Fasano, and Rabo di Galo at Rosewood.
Design stores
And, of course, I couldn’t leave out some of my favorite design stores and spaces, like Micasa, Firma Casa, Galeria Teo, À La Garçonne, Galeria Metrópole, with its many design shops and galleries, and MataLab at Rosewood.
These places are all quite different from one another, but in their own way, they reflect the mix of styles, cultures, and creativity that I love so much about São Paulo.
Locals Insider · São Paulo · 6 places
São Paulo Museums on Alessandro Bergamin’s List: Where to Find Them
FB @maspmuseu Art museum · Bela Vista
MASP
Paulista landmark
The museum was founded in 1947 and its suspended building on Avenida Paulista, designed by Lina Bo Bardi, was inaugurated in 1968. A single ticket covers both of its buildings.
- Avenida Paulista 1578, 01310-200 São PauloMap
- Official websitemasp.org.br
- @masp
pinacoteca.org.br Art museum · Luz
Pinacoteca de São Paulo
Oldest art museum
Founded in 1905, it is the oldest art museum in the city and focuses on Brazilian art from the 19th century to today. The Pina Luz building was renovated in the late 1990s to a project by architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha.
- Praça da Luz 2, Luz, São PauloMap
- Official websitepinacoteca.org.br
- @p
