CFDA Member Ahlem Manai-Platt has arrived in Nolita with the grand opening of her new flagship store on Elizabeth St. Known for her contemporary eyewear brand, styles from the line will be on display in the 500-square-foot space will serve as an intimate retail experience while offering enough malleability to take on alternate forms— a showroom, gallery, or event space.
The space was designed in collaboration with Shapeless Studio, which thoughtfully created the space with the eyewear collection in mind. The space contrasts the existing structure and materiality of the building with also serving as an extension of the refined aesthetic that defines AHLEM. The unity of such natural materials and finishes, rendered in a quiet rich color palette, form designated spaces for product display, consultation, a technical optician’s station for frame adjustments, and an ever-evolving inspiration wall.
The store also features custom millwork and furniture pieces by Armada NY, including a set of sculptural walnut hardwood doors and open weave cane cabinetry – an homage to two of Manai-Platt’s favorite designers, Isamu Noguchi and Pierre Jeanneret.
“The atelier is the essence of what I’m about and what continues to inspire me,” says Manai-Platt of the New York flagship. “Here you might expect to try on a few frames, observe curious objects collected and curated by me, or simply sit with a book or sketchpad and stay awhile. And in my eyes, we’ve designed space with mindfulness so that it may function as more than an optical store. I see an opportunity to welcome young designers and artists in and showcase their work. I hope to invite creativity and inspire design.”
Andrea Fisk, Principle, Shapeless Studio adds: “If there is one word that unifies our three practices—eyewear, architecture, and fabrication, it would be craft. We designed the store to be unique and beautiful, but also deferential to AHLEM’s carefully crafted eyewear. Armada came in with flawless, thoughtful millwork and furniture, and delivered high quality and attention to detail. This project could not have come together as seamlessly as it did without Shapeless, Armada and AHLEM, collaborating as closely as we did.”
Check out the space now at 228 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012.
