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Bespoke Projects
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At Evergreen Direct, we love bringing brands’ visions to life through creativity. When L’Occitane en Provence approached us to design bespoke olive trees for their UK stores, we knew this was a project where attention to detail and authenticity would be everything. Inspired by the sun-drenched landscapes of Provence, these handcrafted trees became more than just installations; they became defining features of the in-store experience, capturing the beauty of the Mediterranean in every branch.
When L’Occitane en Provence first approached us with their vision, we knew this would be special. As a brand, L’Occitane is loved worldwide for its ability to capture Provence’s beauty, romance, and charm.
Their products are inspired by the natural landscapes and botanicals of the Mediterranean, and they wanted their UK retail spaces to reflect that same sense of authenticity. The brief was simple in concept but ambitious in scale: create handcrafted olive trees that felt like they had grown naturally into each store, with every tree designed to suit its home’s exact space and character.
This was an opportunity to do what we best: combine creativity, skill, and innovation to produce bespoke planting solutions that make spaces come alive. From the very start, we were buzzing with ideas. The chance to design and build something that would sit at the heart of L’Occitane’s retail experience, not just as decoration but as a functional and brand-defining feature, was an honour and a challenge we relished.
The olive tree is one of the most iconic symbols of the Mediterranean. For L’Occitane, it represents tradition, nature, and a sense of rustic beauty. We quickly understood that these trees were not simply ornamental but central to the in-store experience.
They had to echo the brand’s Provençal identity while providing practical benefits, such as creating natural-feeling canopies above hand-wash demonstration areas and acting as statement pieces in window displays to catch the eye of passers-by.
This project was particularly exciting because no two L’Occitane stores are the same. Some locations had spacious floor plans, while others were more compact and intimate.
Some stores had open ceilings where a tree could be suspended gracefully, while others needed designs that would fit seamlessly into tight corners or window displays.
Our challenge was to adopt a consistent brand concept, rustic, natural olive trees, and adapt it creatively so that every store felt unified and unique.
Creating trees that complemented the rustic Mediterranean brand identity
Designing natural canopies for hand-wash demonstration areas
Building visual statement pieces for store windows to draw in passers-by
Make sure each tree was scaled and made custom for each store
To achieve this, we knew authenticity was paramount. Each olive tree needed to look as though it had always been there, organically rooted into the store. To accomplish this, we began with real wooden trunks, harvested sustainably from our renewable plantation.
These natural stems provided the perfect starting point for creating trees with character, individuality, and strength. No two trunks were exactly alike, which meant each installation carried its own story and personality, just as nature intended.
Once the structural base was in place, our team of craftsmen foliated each trunk with our premium Mediterranean-style olive foliage. These leaves were chosen for their lush, realistic appearance and their ability to create rich, natural-looking canopies.
Every branch was hand-positioned, every cluster of foliage styled with care, so that the final result was a tree that didn’t just look convincing but also felt alive in the space. The craftsmanship that went into each tree meant they weren’t just installations; they were works of art designed to evoke the feeling of walking through the olive groves of Provence.
Another key factor was speed. L’Occitane had a rollout plan across multiple locations, so we had to work efficiently without compromising on quality. From the point of order to the final in-store delivery, we turned around each bespoke tree within three weeks. That rapid timescale required meticulous project management, with our team carefully coordinating design, production, and installation.
“The feedback from store teams and brand stakeholders was overwhelmingly positive. The trees have become a defining feature of the in-store experience, reinforcing the brand’s ethos in a subtle yet impactful way.”
Every store brought its own set of challenges. Some had awkward spaces where a tree needed to be scaled down without losing impact. Others required dramatic, oversized designs that could dominate a window display and draw in customers from the street.
In certain locations, trees had to be suspended above demonstration areas, which meant balancing aesthetics with engineering precision to ensure safety and durability.
Our bespoke approach allowed us to embrace these challenges rather than shy away from them.
We measured each site individually, designed every tree to suit its environment, and worked closely with L’Occitane’s teams to ensure that the final product not only met but exceeded their expectations.
The result was a collection of olive trees that were each one-of-a-kind, yet all unmistakably L’Occitane.
When the trees were finally installed, the transformation was remarkable. Walking into an L’Occitane store with one of our bespoke olive trees feels like stepping into a little slice of Provence.
The lifelike canopies create a warm, welcoming atmosphere that encourages customers to slow down, engage with the products, and enjoy the experience. In demonstration areas, the trees provide a natural canopy that frames the activity beautifully, turning a simple hand wash into something memorable and immersive.
In the windows, the trees act as statement pieces that not only reflect the brand’s identity but also stop shoppers in their tracks, enticing them to step inside.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Store teams told us that the trees had quickly become focal points of their interiors, something customers commented on and admired.
Brand stakeholders were equally enthusiastic, noting how the installations had reinforced L’Occitane’s Provençal ethos in a subtle yet powerful way. For us, there’s nothing more rewarding than hearing that our work has elevated the customer experience and created something that people genuinely love.