Natural materials create "a sense of refuge" in Kyiv boutique Friends of Fashion

A curved bench and sinuous display rails meander through the interconnected spaces of this fashion store in Kyiv, Ukraine, which interior designer Katerina Kovalenko has conceived as a calming sanctuary for shoppers.

Kovalenko's studio 725 developed the concept store for Friends of Fashion – a Ukrainian clothing brand that wanted its first physical space to complement its simple and elegant womenswear collection.

A palette of natural materials including wool carpet and wood veneer creates a sanctuary-like space that showcases the brand's focus on slow fashion.

"The clients wanted an interior that reflected their brand's style and philosophy, with a focus on organic details and harmony," Kovalenko told Dezeen.

"Our goal was to create a space that not only highlighted their fashion pieces but also provided comfort, warmth and a sense of refuge for customers – especially significant given the context of the ongoing war," she added.

Throughout the store, the design team aimed to evoke the flow of fabrics, using curved forms and soft, textured materials such as the lightweight curtains that line some of the walls.

The textiles and white plastered surfaces are contrasted with dark wooden panelling and stainless-steel hanging rails in some of the rooms.

Existing architectural features such as an arched doorway between two of the spaces and windows in a cupola above the stairwell helped inform several interventions – both externally and internally.

"To maintain the client's budget, we preserved these features and reinterpreted them through arched mirrors, rounded facades and soft, flowing forms that enhance the natural circulation of the space while adding a contemporary touch," Kovalenko added.

For the facade, which looks onto a main thoroughfare in Kyiv's historic city centre, the studio commissioned a pair of curving glass vitrines that are positioned on either side of the entrance.

Internally, 725 worked with architect Illia Klymenko to develop several items of bespoke furniture, including an S-shaped sofa that provides lounge seating next to the payment area.

Other pieces that were specially made for the store include a curved stainless-steel garment rack and a checkered carpet that covers the floor in the fitting rooms.

According to Kovalenko, the ongoing war in Ukraine made it difficult to source manufactured pieces from local brands due to the destruction of production facilities across the country.

"Most of the furniture and decor were made by Ukrainian craftsmen, as international orders faced significant delays at customs and limited local inventory required us to rely on custom production," she said.

One of the most eye-catching features is the bespoke fabric suspension lamp in the stairwell, which is mechanised to open and close like a flower.

"Its organic design, reminiscent of a flower opening to sunlight, represents hope and resilience – a metaphor for the belief that even in Ukraine's darkest times, the sun will shine again," said Kovalenko.

Friends of Fashion's slow-fashion ethos informed many of the material choices through the interior, incuding the emphasis on recycled and reusable elements.

725 was founded in 2019 by Kovalenko, who is currently based in London and describes herself as a creative designer and trend expert, focused on raising awareness of Ukrainian interior design.

In 2022, Kovalenko wrote an editorial for Dezeen describing how she was forced to flee Ukraine when Russian forces started to invade. She also produced a round-up of six interiors that represent contemporary Ukrainian design.

The photography is by Andriy Bezuglov.

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