«The more ingredients you use that are in harmony, the better the soup is», according to Big Soup founders, Sebastiano Fazioli and Stefano Paolini
When Opposites Attract: Big Soup
A love story about two opposites, two friends, Sebastiano Fazioli and Stefano Paolini, who came together under the passion for streetwear and sneakers. Paolini is from the suburbs of Rome, while Fazioli was born and raised in the center of the City. Fazioli dresses rather clean cut with a crisp t-shirt, cream colored jeans and glasses, while Paolini is in a coordinated tracksuit with his tattoos peeking out. Both with style, but a paradox one from the other. That’s what Big Soup is about; the mixing of different personalities, united by love. Founded in 2017, Big Soup is still mixing various ingredients that today, represents them and the products found within the shop. «The more ingredients you use that are in harmony, the better the soup is», according to Fazioli.
Paolini and Fazioli before the Big Soup
The Roman duo knew what they wanted after months of discussing their dream of opening up the first resell store in Italy, but didn’t quite know how, nor if it would work. They were voyaging off into uncharted territory. Fazioli previously worked as an author for an Italian TV program. Paolini worked for a well-known sneaker store in Rome. The idea of launching a streetwear store was daunting because it was never done before.
In the city center of Rome on Via Ripetta
Paolini and Fazioli left their respective jobs and decided to rent a space in the city center of Rome on Via Ripetta. A few steps away from Via Condotti and Piazza Navona. They toyed with the idea of opening in more street-urban, international cities, like Milan, but after consideration realized that they wanted to put Rome on the map for sneaker culture.
They both come from generations of Roman ancestors and admire the Eternal City; the pair only saw it logical to place Big Soup’s roots where their roots lie. Nestled amongst one of the most historic streets in Rome, filled with buildings that date back to the sixteenth century, if not earlier, wobbly cobblestones, and luxury shops in the city, lies Big Soup, a store selling the rarest sneakers in the world. It’s a street where deep classic Roman history and modern street culture meet.
The interiors and aesthetics of Big Soup
Big Soup currently has two shops within fifty meters of each other, one at Via Ripetta 141/a and the other Via Ripetta 143. Their first shop opened in 2017 and is dedicated to Nike Dunks, both high and low versions, with some clothing and accessories. The second shop, which opened more recently, is full of rare sneakers such as Off-White and New Balance.
The walls are rather plain, allowing the shoes on display to do the talking. The floor is a bright green, with pops of orange and neon green throughout the stores. The staff are happy to sit and talk with you, they are curious about what brings you in and what you are looking for. There’s an ottoman in the center of the shops mimicking the Big Soup logo. Throughout the store, there are shelves decorated with pop-culture figures and stuffed animals, mixed between rare Supreme memorabilia that is for sale.
The basic idea of resale
According to Fazioli, the word ‘resell’ can be used in a derogatory way, without knowing the meaning behind it. Reflecting on the basic idea of resale, it isn’t a new concept. Art galleries, antique shops, or even vintage shops have been carrying out this work for years.
For Fazioli and Paolini, the idea was simple: they wanted to make their passion for exclusive sneakers their everyday job, and they saw the only feasible way was to exploit their hidden talent. Both claim that they were born as collectors and the idea of reselling shoes never was truly attractive to them.
When asked what drew them to it, they both state that there is a certain charm that can be found within, and having the curiosity to learn constantly, being able to keep one ear and eye open at all times for what’s happening next, what products are dropping, what do people want, how has pop-culture affected what people are buying.
London, New York City, and Paris
In the early days of Big Soup, the shop was often closed because they had sold all of the products they had in store. Fazioli and Paolini travel frequently between London, New York City, and Paris to find these pieces. Due to the nature of the reselling culture, many thought that Big Soup would just be a temporary store, but the Roman duo curated knowledge and relationships that have now become a point of reference for them. Now, the pair manages to buy merchandise from their sources and maintain their ideal levels of stock.
In-store events such as Big Soup Running Team
Big Soup has helped define and modernize the subculture of streetwear and sneakerheads in Rome. For sneaker followers, Big Soup is considered to be a type of ‘museum’. This subculture and community is crucial for Big Soup, without them, the ‘Soup’ would be lacking ingredients.
It was also for that reason that the two entrepreneurs opened the store to serve as a point of reference for people who want to take their first steps, or are already know of sneaker culture. Big Soup does not have an online store, because they believe that to maintain such a relationship with clients, they want people to pilgrimage to Via Ripetta and keep a direct communication to further shape the Big Soup community. To interact, Big Soup is constantly holding in-store events such as the Big Soup Running Team, launches or chatting directly on their social media platforms.
The sneaker culture in 2017
With Big Soup being the first physical sneaker resale store in Italy, they didn’t have an image already ingrained in their mind of what their ideal audience would be. Fazioli and Paolini also credit this to how the sneaker culture was in 2017, when it was mostly kids between 15-25 buying these sneakers via resale, and upset parents hurled inappropriate words towards the two entrepreneurs.
Sustainable Thinkers Ahead of Their Time
With overconsumption being an issue over the fashion devoted, sneakerheads were innovative with the idea of reselling. Sustainability is a pillar for Big Soup because in the end, they are reselling sneakers to people who will collect and/or wear them for years to come.
The duo believes that each product they sell has infinite lives and can be worn time after time, or resold for something else. As an extra, Big Soup offers a «laundry service». They realized there was a need for it, after looking around and noticing that most clients prefer to keep their sneakers clean at all times but may not know how, resulting in the shoes being thrown away and then buying another pair of shoes.
Big Soup
Big Soup was created in Rome, Italy by Sebastiano Fazioli and Stefano Paolini in 2017 and claims the title of Italy’s first sneaker resale shop, located on Via Ripetta 141/a and Via Ripetta 143.
