Step inside Scanlan Theodore‘s Melbourne flagship and the first thing you notice isn’t just the breathtaking pieces of clothing. It’s the light, or rather, the way light is choreographed with the same attention to detail as a couture collection. Interior design studio McQualter and lighting design studio ambience have created an atmosphere where illumination isn’t only a backdrop, but the main character’s best supporting act.
Here, lighting feels almost cavalier: warm, intimate, and perfectly theatrical. Ultra-small, ultra-warm luminaires spotlight fabrics in their truest form. A high CRI HD projector, typically found in photography studios rather than shops, has been customised with lenses to frame pieces like living works of art. It’s bold and it adds just the right dash of theatre to make every hemline and silhouette come alive.
The project works like a series of vignettes, with each space approached as a standalone concept, yet tied together with a common language of sophistication and subtle drama. Even the technical details, from concealed mounting in visual merchandising displays to the careful alignment of fixtures, whisper restraint and precision.
And while all of this sounds wonderfully indulgent, it’s also grounded in something more substantial: sustainability. The team integrated Casambi wireless dimming, ensuring energy is used only when needed while extending the life of each luminaire. Every architectural light was chosen with intent, locally made, government-accredited, and produced with recycled aluminium that slashes energy use by 95 percent compared to prime materials. Packaging is fully recyclable, free from plastic inserts, and the luminaires themselves are designed for repurposing rather than disposal in landfills.
Photo Credit: Traianos Pakioufakis
