Suus, Madrid
Located in the Salesas district of downtown Madrid – a mostly residential area with a handful of small shops scattered here and there – Suus is a small boutique selling exclusively men’s footwear and accessories in a niche market.
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Accessories-only stores, particularly for men, are a rare find nowadays as such boutiques often cater either to a very traditional style of footwear, or are an outlet for a specific brand. So it’s no wonder that the owners of Suus, one previously involved in fashion and the other in furniture design, acknowledged the idea as somewhat risky. But as they’ve found out, the concept has proven successful. “We’ve been very happy with the response”, says co-owner Raul. “Now we actually have ladies complaining of not having a similar location catering to them in the city.”
Suus was simply born out of the desire of having a retail space specifically for men, with the focus being on shoes and accessories. “This is our first experience in retail, it was a risky idea, especially for a men’s store. But we think that a great pair of shoes is the most important piece in a wardrobe” Raul explains. “We believe a unique concept like this works. Besides, nowadays it’s a real luxury to be involved with something you love doing.”
Inside Suus, the space is divided into two zones; the entrance space where pieces are on display, and an elevated space in the back providing more privacy. The well lit interior, featuring clean geometric lines and a dark wooden floor, was redesigned upon opening the store, but certain elements like the old marble stairs were preserved.
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The footwear carried by Suus varies from more classic styles from NDC Made by Hand and Giorgio Brato to more edgy design from Japanese labels The Viridi-Anne and Julius, alongside artisanal European labels such as Maurizio m.a+ and Augusta. Bags and accessories from the same labels complement the footwear selection. “We are always searching for new and inspiring products, the market is so narrow that we are obliged to refresh our offer to our customers each season” Raul says. When starting off, the store carried some more known labels, which would be recognized for not just quality but also a name. “Now we try to focus simply on quality. We enjoy working directly with the designers, to exchange opinions and improve together, you can’t do this with big names. Some of our customers don’t necessarily know the labels we carry, but they appreciate the design and quality involved.”
This coming season, Suus will continue to evolve as it brings a handful of new labels to it’s customers in Madrid, including Japanese labels Individual Sentiments and Devoa alongside Damir Doma. Additionally, the owners hint about the lack of a clothing store in the city to complement Suus. “We just might go for it”, Raul ponders.