Saturday 22 August 2015

Shop Review: Kyoto BAL (京都 BAL)


Today I went to the new  Kyoto BAL building, situated along Kawaramachi street, the shop had it's grand opening yesterday.  I say shop, but it's so much more than that, it's more of a lifestyle store housing various different brands. Each brand has it's own area and yet they all merge together smoothly so you don't feel like you are walking in and out of different shops.

I went expecting it to be mostly fashion but there is a strong emphasis on lifestyle and selling the whole experience to the customer. You could easily just move into Kyoto BAL; from Rachel Ashwell there was a fully kit out bathroom  (complete with a roll top bath!) then The Conran Shop and Ron Herman were basically perfect living rooms and bedrooms, for clothes there were brands like Jil Sander, Marni and Theory and as for food there were various cafes including Cafe Muji which I really want to go and try out!

Then the two basement floors are taken up by Maruzen, one of the most popular book stores with a variety of books and magazines covering all topics including a section with a wide variety of English books.

Ron Herman 
(just look at the computer!)

Ron Herman
(because why wouldn't you want a mug that says 'eat avocados'?!)

Ron Herman

Muji

The Conran Shop 
(you can't really tell in this photo but there were flowers in test tubes suspended from the ceiling which looked so pretty)

The Conran Shop

The Conran Shop




Rachel Ashwell

Maruzen


Have you ever been in a shop and just wanted to move in?!