Almost a decade after first opening its doors at The Gardens Mall in Kuala Lumpur, Paris-based luxury house Hermès has not only revamped but also expanded the store to accommodated all of its sixteen métiers. Situated on the ground floor, rubbing shoulders with boutiques of peers from fashion and lifestyle’s upper echelon, the retail space features an interior design by French interior design practice RDAI that embeds elements of Malay culture. It starts with the glass façade which adorned by a series of installations, featuring puppets in Wayang kulit-inspired settings, all. crafted from bamboo and cane, reminiscent of traditional and local weaving. Traditional Malaysian vernacular architecture is echoed in the distinct flooring and partitions. Interestingly, the Grècques lighting as well as the emblematic Faubourg mosaic are reinterpreted and rendered for the first time in bamboo marquetry on variant shades.

Upon entering the store, shoppers encounter Hermès renowned silk collection which sits adjacent to the fragrance and beauty area, and right next, the homeware collections. A central lounge connects the leather goods and equestrian accessories sections to the jewellery area. The ready-to-wear universe, located at the back of the store, comes with two fitting rooms. The Malay cultural accents are extended throughout the premises, and include carpets with hand-tufted textures animated with a pixelated batik print, fitting rooms clad in raw silk panelling, and locally sourced materials, harnessed and employed in contemporary ways. Adding a distinctly contemporary touch to the various settings are carefully curated artworks from the Émile Hermès collection, including paintings by the French artist Paul Fleury, photographs by French lensman Thierry Ardouin and carré prints by Polish illustrator Jan Bajtlik. © superfuture.com