Past and Future fabrics exhibition for Zara

We translated information about three different families of fabric into a tactile, spatial experience, inviting visitors to step out of their everyday work routine, slow down, discover the touch of each sample and learn about how it is sourced.

Spatial Design Inspired by Temple Architecture

To demarcate the space in the HQ’s grand foyer and immerse visitors in a contemplative atmosphere, we drew on the architectural style of a hypostyle temple. An airy hall propped up by multiple columns creates a calm space with its own shifting rhythms. Transparent curtains filter out the outside while an interplay of a sound and a central light sphere, that changes in intensity and tone throughout the day, animate the space making each visit unique.

Materiality and Touch at the Centre

Drawing attention to materiality, the hall itself is fashioned out of recycled textiles – even the colonnades are enveloped in a soft material that invites visitors to experience the space through touch. Each of the fabrics on display can be encountered through several layers: mannequins that sport 22 full looks are dotted throughout the forest of columns, and behind each, a totem displays samples of the fabric the garments are made from that visitors are encouraged to feel and read about through a tag outlining information about each sample.

A Manifesto of Materials

At the core of the 200 square meter space, visitors can read a printed manifesto that conveys a detailed breakdown of the composition and sourcing of the materials on view.