To build modern, fast, and high-performing Adobe Commerce (Magento 2) stores, the choice of front-end theme is crucial. For years, developers relied on the default themes: Luma and Blank. Then came premium alternatives like Hyvä. But recently, a new solution has been gaining popularity: Breeze, a modern, free, and truly optimized theme for today’s e-commerce requirements.
Luma and Blank: legacy foundations, now outdated
When you install Adobe Commerce, the base theme is Blank, a minimal skeleton on which Luma, the official demo theme, is built.
These two themes were designed in a different era, with older web standards. They rely on:
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Knockout.js and RequireJS for JavaScript
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A complex CSS architecture inherited from the Magento UI Library
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A heavy and difficult-to-maintain overall structure
The consequences are clear:
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High load times
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Increased development costs with limited performance gains
Hyvä: a modern overhaul… with some limitations
To overcome the native themes’ limitations, Hyvä emerged as an ambitious alternative. It offers:
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A modern approach with Alpine.js for interactivity and Tailwind CSS for layout
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A lightning-fast front-end, designed to improve web performance scores (especially Google PageSpeed)
However, Hyvä doesn’t fit every project:
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Paid license per project
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A technical learning curve tied to the Tailwind/Alpine ecosystem
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Limited immediate compatibility with some third-party modules
In short, it’s an excellent solution — but one that comes with a cost and a technical setup that may not suit all needs.
Breeze: the modern, lightweight, and high-performance solution
Breeze, developed by SwissUpLabs, is an open-source front-end theme designed from the ground up to be fast, simple, and scalable.
What Breeze brings:
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Optimized load times
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Lightweight CSS and JS
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No Knockout.js or RequireJS
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Breeze JS: an ultra-light SPA-compatible JS engine
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Clear and customizable architecture
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Optional Breeze Evolution version (paid: $90 upfront + $25/month for support and updates)
Unlike many other themes, Breeze is not based on Luma or Blank, meaning it avoids inheriting their technical limitations. It provides a clean foundation — ideal for building a modern front-end, even in complex e-commerce scenarios.
Why more and more projects are switching to Breeze
- Performance: faster websites mean better user experience and SEO
- Time savings: easy to pick up, even for junior developers
- Flexibility: easy to customize to fit specific project needs
- Cost-effective: no mandatory license and lightweight code keep budgets under control
When properly implemented, Breeze can achieve Google PageSpeed scores close to 98/100, compared to much lower scores with Luma. This solid foundation supports better UX and optimized SEO — provided best development practices are followed.
Moreover, unlike themes that cause unwanted visual shifts during loading, Breeze is designed to minimize CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift), improving perceived performance and layout stability.
Breeze is a balanced, modern front-end option that prioritizes performance. Whether you’re looking to speed up your existing Magento 2 store or lay the groundwork for a new, scalable project, Breeze is a theme worth serious consideration.