It’s been a labour of love for the owners of Treasurette boutique to construct their dream shop. The store, located on the ‘Paris end’ of Little Collins Street in Melbourne, sells accessories only and presents as an upmarket gallery of women’s shoes, sunglasses, scarves and jewellery.
Brands include designer labels such as Rick Owens, Vassilisa, Givenchy, Elizabeth and James, Pedro Garcia, House of Harlow 1960, Repetto, Maison Martin Margiela, Stella McCartney and Dominic Jones.
However, although the outlet is a polished retail haven, the delicate details within its walls evoke the effort put in by owners Deborah Wee and Alice Hu.
“From conceptualisation to completion, it took slightly over one year,” Wee says.
“The store concept design was developed by myself and co-owner Alice Hu, and we worked with our friend, architecture student Rodelle Lee, to put our thoughts on paper. The designs were then sent to an interior designer who put the plans into formal structural drawings.”
12 months later, these sketches have materialised into a store interior with a clean theme and an edgy twist – “a little bit Paris chic, but a little bit New York loft style,” Wee explains.
Product in the 60m2 space is split into two sections, with a mezzanine level that overlooks the entire lower floor of the boutique and showcases the more exclusive items.
The staircase to the mezzanine level is also lined with a large chalkboard that features changing chalk illustrations to complement the loft-style structure.
Other art pieces, such as acrylic neon pink signs and cow hide carpets, add personality to the store, and contrast against the cream walls and black and white shelves of the lower level.
“The interior of the store aims to create an atmosphere that is fashionably inspiring,” Wee says.
“Treasurette’s target customers are those who can appreciate the brands’ environment in-store and the experience of shopping at a boutique that emphasises on the entire experience of buying luxury accessories at an artfully decorated boutique, so Treasurette takes pride in the presentation of the pieces in store.”
Wee adds that, while the collections in-store are always up-to-date with their overseas counterparts, she believes dynamic presentation is needed to succeed.
“I believe that at the end of the day it is not just the product, but the culmination of one’s entire experience of shopping at a carefully presented store that adds to the overall enjoyment and appreciation of the pieces purchased,” she says.
No doubt it’s this attitude which has secured Treasurette’s place among its classy neighbours, which include Assin, Alistair Trung and Kenzo.
