Fragrance and skincare brand Costa Brazil has opened its flagship retail space at Hudson Yards in New York City, unveiling an interior created in collaboration with Alexander May Studio. The new store translates founder Francisco Costa’s design sensibility into a physical environment that combines contemporary retail with Brazilian art, craft and collectible design.
Located on the first level of The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, the flagship ranks among Costa Brazil’s first permanent retail locations. Rather than adopting a conventional luxury store format, the project introduces a residential atmosphere shaped by curated objects, natural materials and spaces intended for reflection.
“We created this space to invite guests to slow down and experience the rituals that define Costa Brazil, rituals that ground us and help us reconnect with nature,” said Costa.
Brazilian design and personal collections shape the interior
Costa collaborated with creative director Alexander May to create an environment that reflects the brand’s identity, whose fragrance, skincare, and body-care products incorporate sustainably sourced ingredients from the Amazon rainforest.
At the centre of the store, large black-wood plinths display the complete Costa Brazil product collection on sculptural concrete and timber platforms. Alongside the products, visitors encounter books and objects drawn from Costa’s personal collection, many of which originate from his Bellport residence.
Furthermore, the displays include Brazilian design pieces sourced through Bossa Gallery and AALVO Gallery. Large polychrome ceramic vessels created by the Indigenous Shipibo-Konibo people of the Upper Amazon River Basin, curated by Peter Koepke, further reinforce the store’s connection to Brazilian craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, two 30-foot shelving installations extend across walls clad in concrete tiles, while oversized ceiling-mounted light boxes illuminate the central display islands. Wooden flooring introduces warmth to the restrained palette of concrete, timber and black finishes.
“The result is a coherent environment that reflects Costa’s personal aesthetic while introducing a more structured spatial language,” said the team.
Retail experience prioritises gathering and design
In addition to retail displays, the flagship incorporates custom-designed platform daybeds, sofas and low tables that encourage visitors to linger. The brand also plans a rotating programme of installations highlighting Brazilian furniture designers and art galleries, extending the store’s role beyond commerce into cultural programming.
“More than a traditional retail setting, the space introduces a new format, one that emphasises gathering and experience as much as commerce,” the team said.
The Hudson Yards flagship joins a growing number of fragrance destinations that use architecture and interior design to shape brand identity. Rather than focusing solely on product presentation, Costa Brazil positions the store as an immersive environment where design, craftsmanship and sensory experience converge.