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Country Road Make Sustainability The Height Of Luxury

There’s no denying that in 2019, it is upon all of us to have environmental considerations at the forefront of decision making. This is important on an individual level, but perhaps even more pressing for businesses to update their systems and practices, and lead by example.

With the re-opening of their Chadstone flagship store, Country Road has done just this, demonstrating a renewed focus on the environment by designing a store which has achieved a 5 Star Green Star Design Review rating by the Green Building Council of Australia!

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Sponsored by Country Road

The new Country Road store in Chadstone has been developed with sustainability at the forefront. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Luxe-looking surfaces have been crafted out of unexpected items – like this terrazzo benchtop made from recycled plastic yoghurt containers! Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Keenly aware of the wastage often created by shop fit-outs, Country Road’s Store Design Team leader Alicia Buffinton explains her team’s vision to ‘be a leader in our industry’. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

The parquetry floors come from old buildings and school halls, relaid in the Country Road Chadstone flagship. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Clothes hooks in changerooms are made from recycled ocean plastic. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Inside the new Country Road Chadstone store. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Recycled paper has been used to create an incredible texture on the store walls. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

This epic sustainable fitout took over a year to complete. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Country Road plans to design more 5 Star Green Star stores in the future. Photo – Caitlin Mills for The Design Files.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
15th of August 2019

Keenly aware of the wastage often created by shop fit-outs, Country Road’s Store Design Team leader Alicia Buffinton explains her team’s vision to ‘be a leader in our industry’.  They found the perfect opportunity to demonstrate this leadership, by approaching the Chadstone store fit-out with a focus on sustainable design.

The new flagship store demonstrates that luxury and sustainability are not incompatible ideas. ‘We were amazed once we started investigating how many beautiful sustainable and recycled products were available’, tells Alicia. The new outpost features innovative fixtures made from recycled yoghurt containers (a composite which looks a little like stone or terrazzo), carpet fashioned from fishing nets, and wall cladding made from recycled paper with incredible texture. Even the parquetry floors tell a sustainable story – ‘it’s actually pulled from the flooring of old buildings and school halls, and it has then been re-laid in our store.’ While you are in the fitting room, hang your items on a clothing hook made from ocean plastic collected from Australian beaches, or rest your bag on a recycled plastic table.

These initiatives are also reflected in recent campaigns from Country Road, who have featured Traceable Merino Wool, Post Consumer Waste Denim Good Jeans and Recycled Nylon Swimwear in their latest collections.

The exemplary design of this new store, particularly from such a high profile brand, highlights that environmentally friendly shop fit-outs can be achieved without any compromise on style! Country Road Managing Director Elle Roseby explains ‘our Chadstone flagship revolutionises the retail experience, maintaining our commitment to quality, while demonstrating our connection to the environment.’

To learn more about Country Road’s sustainability initiatives visit  www.countryroad.com.au/our-world

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