Coastal and Contemporary – Coco & Lola by Esoteriko
Manly’s Coco & Lola boutique feels like a space for the new consumer. It’s a retail experience with intrigue and new elements to uncover with every turn as well as juxtapositions that make it feel sweet without being saccharine, coastal without being cliché.
For Coco & Lola’s first Northern Beaches outpost, creating a space that felt local and true to the brand lay at the heart of design studio Esoteriko’s approach to the interior. The designers explored the femininity associated with the brand’s identity and the coastal location of the store in Manly, resulting with a mix of textures that creates a whimsical feel with a fresh perspective rooted in the store’s context.
The industrial shell of the building is softened with Coco & Lola’s signature pink hue; large windows ensure it is light-filled and suited to the locale with cues from the beach; and a pink sand-filled shopfront and sandstone boulders throughout serve as props and joinery components. Pink marble cabinets and surfaces are set against textured pink walls and arches, creating a rich mix of sleek and rough materiality.
The building’s bare bones are also celebrated. The ceiling, left exposed, provides an edgy contrast to the soft pinks used below. The height of the space is maximised through large, softly draped pink curtains that create drama while simultaneously functioning as a fitting area.
Behind this stylised space is a hard-wearing functionality suited to a place with high footfall, bringing a longevity to the boutique. Moreover, the store’s enticing combination of colours, materials and textures speaks to both the brand’s ethos and aesthetic while offering shoppers a uniquely vibrant and engaging experience.
