In the previous post, we explored a design spotted at street markets in Taipei. For today let's take instead a quick journey to a department store, specifically the Eslite store on Nanjing West Road, also known as the Nanxi Store, located in the Zhongshan District.
In stark contrast to conventional shopping malls, this branch of the popular Eslite stores caters to individuals with distinctive, culture-oriented interests.
This is not your typical department store as it offers a delightful array of hip Japanese brands and an expertly curated selection of Taiwanese micro-brands and international niche organic labels. So, this is considered as a stylish marketplace championing cultural industries in Taiwan and promoting local designers. Moreover, it boasts an exceptional bookstore retaining the grand five-meter high ceiling from its former life as a movie theater (Eslite bookstores in Taipei are heaven for bookworms).
One display for local ready-to-wear brand Rather currently showcases a functional everyday outfit, displayed next to a selection of cutting patterns and a vintage Juki sewing machine.
The focus here is on the craft rather than on glamour, and the slogan definying the brand – "less rather than more" – also fits this display reminding us that, in a world often preoccupied with the allure of appearances, it's essential to take a step back and consider the craft that goes into creating the garments we wear.
Would luxury brands also opt for this approach and display pattern cuttings of their exclusive designs? Unlikely, yet it would be refreshing as consumers would be able to see a luxury coat, a jacket or a suit dissected and revealing the craftsmanship beneath the surface.
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