Brahmin Perera has designed the third store for menswear brand Christian Kimber in the heart of Melbourne.
The 160 square metre space in Little Collins Street required extensive demolition and a redesign of the floor plan to make the most of the space and divide it up for different purposes. The furnishings are inspired by the tailoring of past decades: Savile Row and the Sartoria of Naples. Christian Kimber’s shop honors the traditional attitude of a tailor’s shop, with an in-house workshop for alterations and fittings, chalkboards, chalk and tape in each dressing room for measuring, and a lounge where customers can discuss bespoke pieces. The overall color palette is warm, and includes rich walnut, soft linen curtains, sisal on the walls, and maroon carpets.
“We wanted to create a place where customers could linger, explore collections and discuss designs. With that in mind, we focused on all the things that make people feel at home. For example, instead of the clothes racks you find in a regular store, we built the most beautiful open wardrobes to house our garments,” explains founder Christian Kimber.
To create a consistent demarcation between Kimber’s three collections – city, coast and country – Perera zoned the spaces according to each collection, highlighting these collections throughout the project’s materiality. A literal nod to the brand’s country collection can be seen in the chartreuse tones of the wattle carpet, stretched across the wall like an antique tapestry. The coast is symbolised by the glossy light blue tiles that greet each visitor as they enter the store. Iconic furniture pieces by Gemla and Møller are found throughout, chosen for their embodiment of the same artisanal qualities of tradition, attention to detail and precision that are also evident in the men’s tailoring.
“Christian’s brief, like his design ethos, was refreshing, clean and carefully considered. We took inspiration from tailoring and artisan workshops and added luxury branding that reflects Christian’s designs, which feature a color palette and materials derived from nature,” says designer Brahman Perera.
“Simply put, while the store is undoubtedly luxurious, every element of the store is carefully considered. Nothing is over the top. We really wanted to make the clothes stand out and shine. They are the hero,” adds Perera.
