Fashion Store Lighting

First impressions matter, especially in fashion, where a majority of the purchases are made on impulse. The lighting in a fashion store influences how the clothes appear to the customers, and whether or not they choose to buy it. Before you buy lighting, consider these aspects to choose architectural lighting in the Philippines and make the apparel in your store stand out:

 1. Type of Store

One of the first factors to determine while selecting lighting for a fashion store is the type of the store. For a general apparel or fast fashion store, the lighting should be evenly distributed and all areas of the store well illuminated. As fast fashion stores have higher foot traffic with customers picking out clothes faster, a uniformly well lit and bright space creates an easy shopping experience. A few areas in the stores can also be designed with additional lighting for highlighting key products. 

High end and luxury fashion boutiques on the other hand work best with a lower level of general lighting, with additional lighting to accent, decorate and highlight areas as needed. The lighting in these stores should promote a more relaxed experience. The ambient lighting level should be adequate to view the clothing well, while being low enough to allow highlighted areas to contrast. In Manila, LED lighting is used for ambient and decorative retail lighting, providing various levels of lighting within high end stores.

2. Window Display

The objective of a window display is to attract customers into the store. The lighting used here should allow the display to be seen clearly from across the store and catch the attention of passers by. Fixed spotlights and track lights are most commonly chosen for window display lighting in the Philippines. These lights highlight certain areas in a virtual merchandising arrangement, creating a dramatic effect. Track lights are particularly suited to the changing needs of a window display, as each new display might need a different angle of lighting. The track lights can be easily moved and adjusted to meet these requirements, creating a new look every season.

3. General Display

The lighting levels in the general display area should always be bright enough for the customers to view the details on the clothes, while not being overly bright that the clothes look washed out and pale. Along with the overall brightness level, two other factors that play a role in how the apparel looks is color temperature and CRI. The color temperature of a light measures the warmth or coolness of a light source, and this can make the clothes and the store look different. Similarly, the CRI or Color Rendering Index measures on a scale of 100 how a color appears under each light source, with a higher score being better. For this reason, halogen and specialised LED lamps are mostly chosen for displaying clothes, as the true color of the fabric will be visible. Lamps like the Soraa Vivid Series are the best for retail LED lighting in Philippines as they have a CRI value of over 90. Recessed lighting and track lights are commonly used for general lighting in fashion stores, while pendants and suspended lighting are good at accenting certain areas, and are a popular designer lighting in Manila.

4. Fitting Room

The fitting room is another area where the right lighting can make a big impact. The color temperature and CRI should be taken care of in the dressing areas as well as this is where the decision to purchase is often made. How the skin tone of the person and the colors and detailing on the clothes appear here can help the customer make this choice. Look for lighting close to daylighting so that the apparel will look true to how it would appear outside, reducing the chance of the clothes being returned. LED suppliers in Manila provide lights that are similar to daylighting which are perfect for dressing rooms. The lighting here can also be recessed or placed on either side of the mirror to avoid shadows and give a better appearance.

5. Checkout

The checkout area is generally a well lit area, helping cashiers to perform their tasks easily. Use extra lighting here to highlight smaller items kept nearby, providing the customers with something to keep them occupied while waiting and also creating a chance for last minute buys.