As much as I love shopping a sale, I am certainly discouraged by crowded racks of clothes and may find myself happily browsing – if only that – a quiet boutique with a few great pieces featured on the hangers. Understanding that shoppers are visual people, designer John Tong at +tongtong has envisioned for Les Ailes Noires a collection of clothing racks that aesthetically frames the clothes it displays instead of merely serving its spatial function. The irregular, polygonal forms as demarcated by the black frames appear as crystals that encase the hanging dresses, coats, and scarves; some even have a glass plate on which shoes and other accessories are showcased. When placed against a white wall, the two-dimensional projection and gray shadow of the wireframe are striking and appear hand-drawn, a unique illusion that complements the soft fabrics and textures of Les Ailes Noires’s wares.
