Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
If you were led to a department store’s make-up and perfume floor blindfolded, would you know where you are when the blindfold came off? What store, what city, what country? Probably not, as one looks just like the other. Unimaginative, predictable, boring. Not so at Berlin’s 100-plus year-old Kaufhaus des Westens, one singular store known by Berliners as KaDeWe. Specializing in luxury, style and indulgence, KaDeWe has never shied away from swanky design or striking displays. This time, they’ve allowed Hamburg-based Bilen & Born GbR to create two radically different areas on the ground-floor perfume department. One is a white space-agey multi-label area inspired by the act of breathing in fragrances, where spirals and rounded shapes draw the visitor in. The other is a baroque-inspired space with a contemporary twist. With its glass mosaic floor, studded pillars and ceiling with more than 8,000 Swarovski crystals, these surroundings are memorable even if the brands are the same as everywhere else. By Tuija Seipell
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Wednesday, 02 April 2008 |
Since being established by Dennis Pahitis twenty years ago, Aésop skin
care has become an uncontested success story in the notoriously fickle
beauty industry – focused on providing its worldwide clientele with the
highest quality botanical skin care, rather than subscribing to
mainstream-cosmetic anti-aging hype. Aésop now have 78 international
stockists, plus 20 signature stores including stores in Paris, London,
Sydney and their most recent Melbourne addition, Flinders Lane.
In keeping with Aésop tradition – that every store is different;
conceived and designed individually so as that each store is a
reflection and celebration of its location – the Flinders Lane store
does not disappoint, providing its customers with a design and
infrastructure that is just as alternative as Aésop’s skin care
products. Located in one of Melbourne’s most interesting precincts, the
Flinders Lane store interior is made entirely of industrial-grade
cardboard; from the display shelving, to the massive eastern façade,
and even the counter tops– proving that cardboard can be both striking
and structurally sturdy if it’s engineered well.
Designed by local interior architects Rodney Eggleston and Anne-Laure
Cavigneaux of March Studios, the ambient new store has drawn attention
from all sorts of passers by. Store manager, Kate, says she wasn’t
expecting how amazed customers would be by the store’s design. “It’s
clear it’s a very tactile environment. Most people come in and tend to
want to touch it all.”
The Flinders Lane store is located at Shop 1C, 268 Flinders Lane,
Melbourne. For a full list of Aésop products and stockists visit www.aesop.net.au. By Anna Byrne.
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Tuesday, 25 March 2008 |
Alexandre Herchcovitch has come a long way since his humble beginnings
of making his mother's party clothes. Having launched his first
collection in 1994, things have only gotten bigger for the
Brazilian-born designer.
Trained at the Catholic institution Santa Marcelina College of Arts in
Sao Paulo, his designs have been sent down the runways of New York,
Paris and London. Best known for avant-garde designs and eclectic
prints, his trademark skulls became an icon of Brazilian youth in the
nineties.
2007 was a memorable year for Herchcovitch. It was a year of branching
out, particularly with his redesign of the uniform for McDonald's
employees in Brazil, and the opening of his first store abroad. In this
daring project, Herchcovitch chose Tokyo where a good part of his
collections are purchased and where he has become somewhat of a fashion
guru.
The 1,076sq ft store, which sits in the hip Daikanyama district carries
his men's, women's and denim collections and is operated in partnership
with Japanese fashion distributor and retailer H.P. France.
Changing the way the world thinks about Brazilian fashion, coupled with
his new Japanese store and concessions in New York, Herchcovitch is
fast becoming a big and serious name in the fashion world. By Brendan McKnight
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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
The much awaited, fabulous, 6,000 square-foot M.A.C Pro space has just
opened in New York. Occupying an entire floor at 7 West 22nd Street,
the new facility is divided into two separate sections, each with its
own entrance: A retail/studio and a training area. Unlike other M.A.C
Pro stores around the world, this is a full-blown studio and
experimentation facility for make-up artists and beauty professionals.
With its dramatic open layout, the space is a true feast for the eyes.
M.A.C Pro’s New York store is completely dedicated to serving the pros.
At the mixing station, they can hone their skills, test samples and
experiment with the product with all of the tools of the trade nearby.
The reference library is stocked with books, magazines and other
reference materials for those who want to learn more or do research. At
the photography studio, they can record their processes and their
results. A separate training area, a kitchenette and bathrooms with
showers make this an ideal space for some serious learning.
