Founded in 2017 by then-students Anna Svydchenko, Alexey Pohyboi and Nikolay Strybkov, apparel and underwear brand Rikky Hype struck a chord with a young demographic across Ukraine since its inception, and quickly grew from a small enterprise into sizeable business with stores in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Vinnytsia. It’s in the Kyiv, the country’s capital, where the brand has raised its profile with its very first flagship store. Situated on the premises of a post-WWII building in the middle of the city, the retail space, created by local architecture practice Temp Project, features a minimalist aesthetic. Echoing Rikky Hype‘s visual identity, the chosen aesthetic does so through materiality, tactility, and bold emotional tension. The latter is achieved by a considered balance of the aforementioned elements—rough plaster replaces smooth finishes, giving the space, which has been fully redeveloped, a raw and tactile edge, while an infusion of warm cork contrasts with iridescent metal. Mind you, the latter effect comes with a gasoline-like sheen.

As such, the metal’s surface continuously shifts in colour by lighting conditions and the shopper’s perspective, while also reinforcing the project’s sense of movement and ambiguity. Additionally, sculptural furniture with soft, flowing silhouettes adds visual drama to the Spartan backdrop, magnified and fragmented by strategically placed slabs of mirror. The store entrance combines reception desk, sales counter, and accessories display. The sportswear, lingerie, swimwear, and sailwear collections are showcased on the left side, while the right side is dedicated to outerwear and tailoring. A central lounge leads into a corridor leading to the fitting rooms, men’s collection, home line, and waiting areas. Adding a distinct urban touch to the setting are integrated metal structures with mesh screens, a rotating mirror near the sales counter, and a sculptural lounge area featuring a curved sofa and a cracked mirror embedded in textured plaster. The new Rikky Hype store carries the brand’s full range of apparel collections. © superfuture