Fashion-forward maternity lifestyle brand Bumpsuit opened a new flagship in Austin that both little ones and those expecting can enjoy. The new outpost is designed by Fox Fox Studio, who has collaborated with the brand previously. Fox Fox created a space that both figuratively and literally highlights all things related to pregnancy, including the much-needed comfort to get through the nine-month stretch. The studio, led by cofounders and couple Alice and Will Fox, creatively tied maternity to the design using wavy plywood divider walls to define different zones.
Across the 2,856-square-foot shop, different bends of light plywood—found both in the walls and the custom product tables—dominate the space. The overlapping curved walls conceal and reveal, cultivating a sense of intrigue about what products lie behind each panel. The wood pops against the sheened black floors and ceiling. When asked to describe the orientation of the curves in the store, Will shared with AN Interior, “It was good to have the backbone of the zoning plan before we got into the curves, as it kept us honest and we used curves to execute those zones more effectively.” He continued, “While not deviating much from the programmatic requirements of scale and location, we used curves to have some fun with the movement, flow, proportion, and balance in the final layout.”
The studio designed the 8-foot, curvy walls to be tall enough to create a sense of privacy in the space without overwhelming shoppers. The team collaborated with fabricators Boomtown Design who applied “bendy” plywood as part of the design process. “This type of plywood is not typically used as a finish material and we originally thought we were going to have to cover it with an additional layer or paint, but once we saw it on the final curved forms we all fell in love with its natural tone and texture,” said Will. He also noted how this molded plywood application isn’t solely unique to this store, but rather it has a rich history that can be found through furniture and projects by architects and designers such as Frank Gehry, Alvar Aalto, and Ray and Charles Eames.
Tucked behind one of the curves is the semi-private fitting room furnished with mirrors, light beige velvet curtains, and a plush circular carpet. The space was conceived to be a warm, inviting space for expecting mothers to try on clothes. Alice shared, “I love the multi-panel fitting room mirrors—it’s an unexpected touch and gives a kind of old Hollywood boudoir feeling, but functionally speaking it creates really good angles and lighting for trying items on.”
The clothing and a circular Tiffany blue playpen in the center of the store are the only divergences away from the neutral palette. The playpen serves as a recreation space for children to plod around in while mothers shop—a win-win. Alice shared how at the store’s grand opening, her and Will’s children along with the Bumpsuit founders’ kids played together in the play pen, “just as intended!”
Pregnancy has ebbs and flows, and Fox Fox Studio wanted to visually capture this when designing Bumpsuit Flagship. Alice described the store as, “Flowing—in a literal sense with the undulating plywood, but also in the way the store flows; it unfolds as you walk through.”