Mastani: Feminine, Strong and Confident

Mastini, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by DesignOffice

Words Photography

Mastani, on High Street, Armadale offers a discreet view of the fashion label from the street. Perspex sheets with a burnished edge frame the garments that hang in the window. Inspired by the fabrics represented in the store — sourced from Italy and India, and many of which are from handlooms — there’s a strong, confident and feminine sense to both the clothing and the fit out. “There’s a play of both strength and beauty,” says designer Mark Simpson, co-director of DesignOffice, who collaborated with Mastani owner and designer, Kudrat Makkar, and creative agency Ortolon.

Creating an experience for those who enter the narrow-fronted store was at the forefront of the minds of all those who contributed to creating this understated fit out. “It’s a relatively long and narrow store (4 x 25 metres), so we treated the spaces as a series of ‘capsules’ by controlling the sight lines,” says Simpson, who worked closely with co-director Damien Mulvihill. “It’s more akin to an enfilade with four salons, each one having its own function.”

Named after an Indian princess, Mastani showcases slow, handcrafted fashion with limited sizes in store, as well as a made-tomeasure service. “We aim to avoid wastage and make only what’s required,” says Suzi Kyriakidis, retail operations and marketing manager, wearing an intricate woven silk jacquard jacket created from a handloom. “It can take months to weave, and generally the fabrics act as a starting point for Kudrat.”

The interpretation of the fashion, as well as the spaces, is clearly evident once past the front door. As with the fabrics, the materials and hues selected for this fit out are elegant and understated.