Conran & Partners design Uniqlo’s UK stores

Conran & Partners has designed the interiors for discount clothes retailer Uniqlo’s first stores outside Japan. Two shops open in London on Friday, with more to follow within the M25 area. Though Tokyo-based, Uniqlo did not want to seem like a Japanese brand to UK consumers, says project architect Robert Malcolm. ‘The philosophy is to let the clothes speak for themselves,’ he says. This includes high ceilings, flexible aisles that can be customised as required and a ‘wet beach’ look for the flooring.