I was asked to create a backdrop for the windows at Steps's Garden State Plaza location. It was a corner store with a large feature window in a high-traffic area, so they needed an eye-catching background for their mannequins, but did not want to spend a lot of money. I chose to create a fabric installation using tulle to add depth and texture to the windows. The tulle was economical, lightweight and easy to install, and its transparency created a heightened sense of depth. I chose colors which coordinated with the window's back wall, which was painted in Steps's signature teal color.

For the feature window, I mounted some of Steps's acrylic sign letters in the middle, then surrounded it with tulle panels on either side. The store sign was very small and on the other side of the store, so adding the letters helped shoppers find the store and gave it more name recognition within the mall. To construct the tulle panels, I stretched the fabric between two sections of wood and created pleats of varying sizes. These panels were all constructed off-site in advance, so installation was simple and could be completed in a couple hours before the store opened.

I also placed tulle panels in the two smaller front windows of the store. This tied all the windows together, and also created a sense of separation between the front windows and the rest of the store, as they did not have a back wall. The transparency of the tulle worked well in these windows because the panels did not completely block light or the view in and out of the store. These panels also dissuaded customers and children from sitting or walking on the window platforms, something the store had issues with in the past.