10 To Try: Best New Sydney Store Openings This Winter

Sydney is stereotypically a city full of people who don leggings at sunrise, ready to take on the Bondi to Coogee walk. A quick look at the slate of activewear and sportswear brands that have opened stores in recent months backs this. Swiss brand On now has its first shopfront here, and Los Angeles brand Alo chose Sydney as the city to open its first Australian store. 

Outside of high-performance gear, Sir has settled into an intimate space in The Strand Arcade, where Dinosaur Designs has just renovated its own store. Melbourne homewares label Hommey has finally made its way here, too. These are all the best store openings since autumn.

Sir, The Strand Arcade

Sir’s newest store is sexy. Stepping into its dark and moody interiors feels more like entering your coolest friend’s dressing room rather than a shop in The Strand. Designed by Pete Kennon, the intimate space offers a refined approach to the womenswear label, with a curated holding of garments hand-selected by co-founders Nikki Campbell and Sophie Coote. Drenched in dark brown, the cosy nook is layered with texture, cloaking the space in personality. Shop 1073, 412-414 George St, The Strand Arcade, Sydney.

On, Bondi Junction

On’s first Sydney store has officially opened. The 16-year-old sportswear company fits right in with Bondi’s active disposition. The store’s design intentionally mirrors Bondi’s coastal walks, with muted sandy palettes and organically shaped baby blue couches. Here, shoppers can browse On’s full collection of footwear, apparel and accessories. “We’re excited to put some Swiss roots down in Bondi and create a space that reflects the charm of Bondi,” said Lauren Portelli, On Oceania’s commercial director, in a press release. Shop 3001, 217-229 Oxford St, Bondi Junction.

Hommey, Paddington

Take heed: feelings of intense relaxation may come from a visit to Hommey’s Paddington store. The space designed by In Addition Studio, does away with traditional retail store constraints. Instead, they’ve dressed the Oxford Street location up as a bedroom and ensuite. For the bedding label’s first Sydney outpost, it chose to settle in the inner east. “Paddington has such a distinct character; it’s creative, established and full of beautiful retail and hospitality that sit side by side,” founder Justin Kestelman said in a press release. 256 Oxford St, Paddington.

Arc’teryx, Queen Victoria Building

Before Arc’teryx opened the doors to its newest Sydney store, some fans were already in line for more than 15 hours. Sitting in the corner spot in the heritage Queen Victoria Building, this is Arc’teryx’s biggest Sydney store, featuring various arms of the outdoors brand including its sub-label Veilance and its wash and repair operation Rebird. Shop 2, Ground Level, 455 George St, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney.

Dinosaur Designs, The Strand Arcade

With designer Chris Connell's help, Dinosaur Designs has revamped its store in The Strand Arcade. Curved display cabinets and bright lights imbue the store with a gallery-like presence. “Chris has worked in partnership with the Dinosaur Designs team for 30 years across our refurbishments and openings. We love the white, airy space and the curved cabinetry. He’s created a canvas which allows our objects to sing and for our customers to engage with the handmade qualities of our designs,” Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy, co-founders and creative directors of Dinosaur Designs, say. Shop 77, 412-414 George St, The Strand Arcade, Sydney.

Loewe, Chatswood Chase

Come for the clothes, stay for the art. Spanish luxury house Loewe has a new store in Chatswood Chase, displaying its collections of womenswear and accessories. The 185-square-metre premises are decked out in bold design features, reflective silver podiums and Spanish-made wool rugs feature washes of bright green. As is the Loewe way, curated artworks and architectural furnishings turn the retail space into a gallery of sorts. A Steltman chair by Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld and an Akari light sculpture by American designer Isamu Noguchi sit among pieces by New York artists Heechan Kim and Ian Felice. Shop 24, Level 1, 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood Chase, Chatswood.

LF Markey, Newtown

Sydney-born fashion designer Louise Markey has returned home after two decades in London. Her eponymous label, LF Markey, has garnered a loyal following for its functional yet style-conscious workwear. Now, the label has opened its first Australian store in Newtown. The petite peach-washed shop carries LF Markey’s core pieces, as well as some seasonal drops. Keep an eye out for workshops and artists’ exhibitions in the future. 569 King St, Newtown.

Salomon, Bondi Junction

French sportswear label Salomon has been busy opening new stores across Sydney. It was only a year ago it opened its first in Sydney, and now it’s welcomed its fourth store here. Its Bondi Junction store is an extension of the hiking-cum-lifestyle-brand’s sleek and innovative aesthetic. Chrome and concrete details provide a backdrop for the brand’s apparel and footwear, and bright lighting gives the space a futuristic feel. Shop 2037/8, 500 Oxford St, Bondi Junction.

Alo, Chatswood Chase

Los Angeles-based activewear label Alo has launched in Australia, choosing Sydney as its first home. “There is a real movement culture here, a strong sense of community, and a way of life rooted in the outdoors that aligns intuitively with who we are,” Benedetta Petruzzo, Alo’s international CEO, said in a press release. The 19-year-old brand has brought its signature lifestyle-led fitness gear to our shores, offering womenswear, menswear, footwear and accessories in the airy and minimalist retail space. Be warned, the store can get pretty busy. Shop 21, Ground Level, 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood Chase, Chatswood.

The Upside, Manly

The Upside has opened its eighth store in Australia, choosing Manly's beachy suburb as its new home. The local lifestyle and activewear label has created a store with a clubhouse feel, injecting the space with retro influences. “I love the ’70s references running through the space, the timber, the stripes, the brass. That era had a confidence and ease that most activewear has lost chasing performance fabrics and clinical fit-outs,” founder and creative director Jodhi Meares said in a press release. Opens August 28. Shop 3, 199/205 Pittwater Rd, Manly.