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Learn from Your Environment
Date Added: 2010-07-08
From the young to the old, the celebrity to the student, smart Londoners know that if they want a quality haircut at a good price the place to go is Environment. However, Environment is about more than just hair - it’s a port in the storm where clients can relax and truly be themselves. Tucked neatly away behind one of London’s busiest streets, directors Anthony Keast and Kiyo Inoue have created a hub of creativity, where clients are encouraged to make the salon their own.
Both Anthony and Kiyo worked at Vidal Sassoon before opening the salon in October 2006 enlisting the help of Scandinavian designers Kilo for the salon’s design.
The bright colourful interior is buzzing with energy and from the outset you can tell this is no ordinary salon.
“Our idea was to create an area where there weren’t set people in the salon all the time but a place where everyone could contribute and we’d have guest stylists – for example Tim Hartley does work here a lot.”
Indeed it is Tim and director Kiyo who created the part collection part artwork that lines the walls, called ‘Superstar’ which has an Andy Warhol style edge to it.
“We try to change the artwork at least once or twice a year,” says Kiyo, “in the three and a half years since we’ve been open we’ve worked together on 5 different collections.”
The salons interior changes each season, around the time of Salon Business’ visit it was summer so picnics were the main inspiration with cheery fridge magnets, blankets on sale and teddy bears lined up on the shelves.
The eclectic mix of decoration is down to the salon allowing anyone to contribute to the current theme, “whenever anyone has been to an art exhibit we encourage them to bring something back which is why we have such an interesting array of books on display,’ explains Anthony.
The one constant in this ever-changing ‘Environment’ is the classic Takara Belmont ‘Adria’ chairs which line both the upstairs and downstairs salon;
‘We did use Takara chairs at Sassoon,” explains Anthony on why they chose the company for their salon furniture, “but really for me it’s the best looking hairdressing chair on the market.”
Blending in perfectly with ‘Environments laid back style isn’t the only reason why Anthony likes the chairs, “their hydraulics are useful, it’s so important in this industry not to slouch and really helps peoples backs as well as enabling the stylist to tailor the chair so they can really see what they are cutting.’
Their timeless appeal also played a part in the decision, ‘they are so hard wearing and they never date.’
For a full image gallery of the salon, visit project:image
