Inside MERIT’s Sydney Residency at Poppie Pack Gallery
For its Sydney residency at Poppie Pack Gallery in Paddington, cult beauty brand MERIT collaborated with Brahman Perera to create a lived-in intimate space designed to be experienced.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos JACQUI TURK
MERIT made its Australian retail debut with a residency at Poppie Pack Gallery in Paddington, Sydney.
‘The process began with thinking about the pop-up almost like a vignette or film set; a temporary stage where MERIT’s world could gently and beautifully unfold over three days,’ shares Brahman Perera.
Guests were able to experience MERIT in person for the first time in Australia, the opportunity to touch, swatch and receive personalised shade matching in natural light.
“I tend to think of interiors as curated environments rather than constructed sets; spaces that feel layered, personal and authentic rather than overly produced. In the case of MERIT, those ideas translated into a pop-up that prioritised atmosphere and ritual over traditional retail display.”
‘The aim was to create an environment that felt lived-in and familiar, where texture, objects and light carried the narrative rather than an abundance of product,’ says Brahman Perera.
From handwritten order forms to mirrors, music and quiet gestures of hospitality, the space encouraged guests to move through it at their own pace.
‘The final outcome was intentionally intimate and immersive, less like entering a retail environment and more like stepping briefly into a lived-in MERIT residence,’ says Brahman Perera.
Vintage pieces, natural planting and layered textures came together to create a space that felt warm and familiar.
Earlier this month, MERIT made its Australian retail debut with a residency at Poppie Pack Gallery, transforming the space into an intimate, immersive expression of the brand’s world.
Following its Australian launch in 2024, MERIT has cultivated a loyal local following, drawn to its considered approach to getting ready, one centred on simplicity, clarity and a tightly edited collection of essentials. MERIT in Residence marked a natural next step, an opportunity to bring that ethos into physical form.
Rather than a traditional retail activation, the residency unfolded as something more unconventional. Visitors were invited to slow down, spend time, and engage with the brand in a way that felt instinctive and at ease. Guests were encouraged to touch, swatch and experience the collection in natural light, offering a subtle but meaningful shift from the typical beauty environment.
Designed in collaboration with Melbourne-based interior designer Brahman Perera, the space reflected a shared sensibility, grounded in materiality, atmosphere and the rituals of everyday life.
‘MERIT has a clarity of vision that I find very compelling. The brand feels restrained and confident, and that kind of discipline aligns closely with how I approach interiors. Rather than creating spectacle, the opportunity was to translate MERIT’s ethos into a spatial experience that was atmospheric, tactile and quietly immersive,’ shares Brahman. ‘It was less about designing a shop and more about creating a temporary world that allowed the brand’s sensibility to be felt in a deeply human and familiar environment.’
Brahman’s approach reimagined retail as something collected rather than constructed – layered with vintage pieces, soft drapery, native botanicals and rich material contrasts, creating a setting that felt lived-in.
‘I tend to think of interiors as curated environments rather than constructed sets; spaces that feel layered, personal and authentic rather than overly produced,’ he adds. For MERIT, these ideas came to life as a pop-up centred on mood and ritual rather than conventional retail. Small, considered details, from handwritten order forms to mirrors, music and gestures of hospitality, encouraged a slower, more deliberate way of engaging with the brand.
‘The aim was to create an environment that felt familiar, where texture, objects and light carried the narrative rather than an abundance of product. This was a glimpse into the MERIT world for those lucky enough to visit the Paddington residence, and we wanted to capture the spirit of the area too.’
The result was a space that felt less like entering a store and more like stepping into a moment, where getting ready was reframed as something more intentional.
Stay up to date with Brahman Perera here.
