Formroom were invited by award-winning barbers ‘Jack the Clipper’ to design and build the launch of their new flagship barbershop, situated in the heart of Bow Lane, London. The brand was established in 1996 by a family of master barbers, with over 100 years of barbering experience. Jack the Clipper has since become a household name; renowned for making londoners look sharp with world-class service and expert technique.

Tasked with creating the new design blueprint of the Jack the Clipper store, our challenge was to ensure that the concept felt luxurious and original; whilst invoking the story of Jack the Clipper in a contemporary and authentic way. The rich narrative of the Jack the Clipper brand allowed our design team to bring several exciting visual cues into the store concept. Brass piping details are utilised throughout the space, across windows, walls and the ceiling, referencing the industrial design of the victorian era.

A playfully abstract nod to the macabre is displayed with the use of herringbone red and white tiles for the kitchen areas. Throughout the space our team designed and produced eclectic lighting features that seemingly emerge straight from the antique brass piping. Bespoke distressed mirrors were handmade in India, both aged and cracked, so as to create a unique twist on the traditional barbershop setup. Walls are decorated with traditional barbering tools including scissors; but arranged in sequence or sprayed in dark tones to create conceptual art pieces.

In their mission to bring the highest quality products and service to gentlemen across London, Jack the Clipper partnered with world renowned british brand Penhaligions, echoing a century old tradition of anglo-turkish collaboration. Formroom celebrated the iconic relationship with custom made lightboxes and cabinetry to display product ranges; with shelving carved from antique shoe lasts for an extra nod to the area’s history as London’s premier cobbler district.

Communicating the playfully ominous tone further, the venue is dressed with exclusively commissioned artwork, portraits, murals, and selected prop elements; all designed and built by our in-house team. We also created a dedicated area within the space, entitled ‘Jack’s hall of fame’ to explore the character of ‘Jack the Clipper’ further; adding a further layer of theatre to the customer experience.

Clients visiting Jack the Clipper are also invited down to the basement bar, where they are offered the finest selection of drinks. The custom-made bar is a relaxed yet luxurious setting, invoking a ‘gentleman’s club’ look and feel. Formroom worked very closely with the Jack the Clipper team on this exciting project and enjoyed the collaborative process; working tirelessly to achieve the high quality and fun end result.

Designed by FormRoom