Aesop Soho, London
Back
in November I had the privilege of being shown around three
Aesop stores in Central London.
The focus of the day was not only on the carefully concocted skincare products, but also the design ideas behind each location. If you've ever visited more than one Aesop store you'll have instantly noticed that each is different from the next.
It's taken me so long to upload this post because this total wally (that's right, me!) managed to delete his whole memory card free from the original images. So last week I did the rounds once again, visiting Aesop stores at Covent Garden, Soho and Lamb's Conduit Street.
To be invited to spend an afternoon with Aesop's team, along with my buddy
Oliver Hooson, was extremely flattering and exciting experience in itself. We got to hear about the humble beginnings of this Australian brand; their focus on creating environmentally friendly products since the mid 1980s, the theory of how natural ingredients work hand-in-hand with each skin type, as well as
the brand's commitment to creating a unique retail experience, passion for architecture + why the small details matter.
Aesop Covent Garden, London
Each store has its own unique theme, with different designers and architectures being commissioned to create a memorable experience. From the Morroccan tiled flooring and moulded concrete of Covent Garden, the reclaimed enamel soap dish wall mounts of Soho, to the way the Lamb's Conduit Street store takes inspiration from its own history of being one of the cities most renowned bakeries – the attention to detail is second-to-none.
Aesop Lamb's Conduit Street, London
In the Lamb's Conduit Street store you'll find a relaxation area in the back, which is free to be booked out for treatments, or to be used as the perfect chill out area in the summer months. If you have time to visit the store then take a look at the floor tiles – they're the exact same ones which originally lined the actual street back in the day. And it's these small details that really make a difference, giving us more of a reason to invest.
The people of Aesop aren't in it to take over the market, but by following to their unique ethos, adapting to cusomter feedback and utilising meticulous design ideas they've won themselves many fans worldwide. I must say, I am definitely one of those people.
Thanks to Jess + the Aesop London team for taking care of us. If you're interested in hearing more about the design of each Aesop store then visit Taxonomy of Design.
