Bond Street continues to allure, with the latest addition being Jil Sander, making its debut at number 134 on this prestigious luxury shopping thoroughfare in London’s West End. Explaining the choice of London, Jil Sander expressed that while many modern creative cities blend cultures and aesthetics, London stands out as the intersection of them all.
The newly opened Jil Sander store, designed in collaboration with international architecture firm Casper Muller Kneer, aims to provide an intimate journey into the brand’s world. The space is meticulously crafted, featuring floors, walls, and a staircase made from silver-blue travertine, creating mineral and geological surfaces that resonate with the label’s quirky minimalist fashion approach.
The design duo, Lucie and Luke Meier, emphasized their commitment to building durable environments that age well over time, integrating natural, recycled, and reused materials. The store’s atmosphere is described as having an “architectural balance and a sense of discovery” that echoes the Meiers’ work on the coalescence of ideas, empathy, and materials.
Lighting plays a crucial role, illuminating the space like an artist’s studio, with soft natural light creating an intimate and private setting. Elements of timber and brass, along with recycled CD covers in the furniture, contribute to the store’s unique design. The staircase, inspired by Carlo Scarpa, serves as a focal point, adding movement to the space with its intersection of square slabs of travertine and a brass balustrade filtering light from the upper floor.
Recent openings on Bond Street include Swaine, Gucci, and Aquazzura, with Saint Laurent securing a record rent for the street. Reports indicate a growing trend of luxury groups purchasing spaces on Bond Street, willing to wait years until existing leases expire to move their key brands into these ultra-luxe locations. The unveiling of Jil Sander’s store further solidifies Bond Street’s status as a global hub for premier fashion experiences.
