As one of the few truly global fashion capitals, a prominent retail presence in Paris is a prerequisite for any leading fashion brand, and for Issey Miyake it’s no different. The Japanese avant-garde label is firmly rooted in the city of light – designer and founder Issey Miyake arrived here in 1965 to study haute couture and quite logically established his European headquarters here when launching his business – offering a large part of its many collections at three own stores and a handful of depositories on either side of the river seine. The Pleats Please boutique in St. Germain, a swish area on the left bank, has very recently reopened its doors after a thorough renovation scheme under the supervision of Tokyo-based architect Hisaaki Hirawata.

The store occupies two spacious floors and is divided into separate sections, each with a distinct setting. Modeled after the Pleats Please flagship store at Tokyo’s Roppongi district, the ground floor features an all-white setting in which corrugated metal panels, referencing pleats pleated signature fabric, contribute a great deal to the aesthetic. Another part of the store accommodates an installation which presents a special capsule collection entitled Shadows, and which pays tribute to Francis Giacobetti, a photographer who has shot many a campaign for the brand. The pristine white hue extends downstairs, but here it’s paired with corrugated metal panels that have been dipped in shiny chrome. The renewed Pleats Please Issey Miyake boutique is also home to the full range of Bao Bao bags.

Design: Moment / Hisaaki Hirawata
Photography: Olivier Baco

via Superfuture