Rye's opens second store in Joo Chiat inspired by ‘Quiet Architecture’

Credit: Courtesy of Rye

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On the guiding philosophy behind designing the store: “Just go with the flow. We had a very rough schedule, but a lot of things didn’t go according to schedule, so we had to troubleshoot as we went along. The entire team came together to problem-solve and also to study consumer behaviour. What interests me about design is that is it not just about the fashion per se. Everything is interconnected – the visual graphics, the interior, landscaping and also product design!”

On creating a relaxing retail experience: “At the end of the day, we want this store to be very relaxing. We want a very inviting space that is relaxing at the same time. We realise that many shoppers come with their partners or their dogs – we’re pet-friendly – and even their grandmas. So they can chill outside (on the foldable chairs) or inside (on the ottoman).”

Credit: Courtesy of Rye

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On her spiritual awakening in Sri Lanka: “Earlier this year, I took a three-week sabbatical and travelled to Sri Lanka with two main objectives. One was to study the works of a prolific architect, Geoffrey Bawa. I wanted to go to all the houses (he designed). I also wanted to understand what the art scene there is like. It’s almost like art is a way of life for artists – I wanted to know how they developed their talent and how they integrate it into their lives.

Another objective is to study Ayurveda. I’m big on wellness, because there’s a lot of stimulation in my profession. At least once a year, I’d take a great mental break from everything to focus on wellness. I was in an Ayurvedic resort that was also big on architecture, which was situated on an abandoned tea estate. The inspiration for that space was quiet architecture. We talk a lot about quiet luxury and quiet fashion – to be in a space that’s surrounded by good design that lets you focus on being in the present, really aligns with my values.”

Credit: Courtesy of Rye

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How her Sri Lanka sojourn influenced the store design: "This store is really a reflection of everything I learned and whatever I’ve experienced, like a ‘vomit’. What I’ve observed about the architecture in Sri Lanka is that it’s heavily inspired by the Dutch. Geoffrey Bawa, who is part European and part Sri Lankan, had a lot of columns in his house. He used them not just for structural reasons; how he used them is very interesting. He would break them up and you’d sometimes see a little column that’s been slashed with just one quarter of it left standing randomly in the corner of a bathroom.

That gave me the idea to just make things up a little bit. Hence, all our racks look like they’re taken from different parts of furniture! Meanwhile, the upholstery on the chairs and ottoman are inspired by the one in Geoffrey Bawa’s Colombo house. The strips on it are a reflection of timbre and ebony.”

Credit: Courtesy of Rye

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Working with artisans for the store: "I just love working with artisans, because you don’t see their work replicated anywhere. They are one-of-a-kind, custom-made pieces. It’s not something they’ve already done like, three thousand times, so to them it’s also something exciting to create. The racks were done by three different local artisans. The wood turning is done by a very seasoned Teochew artisan. He only does wood turning, which is very rare to find in Singapore. He’s in his 70s now and has lost two fingers in woodturning, but when I speak to him, he still has so much passion. He could have retired, but he just can’t stop working.”

Credit: Courtesy of Rye

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On the Rye team adding their personal touch to the store design: “We are fans of clay walls and all natural materials. It makes a difference when you see something so tactile – there is a sense of intangible memory that it retains. We knew that we wanted to work with clay. We also used Travertino clay in our Cluny Court store, but that was done by paint professionals. I feel it didn’t quite translate and wasn’t as organic. So I told my team that we should do a fun little project. We had no instructions. We watched a few YouTube videos to study the technique and we spoke to the person who sold us the clay on the brushes we should use. There were four or five of us and we just went for it!”

Credit: Courtesy of Rye

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The thoughtful idea behind the dressing room: "That’s the first thing I think about when designing our space. The rug is actually a very special piece from Tanchen Studio. We previously collaborated with them on a bottle carrier. I wanted a textile for the floor that’s a variation of the grid tile flooring. I want your eyes to move from the small grid on the rug to more geometric patterns in the shop when you step out of the changing room. It’s very comfortable to be in here. I wanted a big enough space that even a pram can go in. I wanted it to be luxurious in the sense that I give my customers space, so they can sit down to slowly think and appreciate the pieces they’ve tried. The high ceiling also gives off a grand feeling. We love a curtained fitting room that’s not boxed up.”



On the difference between the Joo Chiat and Cluny Court stores: “The Cluny Court store is very small – roughly about 200 square feet. We didn’t do a lot of the hands-on things we did here. There’s a lot of involvement from the team in this store as we intentionally wanted it to feel very organic, like it’s from us. That makes this space a lot more authentic. The first store was also built quite ‘to the plan’, so there weren’t many obstacles to fix along the way.

Here at Joo Chiat, we also have an e-commerce arm. It’s a hybrid space where we can have a front of house and also a pick-and-pack area at the back of house. So we work at the back but also stay connected with our customers who step into our space.”



Here are our top 5 picks from Rye's new collection

 

Scoop-neck ribbed tank, $55

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This article was originally published in Female  with additional reporting from Her World