LONDON — Yves Salomon is pursuing his passion for interiors with a new store decor inspired by midcentury French and Italian design.
His fresh ideas are on display at the brand’s new boutique on Harrods’ refurbished first floor, near Brunello Cucinelli, Hermès and Ralph Lauren, and there are plans to roll out the format to other stores worldwide.
Salomon described the aesthetic of the Harrods space as “inspired by the French and Italian architects from the midcentury.” Among the highlights are two original armchairs by Gio Ponti, designed in 1949 for the Italian furniture-maker Casa e Giardino.
Salomon said he made the interior changes in response to the demands of the “new” luxury customer. “They are looking for a global lifestyle experience combining fashion, design and culture. We have tried to express this new expectation in the space,” he said.
Yves Salomon‘s new store concept features Gio Ponti-designed chairs and midcentury modern flair.
Salomon said he chose Harrods for the interiors debut because “it’s a place where luxury customers from all over the world converge,” adding that the intention is “to expand this new design, progressively, to all our other stores.”
At Harrods, Yves Salomon is located in the new, first-floor Designer Collection rooms, which include a mix of bigger luxury brands and more specialist, niche names.
Simon Longland, director of buying, fashion at Harrods, described the area where Yves Salomon is located as a home for “ageless, timeless, seasonless brands that act as wardrobe building blocks.”
As reported, Harrods has been working with David Collins Studio to create a warm, beautifully lit environment. The store is also trying to group brands and designers by theme, and editing the shop floor so that it’s easier to read.
Yves Salomon for Chapo furniture, which debuted at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in April.
Paola Pansini
This has also been a big year for Salomon’s interior design ambitions.
At Milan’s Salone del Mobile in April, Salomon unveiled the brand’s first furniture designs with French company Chapo Creation.
“The inside must always be as beautiful as the outside,” the designer told WWD during the fair.
He unveiled five furniture pieces originally created by interior designer Chapo’s founder, Pierre Chapo. Salomon transformed each one with upcycled shearling and intarsia techniques.
“I have cherished this new project for some time as I wanted to bring together my personal passion for design with the exceptional work of [the Yves Salomon] artisans,” Salomon said at the time, adding that Chapo pieces have been part of his private collection for a long time.
A look at the new Yves Salomon space on Harrods’ first floor.
Yves Salomon has also debuted its latest ski collection at Harrods, its exclusive partner in the U.K.
The collection features high-performance parkas, jackets, ski suits and trousers in brown, black, white and beige. There are also insulated gloves, fur-lined boots and stylish chapkas, elevating winter wardrobes. That collection is located on Harrods fourth floor, while the new concession stocks the ready-to-wear.
