Artistic Sequencing – Rachel Gilbert Emporium by Esoteriko

Designed by Sydney-based Esoteriko, Rachel Gilbert Emporium is guided by structure, movement and a sculpted approach to form, reflecting the understated beauty of the Australian designer’s garments.

Rachel Gilbert brings a contemporary approach to fashion design and styling, with a focus on refined tailoring and artisanal craftsmanship. Tasked with designing a luxurious boutique for Rachel Gilbert within Melbourne’s Emporium mall, Esoteriko embraced the brand’s signature ethos, drawing on the drawing on the fashion designer’s use of tailoring and texture to craft a fluid customer journey, subtly delineated through gentle material shifts.

The store’s boundary walls gently undulate to guide movement, while a series of contemporary insertions in amber and blush-toned resin anchor moments of pause and reprieve.

Upon entry, visitors are met with an artful vista of crafted touchpoints suspended within a softened, tone-on-tone interior. Creamy, earthen hues conjure tactility and warmth while delivering a chalky backdrop to Rachel Gilbert’s seasonal patterns and tones. Two shades of crazy-pave stone flooring define a border to the perimeter clothing displays, which elegantly present the designer’s ready-to-wear, evening and bridal collections with grace and restraint.

The store’s boundary walls gently undulate to guide movement, while a series of contemporary insertions in amber and blush-toned resin anchor moments of pause and reprieve. Esoteriko has celebrated the layering and transparency of the resin by cantilevering tops from their base plinth and tapering the edge’s profiles to emphasise light refraction. These sculpted pieces hold presence as relics – precious museum pieces to admire from any vantage.

The tone of the interior deepens as one ventures further into the store, setting an atmosphere of intimacy and seclusion.

The tone of the interior deepens as one ventures further into the store, setting an atmosphere of intimacy and seclusion. A sculpted lounge setting mimics the curved forms of the interior and encourages extended in-store interactions with comfort. Beyond, a series of generously scaled dressing rooms continue the store’s narrative, finished with flesh-toned render, back-lit mirrors, linen drapery and custom steel fittings.

Throughout, Esoteriko has crafted a dialogue between linear and sculpted forms, referencing the tailored and draped silhouettes of Rachel Gilbert’s fashion designs. A series of playful, ribbon-like gestures create an understated sense of embellishment, with wavy-edged forms finding expression in mirrors, clothing rails and table bases.

With precision and experimentation, Rachel Gilbert Emporium strikes a fine balance in tone. Painterly and peppered with confident design moves, the boutique is reductive yet warm, luxurious yet approachable – a captivating interpretation of Rachel Gilbert’s signature design sensibility that piques the curiosity of visitors and creates a memorable in-store experience.