Makeup Art Cosmetics (M·A·C) launched in 1984 when two Canadians,
makeup artist and photographer Frank Toskan and beauty salon owner
Frank Angelo, opened a single counter in the basement of the
now-defunct Simpson’s department store in Toronto. Staffed by
professional make-up artists, determined to become the ultimate color
authority in make-up, and blessed with an outrageous sense of drama and
theatre, M.A.C gained huge popularity among professionals and
consumers. The Estee Lauder Companies bought 51 per cent of M.A.C in
1995 and the rest of the shares in 1998. Sleek stores, a vast array of
color options, and a sense of professionalism and artistry are still
the hallmarks of M A C that now has more than 750 stores in 50
countries. By Tuija Seipell
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Friday, 18 January 2008 |
Unworldly spaces with equally unworldly names, like the topsy-turvy
boutique And A, Beams T or Foot Soldier, shops that feature little
conveyor belts for the display of merchandise, or Nowhere *A Bathing
Ape 'Busy Work Shop', a Tokyo boutique that stocks and displays
garments in an oversized refrigerator that resembles the familiar unit
in everybody's local supermarket - all recent additions to Japan's
shopping streets - are the work of Masamichi Katayama, founder of
Tokyo-based WonderWall. More than just attempts to be futuristic or
extravagant, they are highly sophisticated retail outlets. Not to
mention great fun! Katayama is the consummate consumer. With his shop
designs for *A Bathing Ape, a charismatic apparel brand, Katayama has
ventured beyond the streets of Japan to enrich shopping experience in
London and New York. By Lisa Evans
Random Archive
Xploding Cars
Geek Desk
Casino Marketing Oto Kinoko
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Wednesday, 19 December 2007 |
In the mid-nineteenth century, when Bavarian peddler Morris Levi
Strauss and Latvian tailor Jacob Youphes (Davis) started to create
tough work wear for California coal miners from “denim” cotton imported
from the Provençal city of Nimes, they had no idea how far and wide
denim’s popularity would reach.
Most certainly they could not have imagined the veritable Versailles
created late this fall solely for the purpose of displaying denim in
the magical city of Istanbul. Located in a traditional Ottoman
building, the denim showroom was designed by New Zealand architect
Christopher Hall.
The showroom’s best feature is the lighting created by Beirut, Lebanon-based, PSLAB. The
firm of 40 designers, architects, craftsmen and engineers focuses on
researching, designing and producing custom lighting for a demanding
clientele in Europe and the Middle East.
At the Istanbul denim showroom, PSLAB took its inspiration from the
constraints of the old space and created an exciting environment that
also works. Custom suspended fixtures, positioned on two parallel
lines, were given long adjusting arms for directing the light where
needed. The fixtures give ideal light and look cool yet they allow the
original ornamental ceiling draw well-deserved attention. By Tuija
Seipell
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Tuesday, 11 December 2007 |
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One of our favorite bookstores, Magma (UK) expanded its brand a few
months ago by opening it's first Multi-Purpose product shop, designed
by architects Julie Blum and Nikki Blustin. The eco friendly shelving
is made out of treated cardboard and these specially designed units
(and counters and changing-rooms oh my) come flat-packed, to be
unfolded and built up "according to how many coffee cups are spilled on
them."
This new store looks like something straight out of Michel Gondry's
Science of Sleep, and is a present buyers dream come true. Jam packed
full of the interesting, inspiring, unique and the quirky from big
brands, to one off local designs, be sure to check out this store when
next in London (don't forget to also check out their flagship bookstore
a few doors down) By Brendan Mc Knight
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Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
The in-crowd in Moscow knows Denis Simachev. The only place to buy his
Special edition PlayStation 3, his just-launched sunglass line, his
special Ducati motorcycles, his snowboards or hand-made shoes is
Simachev’s one and only store at 12 Stoleshnikov Pereulok.
The recently unveiled flagship is a hybrid of a store, bar, restaurant
and art space. In addition to rare special-edition items, it showcases
Simachev’s true Russian, irreverent fashions, jewellery (both for men
and women) and furs in an authentic-mixed-with–surrealism environment.
The Englishman and New Zealander in the kitchen cook up everything from
panini sandwiches to Kamchatkan crab, and absolutely nothing flows out
of those golden faucets. The bar is well-stocked, though, and the
prices reasonable.
