A visit once again to Westfield, for which there will be no apology: nothing else on this scale will open in the UK for some time to come, so it makes sense to take a look at one of the stores that actually managed to open on time in the mall’s designer area.
Mulberry’s store, designed by Four IV, is located in one of the side streets of The Village and, unlike many of the retailers in this area and more generally across the mall, it has made full use of the double-height windows by putting in a brass sculpture of two bird-like creatures squabbling over desirable accessories. Created by Jonathan Ellery, this is made using half a ton of metal and acts as a precursor to a finely honed interior that has bags along one wall, from top to bottom, and accessories – such as diary-style organisers in internally lit wardrobes – on the other.

This is a shop where rather less is quite a lot more and every detail has been considered, right down to the security gates, incorporated into the scheme by the simple, although clearly expensive, device of cladding them in hand-stitched cream leather. Mid-shop, the eye is drawn, strangely, to the faux-Victorian seat, upholstered in yellow velvet, which should be bad, but in fact works well.

All the eclectic elements combine to provide a real whiff of luxury, in keeping with the underlying intention of The Village and succeeding in avoiding the bling that is apparent in several of its neighbouring competitors.

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