By Jeanne Tan /asdf 04-12-2008

NL = New (Dutch) Luxury

The new shop for Alexander van Slobbe and Francisco van Benthum is unofficially open. Called NL = New Luxury, the store houses both labels in one: van Slobbe's womenswear label Orson+Bodil on the upper floor and van Benthum's menswear in the lower.

The shop for the long-time collaborators was designed by a familiar name for both designers, EventArchitectuur who had previously worked on ateliers and stores for van Slobbe and catwalks for van Benthum. 'We were asked to make a architectural model for a space to put a women's and menswear collection together. Not a easy task considering in haute couture men and women don't like to shop in the same space. So to solve this, we created a separation, both visually and literally', says Paul Kuipers from EventArchitectuur, who also designed the Warmoesmarkt in Amsterdam.

Design-wise, the separation is achieved by contrasting the work of both designers with interior elements of light and dark, feminine and masculine or soft and hard. The overall scheme comprises an abstract rectilinear display installation that provides the backdrop for the interior. The grid of vertical sliced panels acts both as storage and separation into which the clothes appear and disappear.

Downstairs for van Benthum, the mood is darker and more masculine where the grid is made from black-coloured MDF. Upstairs for Orson+Bodil, this darkness becomes reversed where whitewashed plywood is used instead suggesting a lighter and softer environment, complemented by natural lighting. For both designers, the spaces are used comfortably as a salon to receive clients in a spacious, unique and luxurious (but not decadent) environment.

NL = New Luxury
Jacob Obrechtstraat 20
1071 KM Amsterdam

Opening Hours:
Tuesday until Friday 10.00 - 18.00 hr
Saturday 11.00 - 18.00 hr
Sunday and Monday closed

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