L'Estrange commits to pursue degrowth in the fashion industry with its first biophilic store

British furniture designer Fred Rigby has been enlisted to transform environmentally-conscious menswear brand L'Estrange’s new store into a biophilic haven.

L'Estrange opened its new store in Coal Drops Yard in London’s King’s Cross earlier this week. The space is rooted in the principles of biophilic design, combining natural textures and repurposed materials throughout.

The menswear brand was founded in 2013 with a commitment to essentialism. This is encapsulated by the brand’s emblematic tagline, "With Less, Do More". As part of their commitment to pursue degrowth in the fashion industry, L'Estrange’s Co-founders, Tom Horne and Will Green, hired biophilic design specialist Oliver Heath to provide a blueprint for a reimagined retail experience.

According to Oliver Heath, biophilic design extends far beyond the introduction of planting, instead, it uses nature to enhance the many spaces humans lie and work in. The brand’s new design blueprint reimagines the traditional retail experience by evoking a strong sense of place and belonging through nature.

Fred Rigby Studio, which was commissioned to adorn the retail location, adopts a regenerative approach to the store design by combining natural textures and locally-sourced repurposed materials.

At the heart of the space sits The Meadow, a  curation of dried blooms and grasses, conceived by award-winning garden designer Lottie Delamain.

In a commitment to reducing wasteful consumption, the new store will house a small curated edit of L'Estrange’s seasonless capsule clothing alongside a thoughtful selection of bespoke furniture designed by Fred Rigby, made from Fallen & Felled timber.

L'Estrange's new Coal Drops Yard store is the fourth permanent location designed by Fred Rigby. Together, the brands have developed low-footprint and modular-led spaces in Notting Hill, Soho and Spitalfields. Rigby has also unveiled the design concept for the brand’s first international store in Amsterdam.

Tom Horne and Will Green, Co-founders of L'Estrange, commented: "The vision of the business is to create a new paradigm for the way we consume - bringing consumption back in line with the planet. Our hope is that our new biophilic retail model, and the store in Coal Drops Yard, can act as a catalyst to open up a new conversation around retail and enact a shift in current perspectives.

"For us, our stores are the gateways to our universe and one of the core ways we engage and communicate with our community. We want to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience that exceeds customer expectations. We’re excited to open the doors to Coal Drops Yard this spring."