Octavius ‘Otto’ La Rosa has been collecting designs by Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake and Walter Van Beirendonck for more than ten years. To help showcase his singular fashion trove, the founder and owner of archival clothing store dot COMME has opened a second boutique, dot Comme Collection, a floor above the original store in Curtin House.

“The new store displays a selection of 100 garments,” La Rosa says. “And within a concealed door is the archive room housing around 1,500 more.” The northwards expansion allows La Rosa to bring his hefty collection into view – previously most of these pieces were only accessible online. The new space allows customers to browse and engage with the full range of designs in person. (The original store, one floor below, is home to more wearable, day-to-day garments by the same designers.)

“The level-three store focuses on everyday wear, with an emphasis on good quality timeless vintage pieces at a fraction of their retail price, and on level four I display garments from key runway collections; the construction and fabrics are higher end, and they are considered to be more collectable pieces.”

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La Rosa has collaborated with his Curtin House neighbour, Sibling Architecture, on the impressive, futurist fit-out. Minimalist fixtures, reflective surfaces – including the high-gloss floor – and stark white walls and ceiling, mean your eye is drawn straight to the clothes. They’ll then quickly land on other theatrical objects and embellishments around the room, such as striking tube-lined walls, La Rosa’s own surrealist furniture (by architect and designer Gaetano Pesce) and a candy-coloured light fitting by Memphis Milano.

“The brief to Sibling Architecture was for a gallery and they chose to take the approach of an understated space that would let the designs shine,” says La Rosa. “I have always admired Sibling’s projects and wanted to work with an architecture firm that is playful yet sophisticated.”
La Rosa also plans to use the space for small exhibitions going forward.

“My focus is not on trends, but the history and importance of archiving and documenting… these pioneering designers,” he says.

dot COMME Collection
Lvl 4, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Hours
Mon to Thurs 11am–6pm
Fri 11am–7pm
Sat 11am–6pm
Sun 12pm–5pm

dotcomme.net