Clipper Tea ION Orchard

The Clipper Tea store at ION Orchard is conceived as a place of pause and respite, a counterpoint to the pace and density of the shopping mall. Finished with a palette of deep blue, light timber, grey granite, and stainless steel, the space is bathed in warm lighting, creating a welcoming and contemporary environment.

Organised along a long rectangular plan, the store is anchored by a forward-facing tea bar positioned prominently along the shopfront, with a line of Modbar tea brewers greeting customers as they enter the store, making the ritual of tea preparation a focal point of the store. A continuous wall of retail shelving runs along the opposite side, forming a linear journey that encourages browsing and discovery. Counter-height sampling surfaces integrated with the retail shelves allow customers to taste and smell teas, guided by staff, reinforcing the store as a place of curiosity, exploration, and quiet hospitality.

At the heart of the store, the space opens into an informal seating area where customers can sit, slow down, and enjoy freshly brewed teas and pastries. This area is defined by a wall stacked with tea sacks, evoking the atmosphere of a tea warehouse at a plantation, a visual and tactile connection to the origin and journey of tea.