After eight years online and at markets jewellery label Bilingual has launched a bricks and mortar base to create a more interactive experience.
The design store at Lilyfield in Sydney’s inner west provides a showroom experience to show clients the current collection as well as the process of custom designs.
“I just thought it was a great avenue to meet with people and a way to showcase our products,” says Marta Niegowska, director and designer. “We’re doing a lot more custom designs now. The need was there to meet with people and show them examples of how different pieces can work or function… and show people what we’re about and what we do.”
While the online store is still going strong, Niegowska noticed customers wanted to see pieces in person.
“We wanted to have a bit of a gallery type space but also showing our process because our custom design process is quite unique, so we get people to fill out a questionnaire about their upcoming event… about their relationships and things like that and then from that we extrapolate information into a few sketch presentations and concepts… from there we do 3D models and wax pictures so it’s quite an involved process.”
The Bilingual store has a strong black and white layout to keep the space clean and elegant to ensure the focus is on the jewellery. Lilyfield was chosen as a location because Bilingual has a strong customer base in the inner west.
Niegowska hopes the Bilingual store becomes a destination point for people interested in having a piece designed.
“I just want it to be a bit more interactive not necessarily just about retail… we have the collections [but] I think it’s important for people to see those collections to understand my thinking… and I think the interaction with people is what I enjoy.”
