Hannah Gilmore

As Brand Visual Merchandiser at Smartwool, I planned, designed and installed a unique Brand store showcasing the Smartwool story in the beautiful Canadian Rockies of Whistler, British Columbia. As the second Smartwool store in North America, I designed this space to present how the brand has transformed into a modern, natural performance apparel company that is more than just ski socks.

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Inspired by wool itself, I integrated the knit technologies of the garments into the construction of a physical retail store. From recycled wool carpet tile accents on the floor, to modern yarn-inspired cloud light fixtures, there is a cohesive design element throughout. Natural accents from the surrounding forest bring the space to life with dimension, texture and a sense of place. 

 

The highlight for me was working with local Whistler artist Kate Zessel to transform one of her illustrations into a large format wall mural. Not only does the scene convey the local landscape, but it provides a unique background texture that highlights the product. I worked with two other regional artists and mill workers
to create hand crafted details that built a cohesive experience that relates not just to the landscape, but to the people living in the community.