BlackBook founder Sascha Pausewang must subscribe to the theory that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The retailer has opened a new site at Melbourne Central, using the same interior concept as BlackBook’s flagship site in Chapel Street. The 40m2 space is almost half the size of its older sister, but showcases the same commitment to black, minimalist styling.
“The concept behind the design of the stores was to be true to the name and brand - BlackBook,” Pausewang says. “The goal was to make the product the hero and not to the shop itself, hence the clean, classic style which is essentially dateless. After travelling a spending a lot of time in Japan, [my] philosophy is based around less is more.”
The BlackBook Melbourne Central store features dark hardwood floors, black provincial-inspired library shelving, black track lighting and simple canvas curtains for change rooms. Key inspirations included New York label’s Chrome Hearts and Paul Smith’s Tokyo store.
Merchandising is kept to a minimum, with mannequins sourced from leading vendor Mei & Picchi and a small amount of furniture from Provincial Home Living. Branding and signage, created by Hannah Richardson Design, is intended to appear like a small address book with tabs and has been backlit using supplier AGlo Systems.
Pausewang reveals design agency Edge Concepts was commissioned to bring the entire design brief to life.
