ALEKSA studio designed flagship stores for eyewear brand For Art's Sake in London and Shanghai

ALEKSA studio has completed the flagship shop for designer sunglasses brand For Art’s Sake in London’s historic Covent Garden, followed by a sister store in Xin Tian Di Mall in Shanghai.

For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

Architect: ALEKSA studio
Client: For Art’s Sake
Location: London, UK - Shanghai, China
Year: 2018 - 2019

For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

From the architect: The stores are united by attention to detail and an aesthetic that is targeted at millennial shoppers, reflecting the elegant and intricate frames produced by the brand. Pastel colours, a selfie station and ‘Instagram spots’ are key design features to ensure that the outlets speak to a style-conscious digital generation.

For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

ALEKSA studio wanted to echo the brand’s eclectic style and so employed a luxurious palette of contrasting materials – mirror polished brass, blue velvet fabric and high gloss white timber, elevating the statement-making frames. Solid curtain-like walls and upholstered display stands in velvet are coloured soft blue to match the company’s signature velvet packaging. Bespoke brass arches create flexible window displays visible from outside the shop. Large display units are carved into the walls and feature faceted and tilted round mirrors, floating shelves and mirror finish brass reveals and skirtings.

For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

The designer created an efficient joinery system that can house the maximum number of sunglasses at any time, encased in opulent velvet-wrapped bases. A key consideration was to make otherwise small space appear bigger by introducing carefully curated angled mirrors and ‘Instagram spots’ within the shop. For Art Sake rose to prominence on social media and it was crucial that the physical experience of the shop encourages visitors to share photos across digital platforms. The design of the store is therefore part of a wider online marketing strategy to engage with new audiences.

For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

ALEKSA Studio director, Aleksa Rizova, said: "The shop designs are inspired by the client For Art’s Sake’s key ethos to celebrate the bold woman – a playful power-dresser, both effortless and elegant. The interiors are refined and yet playful, designed with the millennial generation of shoppers in mind." The new fit-out in Shanghai incorporates design motifs developed by the architecture studio for the Covent Garden Shop – brass window arches, display units with brass reveals and round mirrors and the signature fluted blue velvet walls. The brand expects to have locations in Hong Kong, Miami and New York by 2020."

For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

Located in the popular Xintiandi shopping area in Shanghai, our concept features bold colours, gold metal details and rich in texture materials. We introduced curtain-like walls and screens upholstered in soft blue velvet to match the brand’s signature velvet packaging. The display units are carved into the walls and feature faceted and tilted round mirrors, floating shelves and mirror finish brass reveals and skirtings. Bespoke brass arches create flexible window displays visible from outside the shop.

For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

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For Art's Sake flagship store in Shanghai, China

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in historic Covent Garden Market, London, UK

Situated in the heart of The Piazza, the store borrows bold design details from the brand’s penchant for eclectic style: think decadent blue velvet furnishings and brass fixtures that beautifully elevate the statement-making frames. ALEKSA studio has created a contemporary environment within this world-renowned heritage site introducing bespoke intricate upholstered joinery and playful window displays echoing the existing facades in the Market.

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

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For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

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For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

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For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley
For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley

For Art's Sake flagship store in London - photo: Nicholas Worley