singer machines as retail decor

I loved this floor-to-ceiling display of old Singer machines in the DC location of All Saints Spitalfields. The British clothing retailer really uses design and architecture to strongly define it's aesthetic, creating an all-emcompassing experience of the brand for shoppers. They've got some cute party dresses too :)

undulating retail display - Washington, D.C.

 at the Camper Store in Georgetown.

DESIGN|COMMERCE SERIES (part 3): Marimekko

During the spring of 2011, Marimekko opened a brand new flagship store in New York, conveniently located just steps away from my workplace. The shop is so incredibly cheerful that it's quickly become one of my favorite spots for a special gift. What's so brilliant about this brand is that it's archive of classic, mid-century prints is it's core asset. The DIY-inclined can purchase actual fabric, but if you love a certain pattern it's even easier to posess in the form of a ready-to-wear dress, handbag, shower curtain, or set of sheets.

Apparently, this flagship is part of a tiered US expansion by Marimekko's corporate leaders that coincided with a public stock offering. Before it opened, the only brick and morter shops in the US that sold their wares were Crate & Barrel stores. I am intrigued by how companies embark on internationalization. It's interesting to see where investors place their bets. In this case, Marimekko's assertion that the US is well primed for Scandinavian escapist design, and the tools for highly individualized nesting feels like a pretty safe one. The video here is from their website and does a good job in telling the brand's story.