Spring Has Sprung: Sydney’s Best New Store Openings

Sydney’s warming up after a long, wet winter. Over the last few months, several new retail spaces have quietly opened. From high-street fashion labels like Manning Cartell and Viktoria & Woods to global players like Salomon and Acne Studios, there are bunch of new shopfronts getting us excited.

A lot of the action is happening in shopping centres, with The Galeries, Strand Arcade and a couple of Westfields welcoming in fresh faces. Head north and you’ll find that Double Bay has a couple of new additions worth checking out, too.

Manning Cartell Double Bay

Manning Cartell was founded by three sisters who wanted to elevate contemporary womenswear in Australia. Its new, sun-drenched store in Double Bay celebrates the brand’s 20th year and emphasises the warmth of family with a palette of marigold, burgundy and steel. Volker Haug Studio’s decorative lighting is dispersed across the flagship boutique, and eager fans of the brand may recognise the reused counter, which was first used in its Claremont store.

Salomon The Galeries

Founded in the French Alps in 1947, Salomon has become globally renowned for its sporty, practical hiking shoes. The sporting goods brand has opened a flagship store at The Galeries following successful openings in Melbourne’s Emporium and Chadstone shopping centres. Here, you’ll find Salomon’s Sportstyle collection, as well as its signature performance footwear, displayed across sleek, brightly lit walls.

Bassike Strand Arcade

Bassike’s Strand store has been given a refresh, following the Sydney label’s light rebrand earlier this year. The petite spot has been redesigned with mid-century Italian modernism in mind, with colourful mosaic tiles complemented by warm timber and dark sage details. Designed by Kelvin Ho of Akin Atelier, the Bassike store aims to channel the form and function of a jewellery box. “The idea of the jewellery box was important, not for its ornament but for its discipline; a defined casing that elevates the object inside,” Ho says.

Oroton Double Bay

After a successful pop-up, Australian label Oroton has officially opened a new store in Double Bay. The retail space is designed by the brand’s creative director Sophie Holt, who wanted it to “feel more like a home than a shop”. It features a bold combo of khaki-tiled benches, vintage furnishings and warm-toned wooden furniture, as well as a rare ’50s Poul Cadovius shelving unit and original artwork from local artist Nina Walton.

Viktoria & Woods Strand Arcade

Melbourne brand Viktoria & Woods has opened the doors to its new flagship boutique in Sydney’s heritage-listed Strand Arcade. The new location features warm-beige-washed walls with contrasting dark wood furnishings. The intimate boutique is a homage to the brand’s roots and dedication to collaborative work, with vases by Melbourne artist Hattie Molloy and custom lighting by Volker Haug Studio.

David Jones Bondi Junction

Department store David Jones has unveiled its newly renovated Bondi Junction outpost. A cool $22 million later, and the multi-level shopping destination has been revamped with updated beauty, accessories and women’s fashion areas, alongside the menswear department that was refreshed last year. There are 31 new brands available at its Bondi location, with personal styling suites and private beauty rooms from the likes of Rationale, Lancome, La Prairie and Chanel. But food lovers should note that its food hall is now closed.

Acne Studios Westfield Sydney

For the next six months, Acne Studios will be setting up shop in Pitt Street’s Westfield. Travel up to level three to experience the label’s newest boutique, offering menswear, womenswear and accessories. This is Acne Studio’s fifth shop in Australia, but the only outlet with an expiration date.

The Cut CBD

Jewellery label The Cut has settled into a second Sydney store. Housed in the century-old St James Trust building on Elizabeth Street, The Cut’s grand shop focuses on rare and precious pieces. The bold, red space channels old opulence with a modern touch, mirroring the Sydney-made label’s approach to design.