Warehouse, London

We're really big fans of this brand and their incredibly well thought through narratives behind what they do.  Their latest scheme is a collaboration between themselves and B.A.(Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising students at London College of Fashion.  After weeks of working with the students the Visual team selected Emma Fearn and her scheme inspired by the Giants Causeway as the winner and implemented this scheme recently.  Check out their website link here to see the full story.  http://www.warehouse.co.uk/blog/2015/work/14424-london-college-fashion-emma-fearn

You can also see the scheme in closer detail in our video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj5p0P21IVw

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Warehouse, London

We included the relaunch of this high street brand a while ago and each time we go back we are always so incredibly impressed with the care and thoughtfulness that the team put into this brand which is delicately layered and so beautifully created that we cant imagine anyone not wanting to shop here?  Building on their East coast NYC loft apartment style, the team have gently warmed this with gorgeous succulents and references to the West coast Californian cantilevered buildings produced by the historical architect Frank Lloyd Wright, all delicately illuminated with soft lighting.  With Spring now on its way this brand looks like a gently confident boutique which is genuinely helpful to the customer rather than adopting the hard sell we see across so many of the multiples on the high street. We really like this approach.

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Warehouse, London

Launching their SS15 collection at B1 here in central London, Warehouse just gets better and ever more interesting.  Their fantastic collections; Something for the weekend, Global Textures, Safari Girl, Denim, the New Work wear and Suede carefully curated into rooms and beautiful spaces divided into work, play and style; this was the super cool event of the week.  Engaging everyone in printing their own sweatshirt using their new signature season prints, creating a time to sit, eat and drink and enjoy a fully immersive experience was enormous fun.  In the meantime you can check out their current collections on line and we will share their Christmas scheme with you shortly.  Just check them out online at www.warehouse.co.uk  

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Warehouse, London

There is such an incredible breath of life being blown into this brand that we ourselves were rather blown away and in awe of the work produced here by the clearly talented Nathan King and Laura Warden-Brown.  These guys really do know their customer and with this store providing stunning merchandise, a VIP area, beautifully designed fitting rooms that we would kill to live in and an overall New York loft apartment feel provided just for you here in the centre of it all; a visit is a must.  The windows contain stunning and perfectly sculptured figures covered in recycled paper, a city skyline free standing backdrop internally illuminated and punctuated with interchangeable pegs of wood and perspex. Everything is so well thought through that it hurts.  Are we gushing?  Damned right.  Go and experience for yourself on Oxford Street, London.

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Warehouse, London

We become more and more intrigued, surprised and delighted at the direction of this brand.  There is clearly someone innovative and exciting in position here now as they continue to amaze us with their breath of fresh air, not just wafted into this tired brand but with the full force of hurricane Jude-type proportions and we love it.  This time around we have an installation, The Haunting produced in collaboration with Anna Ackred which is the latest offering from these guys.  Please keep them coming guys, looking so good it fricking hurts and a welcome relief from the mass malaise of so much on the high street.

Warehouse, London

Wow, Warehouse have a personality after all?  For such a long time this brand appeared to sink deeper and deeper into the retail no mans land (wherever that is) ever since their break up from Arcadia.  However, bit by bit they seem to be clawing their way back up onto our radar and doing some innovative stuff.  We cant remember what the signage on the fenestration said, so we're not sure if Wool week is approaching?  Anyway, little lambs in a repetition format.  Abstract, for sure.  Attention grabbing, definitely.

Warehouse, London

If one glances around town right now there's a good indication that Summer is on its way.  From Tiffany to Topshop and across to Mulberry and Warehouse, floral 'stuff' in all of their permutations are almost covering their window spaces.  This scheme here of course is particularly effective with just about everything repeated from the product itself.  This is also a brave move by this mid range retailer and a good indication of the confidence they they have in their product but also so refreshing to finally see some differentiation from their competitors, don't you think?.

Warehouse, London

Can you believe that Warehouse have been around since 1976?  How quickly did that go, hey?  This is probably one of the best schemes we have seen at this store, with its Design studio installation celebrating (and rightly so) all of the people who have or are contributing to this brand.  Bust forms, sleeve boards, photographs with messages.....this list is pretty endless, cram this space.  

We love these kinds of installations that demystify what happens behind the scenes of these brands.  Often working in tiny spaces, filled to the brim with all sorts of equipment and inspiration these guys really do have to work in tough places.  However, as those of us who work in this industry know, we love it anyway.

Warehouse / Topman, London

Is there a cure for pathological visual deja vu?  Apparently sufferers of this condition are convinced that they have seen this stuff before - strange that hey?  If you happen to be around Oxford Circus here in London this week, then please do be careful, its not for the faint hearted, those suffering from respiratory conditions or children under twelve. 

If you have seen the Korean horror film 'In to the Mirror', you'll know what I mean.  If you haven't seen the film then do, but what I am referring too is how some of the high street brands are eerily mirroring each other - scary stuff, non?  OK, you're not likely to have your jaw ripped apart by your own reflection in these windows,  and if you walk away from the fenestration your reflection will not be left behind.  And no, you wont suffer  all of that other shockingly spine chilling 'redruM' scrawled on a mirror, screams of "don't be scared mommy", or children with White hair eerily singing nursery rhymes surrounded with atmospheric dry ice, kinda stuff.  However, you may well see the below, (please tick/delete as appropriate)

(a) Topman across the street reflecting the male version..ish of this window

(b) the reflection of the back of your head in your own reflection

or

ʍopuıʍ sıɥʇ ɟo ɥsı˙˙uoısɹǝʌ ǝlɐɯ ǝɥʇ ƃuıʇɔǝlɟǝɹ ʇǝǝɹʇs ǝɥʇ ssoɹɔɐ uɐɯdoʇ (ɔ)

Of course it is difficult to say which of these two brands produced their schemes first, however, just have a guess and tick/delete as appropriate:

(a) Topman

(b) Warehouse

(c) Neither Topman or Warehouse

If you ticked either (a) or (b) of course you would be wrong, but how easy was that?  If you ever saw Armani Xchange's scheme in New York 2006 (image below),  then that's right, you guessed it.....taadaaa, same concept, different city (minus glitter ball) and completely unrelated brands  - chronic visual deja vu, hey?  As with other chronic visual deja vu sufferers please allow me to offer you some reassurance that you are not alone.  For now, I'll leave you with your reflections (if they're still there of course).
Incidentally, having had a cursory glance through Google, there is actually a cure for those of us suffering from pathological visual deja vu.  Unfortunately it does rely on the 'multiple' brands being creative and communicating some form of differentiation (at the very least).  You really couldn't make this stuff up, could you?
In the mean time, let me out of this psychomanteum, I'm trying to get my 'jamais vu' to kick in again.....again......again