„We believe that if a garment is designed to function well, it will, by definition, be beautiful“.

Nanushka is a Budapest-based womenswear, menswear and accessories brand founded in 2006 by Sandra Sandor. Nanushka creates garments defined by functionality, practicality and conscious craftsmanship. Equally curated and considered, the London flagship store is located in the heart of Mayfair, with a contemporary café space serving artisan coffee and speciality refreshments.

UK-based architect Hyphen approached long-time collaborators 18 Degrees to work with concept designer Festen Architecture on the lighting design of this retail space. Taking inspiration from the label’s focus on sustainability and importance in supply chain transparency, the lighting scheme was designed to evoke an openness that would reflect these company values. “We wanted to balance the daylight, diffuse light and focused light to make the space feel light and airy,” said Christopher Knowlton, co-founder of 18 Degrees. “The store needed contrast to give some structure, but we didn’t want the clothes to look different once out of the display and in front of the mirror. This is a key element of supporting the sales process„.

To assure the best lighting result, and therefore to showcase the products and create a cozy atmosphere for the customer, Yori Evo 48V has been used: the product features performance optics with an outstanding CRI>98 option that enhances colours authenticity and materiality. In this project, Yori Evo 48V features the cross blade accessory to further obtain a focused lighting effect. Lighting system is controlled remotedly thanks to a bluetooth DALI Controller.

Overall, I think the design is successful in balancing the retail objectives against a space that feels comfortable to spend time in„, Knowlton concluded.