Just a few days ago I had the chance to revisit one of my favourite cities: the exquisite, glamorous, Paris. It was not just a pleasure trip, as I attended the Maison & Objet Trade Fair, one of those can’t-miss events which, year after year, reminds me why I am such a lover of the world of decoration.
Although it was a business assignment, I took the chance, as usual, to soak up the Parisian essence, strolling along the great boulevards of the Haussmann era and passing nooks and crannies which still conserve that timeless charm which fascinates me so much.
In the Rue Saint Honoré, near the Louvre Palace, my eyes alighted on the French capital’s flagship store of one of my favorite cosmetics companies: Aesop.
Aesop was launched in 1987 in Melbourne, Australia, to provide a new and clearly-defined range of skin care and well-being products for both women and men. For many years its capacity and philosophy have developed with a view to searching for and studying the benefits of antioxidants through formulas created with ingredients from plants and other components produced in a traditional manner.
Aesop‘s stores have spread throughout the world to bring us closer to a universe rigorously created upon a sound scientific basis, simple packaging and a great sense of humor.
One of its latest additions is the fabulously spectacular establishment in Kyoto, created in collaboration with the Simplicity team, one of the best design studios in Japan, directed by Shinichiro Ogata.
The creation of the space was inspired by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, regarded by many as the cornerstone of the Japanese contemporary novel and famous, in particular, for his masterpiece entitled “In Praise of Shadows”, a well-known essay of great cultural value.
The Aesop Kyoto store project has also been influenced by Zeami Motokiyo, the 15th-century Japanese actor and playwright, the traditional Machiya houses and the vertical alignment of the text in Japanese.
The large front window of the store provides passers-by with a unique panoramic view of an old water pump in harmony with a palette of effects in black and white with an interplay of light and shadows articulated by a veil of blackened mesh that separates the entrance corridor from the sales area. Countless bottles of Aesop products are sewn through the veil in a tribute to Japanese calligraphy.
A product of excellent quality made with the musicality and features characteristic of the place where it is located. Each Aesop store is an authentic treasure, a treat for the senses.
Leave a Reply