The French brand DEVASTEE opened its first-ever store in the world (6-11-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) on December 7th. Designers François Alary and Ophelie Klere visited Japan to mark the occasion. The designers personally searched for the space and designed the interior. The store, which is tucked away like a hideaway on a secluded street a little ways from the hustle and bustle of Omotesando, is two stories tall and features the brand's iconic monochrome color scheme. In addition to clothing and accessories, the store offers a wide range of interior items, including cushions and tableware, as well as stationery like notebooks. Upon ascending the stairs, a large chalkboard on the front wall displays a landscape inspired by Senlis, drawn in chalk by the designer. Cemetery-inspired illustrations of ghosts and gravestones are featured throughout, including on the curtains and pillars in the fitting rooms. "We're heavily inspired by the landscape. We choose materials based on the soil on the ground or the texture of the walls of old buildings. I've been living with Ophélie for a long time, and so our environment and daily life are the very essence of the brand's worldview," says François.
Senlis, France, where their atelier and residence are located, is located about 40 miles north of Paris, in a naturally rich area that retains a beautiful medieval townscape shrouded in forest. "Small birds chirp around the atelier, and time flows at a leisurely pace, typical of the countryside. We wanted to bring that atmosphere directly into the shop," says the two. Having decided to open a shop, a long-held dream, they searched for various properties, but decided on this building immediately after discovering that the ceiling beams were exactly the same as those in the atelier. "We felt as if the landlord of this back alley was inviting us to open a shop here," says François.
Looking ahead to the future, he says, "I would like to further expand the scope of my designs in the field of interior design. My goal is to be a brand that goes beyond fashion and is close to people's lives, with chairs, tables, rugs, and even books."
