On April 3rd, Tokyo Midtown opened seven new shops, including some that have been renovated. One of the highlights is Isetan Salone, a new select store format that embodies the essence of the Isetan Shinjuku store.
Isetan Salone opened with the concept of "combining products and art." The two-floor space boasts approximately 900 square meters and offers a wide range of products, including fashion, miscellaneous goods, cosmetics, and fragrances.
The lineup features domestic and international brands aimed at trend-conscious women, including popular Japanese brands such as Sacai and HYKE, as well as up-and-coming designer brands such as Mame, Taro Horiuchi, and Akira Naka. The store also offers a wide selection of international brands renowned for their design and quality, including shoes from luxury houses like Manolo Blahnik and Sergio Rossi, and bags from Fendi and Valentino Garavani. Another welcome touch is the store's selection of carefully selected miscellaneous goods, perfect for gifts.
These products are complemented by a clean, open, and beautifully lit space. The interior design was handled by Hiroshi Sugimoto and Tomoyuki Sakakida of the New Materials Research Institute. The floors feature Towada stone from Aomori Prefecture and marble from Yamaguchi Prefecture, while the impressive fixtures and interior design combine Japan-made materials, including Yakusugi cedar, cypress, and floor tiles, evoking a sophisticated Japanese aesthetic. Descending the spiral staircase leading from the second floor to the first floor, visitors are greeted by a black-and-white photograph of a spiral staircase taken by Sugimoto. The unique design is one of the joys of visiting the store.
The main jewelry and watch space on the first floor features jewelry cases made from Yakusugi cedar, which took Sugimoto the longest time to install, as well as a unique wall featuring the unevenness of hammered aluminum panels. According to Sakakida, the interior design "used domestic materials and asked Japanese craftsmen to work in line with Isetan's Japan Senses initiative." The Yakushima plasterwork and material combinations seen on the main entrance door on the first floor incorporate traditional Japanese materials in unprecedented ways, marking Sugimoto and Sakakida's latest creation and one of the highlights of Isetan Salone. The first floor also houses a promotional space that functions similarly to "The Stage" at Isetan Shinjuku. The opening event, "BLACK & WHITE," which proposes a monochrome worldview, is currently running until April 21st.
