Permission | Reflect Architecture

Permission is a new retail experience at the heart of the Ossington strip that provides an invitational setting for all women to embrace the feminine spirit. Spearheaded by the Santino sisters, the physical space embodies their desire to uplift and empower women of all body shapes and sizes. While the range of sizing in the current athleisure industry remains quite limited, Permission challenges this standard and proposes a thoughtful selection of activewear brands with a fuller range of sizing . As businesses transitioned to be more digitally focused in the last year, the sisterly duo persisted in opening during the pandemic in December 2020; they were adamant about creating a safe space for their community beyond the virtual realm.

A sense of arrival is impressed upon its users by layered arches that create visual depth, gesturing them through a long hallway where the different product offerings are displayed. Reflect Architecture was asked to design a welcoming environment in 930 sf that would imitate the voluptuous curves and softness of the female form. Varying hues of nudes, pinks and browns on the painted walls and textiles represent the variation and range of skin colour. Diversity and inclusion drive the narrative and are emphasized in architectural elements.

The fitting area comprises a cluster of circular curtained change rooms which allow for an ease of sharing and interaction amongst friends; a halo effect is evoked with Artemide ring lights that wrap around the top of each veiled pod. A mixed material palette of brushed aluminum metal and muted grey terrazzo provide a neutral contrast to the varying skin tone shades that colour the walls. The rock garden on top of the central mass lends an organic sensibility to the space, showcasing feature products on acid etch square glass. The same rock theme is carried through to the outside, against a building reclad in stucco with a privacy screen that wraps around the residential unit upstairs for the proprietors. A gallery-like experience beckons guests into an alluring and celebratory space.