Independent womenswear label Banjo & Matilda is planning a collaboration with one of the world's biggest musicians next year.
The label, founded by Belynda Macpherson in 2008, will open also a store in Sydney today ahead of plans to launch into homewares and the celebrity design collaboration.
The pop-up shop, based on William Street in Paddington, is the first stand-alone store for the brand and is scheduled to run from today until late January 2012.
The store will stock a selection of some of the most popular Banjo & Matilda items, including its biggest selling style The Ultimate Vee, the Surfer Cable sweater and the Anywhere scarf, as well as a few luxury travel pieces such as the Jet-Set travel pillow, travel blanket and eye mask in 100 per cent cashmere. Product will retail from $299 for the Jet Set, to $699, and will be available in key colours of lemon, lavender, ruby red, heather grey and oatmeal.
Macpherson said that while the decision to launch the store was off the cuff, the official opening signals big things for the brand.
“The timing of the pop-up store happened quite by accident, but I think cashmere and Christmas-time go hand in hand, and we find that our customers purchase an array of gifts around this time of year. It's a lovely way to connect with the people who routinely buy our label,” she said.
“However, we now have over 30 retailers around the globe and this will be our first foray into a stand-alone store, which if successful will pave the way for our first flagship boutique.
“As the brand moves forward, we have new brand innovations such as 'Banjo Loves' which is a new section on our web-store which sources the most unique and hand-crafted items from around the globe - in limited edition quantities - in addition to launching Banjo Home in winter next year. We are also excited to reveal our new limited-edition celebrity sweater in April next year, with one of the worlds biggest musicians. So stay tuned!”
While Banjo & Matilda currently offers only womenswear, Macpherson said the label also has plans to expand its product offering in the near future to include menswear and baby ranges, in addition to the impending home collection.