Seven To Try: Melbourne’s Best New Store Openings This Spring

The start of spring has brought a slew of new store openings. And, thanks to a bout of spring cleaning, we’re rejoicing in some reclaimed wardrobe space – which means we’re ready for a hit of retail therapy. (The cycle of life, right?)

There have already been some notable store openings from local brands this season, a few sprinkled north side, and a couple in the CBD and the south. Here’s what we’re adding to our hit list. 

Karlaidlaw Fitzroy

Indie streetwear label Karlaidlaw’s newest store shows the seven-year-old brand at its most refined. This is the third store founder Karla Laidlaw has opened in four years, and now it’s the sole location for her label. It feels like this new Smith Street location will stick. The light and airy space fuses industrial foundations with soft, personal touches. There’s an oversized silk-screen print by Melbourne artist Kate Murrell, a Moroccan rug that took its makers (found on Etsy) six weeks to hand-tuft, two speakers made from scratch by Laidlaw’s boyfriend and his friend, and mannequin wigs styled by Frank Valvo of Fur Hairdressing. 323 Smith Street, Fitzroy

Essen, South Melbourne

Local label Essen has been quietly crafting its footwear and accessories for 10 years. To mark the decade, founder Marre Muijs has opened her first physical space in Melbourne. It’s a special undertaking, with Mujis designing the space herself. Stainless steel shelving, custom desks and angular armchairs give the space a feel that’s part-office, part-studio. “Designing our first physical studio has been a personal journey,” she said in a press release. “It’s taken me back to the reason I started Essen: having a point of view and building a brand around that same idea.” The showroom is open by appointment only. 63 Stead Street, South Melbourne

Home Store, Fitzroy 

Vintage fashion takes over a disused Fitzroy warehouse with Home Store, a family business selling dead stock, designer and pre-loved fashion straight from Japan. The undone space is unpretentious and eclectic. Stock ranges from global luxury houses like Celine and Christian Dior to contemporary Japanese labels like Needles and Beautiful People, with new pieces released weekly. Plus, there will be an online store launching soon. 71 Leicester Street, Fitzroy

Sarah & Sebastian, Chadstone

Keen fans of Sarah & Sebastian know that the 14-year-old jewellery label has had an outpost in Chadstone for the last four years. Now, it has graduated from its kiosk stand to a permanent store. Designed in collaboration with Richards Stanisich, the store is inspired by oysters’ layered shells. With ocean conservation a key pillar of the brand, it makes sense that local and upcycled materials were prioritised – including discarded oyster shells collected from local restaurants, crushed and worked into the sand-toned render. Inside, you’ll find Sarah & Sebastian’s signature offerings, from its full suite of products to piercing and soldering services and bridal consultations. Shop 350/1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone

Kip & Co, Fitzroy

You can’t miss Kip & Co’s massive store on Gertrude Street. The looming, peach-drenched building is undeniably eye-catching, and it’s chock full of Kip & Co’s signature quirky and mismatched homewares, fashion and lifestyle wares. The design, by Melbourne studio State of Play, is textually rich, featuring chequerboard marble benchtops, woven wall hangings and a gold shell-disc archway. “From the moment you step inside, we want you to feel inspired, with a sense of wonder and joy. More than anything, we want it to feel welcoming, like you’ve stepped into the most colourful version of a home,” co-founder Kate Heppell said in a press release. 142/144 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Eva, Richmond

B Corp furniture brand Eva has opened its third Australian store, this time in Richmond’s furniture district. Co-founded by husband-and-wife duo Amanda Niu and Ken Lau, Eva makes simple, purposeful pieces for the home. “Richmond House is important because it’s the culmination of our last 10 years at Eva, brought together into one space,” Niu said in a statement. This new double-storey store, coming in at over 400 square metres, showcases the entire range and will also act as a testing ground for unreleased products. Its minimalistic pieces are complemented by timber flooring, dark walnut joinery and matte concrete floors. 575 Church Street, Richmond 

Dinosaur Designs, Emporium

Dinosaur Designs has a new home in the CBD, opening the doors to a new Emporium location after its Strand store closed in August. The fit-out is what you’d expect from a Dinosaur Designs store: clean, modern and gallery-like. The team tapped architect and designer Chris Connell, who they’ve worked with for over 30 years. Soft, off-white custom fixtures provide a backdrop to Dinosaur Designs’ iconic homewares and jewellery. “Every corner is designed to be an invitation to explore and express your own sense of style,” co-founder Louise Olsen said in a media release. Shop 2-042, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne