Pitt Street, Sydney

“...fashion retailing requirements are often ephemeral but we worked to establish some sound principles which would allow future change within the original design concept....a success so far...”

Australian clothing retailers CUE are one of the few local fashion labels still designing and manufacturing on shore. Lippmann Partnership were commissioned by CUE to review their existing retail designs and provide a fresh approach suitable as a template for a national roll-out. Three stores in Sydney and

Melbourne were completed in 2010 with others planned for 2011.

Simple planning and the absence of colour allow circulation around the store to be very clear and the merchandise to predominate. All joinery items and fitting rooms were designed as an integrated whole within the envelope.

Different standards of finishes are available o different budgets of fitout but fir the flagship stores, the envelope consists of aluminium paneling in walls and ceiling plane, carefully integrated with lighting and air conditioning. The floor tile is a grey concrete dimensioned to the aluminium panel grid.

A screen composed of twisted acrylic blades was designed and prototyped to provide a backdrop to the shopfront display and to produce a unique branding and corporate identity which, over time, would be easily recognised and associated with the CUE brand.