Bond Street’s Bold New Jil Sander Flagship

Jil Sander's newly opened New Bond Street boutique is a lesson in Brutalist minimalism and refined, natural materials.

Creating the perfect retail space in which the clothes coexist harmoniously with an artful yet unobtrusive backdrop is precisely what Casper Muller Kneer, the architect behind Jil Sander's New Bond Street flagship, has managed to achieve at the luxury brand's latest London store. Capturing the brand's ethos for clean lines inspired by nature and organic natural materials merits another interior-design tick.

The first Jil Sander boutique to open in London in over 10 years, 134 New Bond Street is the perfect reflection of the sleek design aesthetic that creative director husband-and-wife duo Lucie and Luke Meier are renowned for.

Highlights, of which there are many, include the striking contemporary staircase, inspired by the Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. The sculptural design employs square slabs of travertine to create a sense of movement. The entire store, in fact, has been designed to look as though it has been carved from a single block of stone; rough-hewn, scored and textural, to create geological surfaces.

Lighting is also crucial to the whole shopping experience. Here, the play of soft natural light and neutral colours has been carefully curated to create an intimate setting, rather like an artist's studio.

Lucie and Luke have been steering the Jil Sander label since 2017. Under the duo's direction, the minimalist lines and monochromatic palate created by Sander's predecessors, Raf Simons and Rodolfo Paglialunga, have evolved into unisex pieces, striking silhouettes and a bolder use of colour.

In a joint statement, the pair said: ‘We aim at creating spaces where you feel at ease, where the first thing you sense is an atmosphere, rather than an architecture. We want to offer to those who enter our world a series of devices that they can combine to be who they want to be.’

Meanwhile, on the lower floor, you'll find signature pieces, including men’s zip-front jackets and T-shirts featuring the brand's logo embossed across the front, along with womenswear staples – shirt dresses, knits and denim. Beautifully crafted accessories, such as sleek Cannolo bags in a variety of colours and feminine leather Goji bags with bamboo handles, are neatly arranged on shelves.

With the new spring/summer 2024 collections, including Cruise and Pre, already available in-store, Sander purists can expect plenty of clever cuts and the odd pop of colour. Described as 'a study of shapes', the collection features boxy square-cut jackets, high-waisted baggy shorts and elongated duster coats. Covetable knit dresses, with full cotton skirts in soft pastel shades, will also see you through the new season in style.

Jil Sander, 134 New Bond Street, London W1S 2TF