Ian and Fiona approached Farfetch’s project by initially gaining a solid understanding of the Farfetch brand personality. Having identified what makes Farfetch unique, they devised a design language that could exist in each of the diverse Farfetch spaces worldwide. The couple’s design narrative had to both inject the brand into the shell of the existing buildings and deliver a series of optimal working environments that felt far removed from a ‘traditional office’.

Farfetch’s combination of luxury fashion and technology led Studiofibre to an approach that was more of an ‘installation’ than a fit out, with the end result being a stylishly deconstructed and highly flexible gallery-style space.

Curation is a key part of the service offered by Farfetch. With this in mind, Fiona and Ian set about researching an eclectic group of global suppliers. The mix of curated pieces, presented alongside the bespoke furniture designed and crafted by Studiofibre for Farfetch, ensures that the interiors scheme is as unique, eclectic, stylish and international as each of the boutiques represented by Farfetch.

From the slice

In order to bring every element of Farfetch’s identity to life, Studiofibre drew on the unique ‘sliced’ effect features in the letters of the brand’s distinctive logo. Bespoke furniture and other details around the office feature custom-crafted ‘sliced’ chamfered details which echo the unique and graphic Farfetch typeface. From the reception desk, to the door handles and the boardroom table to the staircase and even the customised desks, every detail elegantly animates the brand throughout the international spaces.

Bespoke furniture

Custom-made Studiofibre furniture pieces were handcrafted in the UK which provides the workspace a ‘New York art gallery’ feel. Installations of groups of oversized furniture break up the working areas. Scale is explored with vast ‘Lautner’ style sleek sofas, positioned with smaller ‘sliced’ triangle benches and Japanese shoji screens. Premium grade plywood booths, designed for break-out meetings, feature slats that appear to float. Seating pads bring a pop of colour, with vibrant custom printed fabrics created especially for Farfetch and inspired by vintage oriental kimono fabric sourced from Japan. A solid stone-effect corian boardroom table features the ‘sliced’ detail and bamboo tables and staircases provide a warm contrast to the cool concrete industrial shell of the building.

Bespoke desks

Bespoke desks, created by Studiofibre (together with their furniture partners), bring a unique aesthetic to the open-plan working areas with soft forbo tops, chamfered plywood edge detailing and industrial-style raw steel framework. To facilitate the working culture of the various Farfetch teams, banks of desks are made up from more communal table modules, with monitor arms replacing the need for desktop screens. Customised cable management and desk top plug-ins ensure both clean lines, and the easy recharging of mobile technology.

Private client showroom

An intimate retail space for Farfetch’s private clients has been imagined with a ‘deconstructed’ elegance and luxury. Classic moulded ceiling detailing has been seemingly ‘peeled back’ to reveal the concrete backdrop, and sumptuous curtains cover the smooth concrete wall behind. A stunning oversized contemporary circular chandelier, of sparkling glass blocks set into a steel frame, provides an elegant ring of light whilst bespoke shelving, contemporary furniture and impressive artwork adorn the space.

Studiofibre ‘curates’

Upon entering any of the Farfetch spaces, the visitor begins a journey into the Farfetch brand. The first experience is the conceptual ‘omnichannel’ high-tech live AV Wall, a vast wall of both physical and virtual elements, featuring curated video content and still-life images alongside physical displays.

Whilst the ‘Live Wall’ installation could be construed as ‘virtual art,’ the space is also rich with ‘physical art’ in the form of a carefully curated collection of furniture pieces and paintings and prints and sculptures from local emerging artists. Beyond the live wall, the experience is akin to that of an art gallery. Flexible open spaces display the carefully curated work of international artists, and sculptural theatre-style stairs provide dramatic focal points and bring the gallery spaces together.

Farfetch’s establishment contains several informal meeting areas which punctuate the open-plan working spaces, providing the Farfetch teams with comfortable areas for creative working and impromptu get-togethers

Deliberately moving away from the concept of a ‘theme’ Studiofibre set out to ensure that all informal meeting rooms within the establishment were all individually stylish, eclectic and different. The concept was to animate the brand values of Farfetch, and to echo the individual style that the pioneering fashion company curates and delivers to its customers.

All spaces within this project feature a mix of pieces curated from global suppliers and bespoke pieces designed and created by Studiofibre. The combination of textures, hard leather and soft Mongolian lambs wool, and finish – shiny and matt – is inspired by the way many of us put our outfits together – carefully combining shapes, materials and details to create our very own style.

Animating the brand identity of Farfetch, its logo – which features a font with a distinctive ‘sliced’ effect – was etched into the luxury marble reception desk. This provided a strong contrast with the highly-contemporary concrete shell of the Farfetch buildings. The statement desk is intentionally positioned directly opposite the high-tech AV ‘omnichannel’ wall in the entrance gallery, emphasising the meeting of technology and high-end craftsmanship.

Various rugs have been used throughout this project to delineate the break-out and studio lounge spaces and to soften the flooring – which has a concrete feel, however is a soft vinyl which allows access to power/data beneath the floor, whilst maintaining a very modern industrial aesthetic.

Studiofibre has offset the ‘concrete’ look of the floor with rugs which have a vintage and eclectic feel. Muted colours transcend fashion trends, and work well with the concrete, industrial shell of the building.

Studiofibre is known to inject humour into its design schemes and the wooden panelling featured behind the reception area and in studio lounge areas draw inspiration from the idea of the square pixels that make up any digital image. Farfetch is where digital technology meets luxury. The oversized ‘pixels’ of this screen represent the technology, where as the high quality walnut wood that the ‘pixels’ are carved from represents the luxury. The screens also have a practical use. They screen-off a tea-point in the studio lounge and a post sorting area behind reception.

This ‘pixel’ walnut design is also used on cabinets in the four board rooms which neatly contain all the technology required in each room.