Simachev is a Muscovite born in 1974 and a graduate of the Kosygin
textile academy. He is a veteran of Milan and London runways and his
brand is sold around the world. But for that PlayStation, you need to
head to Moscow now. By Tuija Seipell
(spotted by cool hunter reader - Veronika Turkanova)
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Wednesday, 24 October 2007 |
Sensory overload is unavoidable in Paris, and after a while you become
a bit numb. But like a sorbet that clears your palate between courses, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s (JC/DC) store at 10 Rue Vauvilliers will work as a visual palate-refresher.
The store has an air of theatre without being theatrical, drama without
being dramatic and history without being historical. A retro,
semi-aggressive undertone, popped up by whimsy and surprise. Oh yes,
they do sell fashion, too.
The store’s flair and ingenuity are not accidental. Cooperation between
super-talents such as JC/DC and Christian Ghion is likely to produce
something remarkable. In his 40-plus years in the business of
high-impact eye candy, the Casablanca, Morocco-born Marquis de
Castelbajac has enjoyed enormous successes designing fashion, movies,
cars, sportswear and interiors. Celebrities from Elton John to Pope
John Paul II have worn his creations and added to his fame.
The 49-year-old Christian Ghion
is no less prolific or versatile. He is known as a designer of high-end
furniture and accessories, exhibitions, and home, store and hotel
interiors. His chicest furniture design is the 2002 Shadow chaise
lounge for Cappellini. By Tuija Seipell
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Monday, 01 October 2007 |
The stark XXS Shop for Mobile Gadgets opened earlier this year in Hamburg’s Innenstadt, at Spitalen Hof 8. It is a minimalist showroom by Hamburg-based Spine Architects for Etronixx-Trading GmbH. The store is void of practically everything else but white surfaces and the merchandise itself. Mobile gizmos appear almost suspended in air, as they rest in small slots within the white expanse of built-in cabinetry that encircles the entire space. It is an excellent example of forcing the customer - in a pleasant way - to focus on the products, not on the props.
Spine is a German-English partnership that started between Boris Bähre, J'orn Hadzik, Jan Löhrs and Neil Winstanley in 2001 when they won one of the prizes awarded in the international design competition for Rabin Square in Tel-Aviv, Israel. They are known for their work in several areas, from housing to public places to TV shows, private homes and shops. In September, Spine Architects opened an office in Menlo Park, San Francisco. By Tuija Seipell
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Monday, 16 April 2007 |
Timing is everything. With summer at its peak right now, trying to fathom the perfect moment to don the shades throws even
the most climate conscious among us. It can make the difference
between fashion faux pas and fashion icon. Thankfully, a young Berlin-based design team specialising in
top-quality glasses have opened a store just when that eyewear
uncertainty starts to creep in. MYKITA, the brainchild of Philipp
Haffmans and Harald Gottschling is a top-of-the-range eyewear brand
that has quietly been gathering praise in design circles since its
launch in 2004.
Known for their handmade frames, the brand won the 2007 iF product
design award and the collection’s “Rocco” model won a red dot design
award in the same year. With those credentials it’s no wonder
their new store has been designed with the utmost precision and
craft. The uber minimalist décor is disturbed only by the subtle
perforations in the industrial shelving. By day, the shop
interior is lit by row after row of spotlights. But by night, the
atmosphere transforms in to a beautiful array of animated light
sequences that reflect the movements of the street outside.
As well as the MYKITA range, the shop is rounded off with selected
eyewear and accessories from other brands. Isn’t it time you invested in a new pair?
MYKITA, Hours: 11am to 8pm. Location: Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse 6, Berlin. By Matthew Hussey
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Thursday, 01 March 2007 |
“Not a secret agent supply store”. Reads the sign placed in the window of the new Boring Store.
Located in Chicago’s Wicker Park, The Boring Store addresses all your
hollow needs including but not limited to, openings, apertures,
punctures, perforations, pits, cavities, and just plain hollows. It
also boasts zero customers for the past 28 years and sells nothing of
any utility. And, it doesn’t sell secret camera-glasses, moustache
disguise kits or underwater voice amplifiers. Just so you know.
So what is it? The owners, 826CHI, are an organisation that run free
after-school tutor and mentoring classes for children aged between
6-18. And they needed some money. So what better way of making
some cash than by duping people into buying well, nothing? Or so
they say.
