Find Your New Fit at Studio Milano

Vintage clothing and knickknacks share space with Italian posters and retro magazines in Studio Milano, a new store in East Providence. Photography courtesy of Studio Milano.

It was never Maya Milano’s intention to own a secondhand clothing store.

Photography courtesy of Studio Milano.

The twenty-three-year-old moved to the United States from Bologna, Italy, six years ago to play college softball in New Mexico. But after three ACL injuries, she had to pivot from the sport she adored. With a graphic design degree under her belt, Milano started making stickers and moved to Rhode Island to join her grandparents, who live in Johnston.

In April, with her sticker business flourishing, Milano started renting studio space in East Providence. It was a place to work on her creations and house her vintage knickknack collection and curated clothing she sells on Depop.

But after seeing the space, friends encouraged Milano to turn it into a store. So now fashion lovers can browse through Studio Milano Friday through Sunday, while Milano works on her sticker business on the other days.

For Milano, who grew up surrounded by vintage, the store is a kind of kismet.

“My parents actually owned a baby vintage store back in Italy,” she says. “It always felt like second nature to me, so it’s funny that I’ve found myself in the same world as my parents through this shop.”

Much of the storage in the shop, at 1800 Pawtucket Ave., is crafted from reclaimed wood, as sustainability of all kinds is important to Milano.

“I hate seeing good things go to waste,” she says. “People will stop by just to drop off clothing and anything that doesn’t sell or that I don’t put out, I either donate to a local shelter or give to my friend who unravels clothing and makes yarn out of it. I do whatever I can to keep clothing out of landfills.”

Photography courtesy of Studio Milano.

She tries to visit Italy at least twice a year to source inventory and vintage pieces to make the space her own. All the posters on the shop’s walls and vintage magazines in a sitting area were purchased from Italian flea markets.

Milano stocks more than 400 vintage pieces in the space, which is decked out with “Gilmore Girls” and Mean Girls-inspired embellishments.

“This store is such a reflection of me,” Milano says. “Most of the decor was in my apartment so this space just feels very homey
for me. It’s like an extension of me.”

She also hosts junk journaling and pop-up events at the store, bringing people together to bond over crafting and helping other vintage sellers broaden their clientele.

A few months in and the shop has already established itself as a go-to for East Providence residents and other fashion-savvy shoppers. For Milano, the business is a dream, one she never could have imagined when she first came to the state.

“I came to Rhode Island two years ago with nothing — just my car and my dog,” she says. “Thinking of myself then versus myself now is crazy, but I can’t wait to see what comes next.” @_studiomilano_