umdasch The Store Makers brings Italian lifestyle to Dornbirn for La Moda Bernardo
Just in time for spring, the long-established family business opened its newly designed store in the heart of Dornbirn. Spanning around 350 square metres over two floors, umdasch The Store Makers realised and implemented the creative concept in its entirety. The result is an impressive shopping experience that showcases the owner family's Italian heritage, with an authentic atmosphere, emotional storytelling and high-quality craftsmanship.
As soon as visitors enter the store, they feel the Mediterranean lightness that underpins the design. Drawing inspiration from the small Italian island of Pantelleria, where the Bernardo family has its roots, the store has been designed to present fashion and tell the story of a family that has been bringing Italian style to Vorarlberg since 1974.
Design meets emotion – materials with meaning
The design concept is characterised by a stylish mix of raw natural materials and modern elements. Large arches run throughout the store, creating tension and ensuring openness while referencing Italian architecture. Natural stone cladding on the walls gives the room a monumental feel, reminiscent of Sicily's striking facades. The irregular surface of the tiles and porcelain stoneware brings a handcrafted touch to the interior, creating an authentic feel. Black powder-coated metal shelves provide a purist contrast, lending the store a timeless elegance.
The materials have been deliberately chosen by the store designers to tell a story of life on Pantelleria: the island's rough stone, the lightness of fabric blowing in the narrow streets, marketplaces and family celebrations.
Highlights in all areas invite you to discover and linger
The basement men's area is connected to the ground floor via a large opening in the centre of the room. This architectural feature creates an exciting visual axis between the levels and provides a striking setting for product presentations. An impressive artificial olive tree extending over both floors is at the centre of the store, giving the space a special atmosphere. A suspended bamboo mat ceiling creates a play of light and shadow, adding warmth and structure to the space.
The Store Makers have designed the changing room area to resemble a lively Italian piazza – a place where customers can not only try on clothes, but also linger, meet and consult. Characteristic arched entrances, framed by softly draped light fabrics, lead to individually designed cubicles, and Mediterranean plants, Italian background music and stone walls complete the scene. The result is an authentic setting for the personal, one-to-one consultations that have always been a hallmark of the family business.
At the heart of the store, customers are greeted by a lovingly designed checkout area that evokes the ambience of a traditional Italian café. With terracotta tiles and the enticing aromas of fragrant coffee or refreshing Aperol, the checkout is not a chore but a charming conclusion to a shopping experience full of Italian joie de vivre.
Italian flair from a single source
La Moda Bernardo is a prime example of the comprehensive service portfolio offered by umdasch The Store Makers, covering everything from conception and design to acting as the general contractor, as well as lighting design, furniture construction and installation. Particular attention was paid to developing individual shopfitting systems, including three-metre-high metal arch shelves and custom-made centre tables.
“As a designer, I thoroughly enjoyed bringing the Italian history of the Bernardo family to the store in Dornbirn. We were able to combine well-thought-out zoning with emotional brand staging in the concept, thereby creating a very special flair,” says Julia Mitteregger, Shop Consult Director at umdasch The Store Makers, concluding the project.