The store’s real purpose, apart from raising money for new programmes
for kids, is to also serve as a catalyst for the community’s
creativity, and tempt locals to volunteer at the school. It’s
also a hell of a good way to spend a couple of hours. Each item that
you buy, including wallets disguised as moustaches, secret safe’s and
briefcases with handcuffs, is wrapped in an identical cardboard box
concealing the items inside. And all proceeds go towards funding the
courses. The only telling difference is a sign on the front that says,
“the product within this box is not comprised of a thirty-three foot
nylon rope and collapsible hook for grappling.” Or some other
non-description of the box’s contents.
Drawing inspiration from the founder of the free-writing programmes,
novelist Dave Eggers, the store combines charity, humour and everyone’s
desire to be a spy all into one extremely amusing package.
The store celebrated its “Bland Opening” on February 24 this year, and
has been inundated with kids, adults, spies (but how do they know
they’re spies?), and anyone who appreciates good writing. They
also stock pretty much every McSweeney publication in existence. By Matthew Hussey
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Friday, 17 November 2006 |
As we have seen in various posts here on The Cool Hunter, footwear has become a genre of art all of its own.
Much like the how the simple need for shelter has
crescendoed into superfluous McMansions, the shoe started out as a
humble necessity: to keep the toes out of harm's way. Currently - as
anyone who's purchased a pair of platform sneakers or sky-high
stilettos can attest - a need for beauty and style has far overshadowed
the trivial want for comfort.
Oscar Wilde once
professed, "One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art".
The financially fortunate seem to agree, with well-manicured feet
peaking from artistic footwear worth their weight in rubies and diamond
detail. Cobbler extraordinaire Stuart Weitzman took this tendency to an
unprecedented pinnacle with the unveiling of his "Cinderella Slippers"
which were were worn by singer Alison Krauss at the 2004 Oscars
ceremony and priced at $2M.
Thankfully, the
art of footwear is not limited to those of stratospheric bank accounts.
The need for fashionable shoe has crossed all social boundaries.
Collecting retro-style sneakers to high-end designer fashion heels,
shoe sales are a major part of the international fashion market and a
serious indicator of status and sub culture.
Naturally,
the shoe store has evolved, side-by-side, into an equally stylish hub
of modern fashion. No matter if you're talking about a pair Jimmy Choo
wedges (a must on the streets of Manhattan) or a rare collectable pair
of original 1972 Adidas sneakers – there is a carefully manicured
storeroom and market-analyzed price tag for each.
So
what's your favorite shoe store? We're asking our readers to tell us
about the most unique shoe store in their part of the world for a
feature that will appear in magazine print.
We
want to see stores that feature the most original display and
merchandising techniques out there. From sneaker shops to high-end
department stores to exclusive boutiques, if you know of a great
candidate then send us an e-mail,
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Of course, those with the best tip have a chance of winning a pair of Evisu sneakers. By L. Harper
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Wednesday, 04 October 2006 |
It's the high end version of a marketplace stall. Taking from the
concept of pack-and-move retailing made famous by traditional markets
and bazaars, the VBOX is the next generation in pop-up retail.
Equipped
with an iMac, iPod HiFi system and one very funky retail shell, the
VBOX is perfect for retailers who want to follow an event around, set
up a temporary site, or trade for the day at a location of their
choice. VBOX is as much about fun and variety as it is about
portability. Consumers are always on the prowl for a new shopping experience, which VBOX, with its high end finishes and modern design, truly provides.
With
A-list tenants including Prada, Puma, McQueen and Yasuhiro, the VBOX is
setting the bench mark in portable retail stores worldwide. Personally,
I'd like to see a VBox Hello Kitty store, complete with a litter tray
that doubles as a sand pit for the kiddies to play in while mummy
shops. by Lisa Evans via Springwise
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Wednesday, 20 September 2006 |
The French take their perfume seriously, smelling fabulous is
practically a national obsession. That's why this new fragrance
boutique is right at home in Paris. Cult perfumier Frederic Mallee's perfume workshop makes the amateur
shopper feel like a seasoned perfumier, with smelling tubes to 'taste'
the fragrances. Visitors can observe Mallee at work and take home a
bottle of his latest scent. by Lisa Evans
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