Interview Amongst The Founders Of Novel Concept Shop Deadening
Monday, October 8, 2018
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Opening its doors afterward this month, SLOW is a novel online shop in addition to experiential showroom located inward the take in of Queenstown. Founded past times Martina Blanchard in addition to Sunny Wehrle, the concept shop volition offering a carefully curated pick of design, fashion, beauty in addition to lifestyle brands, many of which volition survive novel to the New Zealand market. These include internationally recognised brands Norwegian Rain in addition to Tom Wood Project from Norway, Danish brands Aiayu, New Works in addition to FRAMA, Not Only White from the Netherlands, Ladies in addition to Gentlemen Studio from New York, addition many more.
Each of the brands comprehend witting trouble concern ethics, crucial pillars for Martina in addition to Sunny, who sought to curate a arrive at of collections that connect to an overarching topic of attentive design, simplicity, function, craftsmanship in addition to sustainability. Housed inward a stunning architectural in addition to multi-functional space, the interior fit-out follows accommodate amongst sophistication in addition to an experiential showcase of products. As good every bit beingness a blueprint in addition to fashion retail space, SLOW volition characteristic a java studio inward an exclusive collaboration amongst FRAMA Copenhagen in addition to volition solid a photograph gallery.
An exciting concept amongst thence much on offer, I was keen to discovery out to a greater extent than most the founders in addition to what nosotros tin aspect from SLOW....
Please part a petty chip most your backgrounds in addition to what led you lot to the launch of SLOW.
We select a mixed background ranging from fashion, hospitality, interior blueprint in addition to social scientific discipline academia. The persuasion of SLOW concept started to unfold most a yr ago, a realised dream of a coveted infinite that would foster pregnant in addition to purpose rather than merely host for a strict retail transaction. Originally I was seeking to opened upwardly an interior shop that resonated amongst my passion for wearisome blueprint in addition to minimal interior styling. Sunny on the other mitt has a vast experience inward the wearing clothing manufacture in addition to is driven past times ethical in addition to sustainable garment production. We select combined our ideals in addition to experiences amongst the wearisome ethos in addition to started to piece of job on how to interpret this into a witting trouble concern model.
You are introducing some beautiful Scandinavian brands to NZ which I know my readers volition survive really excited about. What draws you lot to blueprint from this portion of the world?
Scandinavian brands select a potent ethos of design, materials in addition to heritage. We experience that they are the arbiters of design, retaining their refined, functional in addition to timeless aesthetics inward all they do for centuries (i.e. The century of Danish chair!). Additionally, Scandinavian blueprint manufacture is fully supported past times the authorities for both novel in addition to upwardly in addition to coming designers, which nosotros experience leads to creative pods of craftsmanship in addition to the accessibility of some incredible brands. Most of our brands utilise a grouping of varied designers for their collections which brings variation to the overall blueprint content. Many of these designers are women, which brings an interesting dynamic to the “man's world” of design. We dearest this beautiful E-book past times Danish build ferm Living featuring creative women in addition to their homes.
I’m especially excited most Frama, having visited the flagship shop inward Copenhagen terminal yr during three Days of Design. Tell us most the java studio collaboration. …..
Being a blueprint driven store, it all began from the persuasion of introducing the FRAMA kitchen in addition to advancing that persuasion of an experiential infinite that promotes products every bit designs inward function. Certainly non a novel idea, for me the inspiration was the experiential VIPP loft inward Copenhagen! We got to beak most what nosotros are trying to attain direct amongst Frama founders in addition to when nosotros asked them for an exclusive collaboration, they said yes! Next to the kitchen nosotros volition also showcase Frama Adam seating, shelving in addition to Otto stoneware – all portion of our java studio experience. Additionally nosotros would similar to innovate some specialty European trend coffees to reverberate the cultural heritage of European café culture.
The brands you lot select chosen comprehend witting trouble concern ethics. How does this tally amongst your overall ethos for SLOW?
Our ethos pertains to values of permanency, quality, attentive craft-design, sustainable practices in addition to social-awareness, thence nosotros were really passionate most these brands beingness aligned amongst our ethos.
How would you lot push clit the interior aspect you lot were wanting to attain amongst the store? How does this resonate amongst your ain personal styles?
Simple, minimal, functional amongst nifty attending to exceptional in addition to materials, complimenting our curated build pick respectively. We select treated this infinite every bit nosotros would our ain personal space, striving to do residual betwixt retail in addition to informal realms which lift sensory experience. Often inward retail you lot found yourself inward over lit infinite defined past times restriction of displace in addition to staleness. Paying attending to soft lighting options, textures in addition to purposeful menses inside the space, nosotros select created a gallery similar showcase of products, grouped past times a topic in addition to portion into dedicated stations where you lot tin in addition to thence pass some fourth dimension exploring in addition to trying our products.
You're also launching online, which is nifty word for those who alive exterior of Queenstown. Will you lot survive offering the same products every bit you lot select inward store, including larger items such every bit furniture?
Yes nosotros volition – nosotros volition gradually innovate to a greater extent than products to a higher identify our electrical current meat collections every bit nosotros found regular shipment schedules. Importantly, soundless nosotros are to a greater extent than in addition to thence happy to consult in addition to custom guild whatever specific products for both pocket-size in addition to larger interior projects.
What are some of your favourite pieces on offer?
Frama kitchen, New Works Florence shelving/table in addition to MUUTO sofa in addition to lighting. We are also bringing beautiful NOT ONLY WHITE in addition to their SCAPE collection of freestanding launder basins.
Many thank you lot to Martina in addition to Sunny for sharing to a greater extent than insight into the incredible SLOW concept store!
SLOW launches online at slowstore.co.nz on 23rd Oct, in addition to opens its doors at 83 Beach Rd, Queenstown on the 30th of October.
3D shop renders in addition to production images courtesy of SLOW