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Glimpse Inside Mackage’s Brand New Flagship Store

Toronto-based design firm Burdifilek has a host of retail spaces in their portfolio, from department stores like Holt Renfrew and Neiman Marcus, to boutiques like Pink Tartan and Joe Fresh. And the latest interior under their belt is Mackage‘s brand new flagship store in Montreal.

Paul Filek, managing partner of Burdifilek, along with creative director, Diego Burdi, work with many clients who showcase their work at World MasterCard Fashion Week, so they’ve had the opportunity to watch the Mackage brand evolve over the years. “We are always keeping our eyes on rising talent and up-and-coming brands in the Canadian landscape, and Mackage caught our attention,” says Filek. And when they heard Mackage was looking to take their branding to the next level with a bold new retail space, they jumped on the opportunity to work with them.

Mackage

Working closely with Mackage’s co-founders Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan, the Burdifilek team created a store design that reflects the brand’s deep Canadiana identity. When you first face the Mackage storefront, you are confronted with a bold, all-black, opaque metal wall. “The dark frame highlights the sculptural elements in the store,” explains Burdi of his design choice. Which leads us inside the store, where Mackage’s coat and accessories collections line the walls, highlighted by strategic lighting and ultra-modern fixtures.

While Mackage’s coats are designed for the crispest of Canadian winters, and are ultimately practical in their function, it is their stylish, urban aesthetic that gives them their appeal. With this in mind, Burdi drew inspiration from the urban sensibility of a modern ski chalet. “We started with the Canadian rockies, trying to understand the ski culture, which led us into discussions about chalets” explains Burdi. The store is designed to evoke the winter wonderland of the mountain ranges, and utilizes a colour palette of black, taupe, grey, “grey-blue-green, and so many other things,” lists Burdi. Surface materials such as distressed oak, honed black marble, white statuary marble, brushed bronze, and dark metals all combine to reflect the luxury, quality, and durability synonymous with the products sold within the store.

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Reflecting on the project, Burdi notes that it was interesting to work with Mackage because while it is a relatively young brand—the Montreal-based label was launched by Elfassy and Dahan in 1999—it already has a very strong brand identity with such a large global presence. “Mackage is renowned to produce beautiful, high-quality products and is very sought after in the marketplace, so to have the opportunity to create a physical environment for them was very appealing to us,” says Filek. It was also a chance for Toronto-based Burdifilek to delve into the uniquely distinct design vibe of Montreal. “Montreal has more of a European flavour, and the culture there is more urban, edgier, and more experimental,” says Burdi, while the sophisticated metropolis of Toronto has retailers playing it safe in their design. “In Montreal, they are willing to take the risk to survive,” he adds, and “I admire their boldness and ability to push the design style in a brave way.”

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