New Zealand-born apparel brand Rodd & Gunn is set to open a global flagship store at 280 Little Collins Street in Melbourne.
The new retail space will open in October this year, which is situated one street away from the Bourke Street Mall. The local block itself is home to the likes of Elk the Label, Patagonia, Seiko and Gorman.
The unveiling follows the debut of Mecca’s new Bourke Street flagship in the northern wing of the same historic building – Rodd & Gunn will officially be the resident brand in the southern wing.
According to Rodd & Gunn, both launches signal a new chapter for one of the city’s most architecturally significant addresses.
The century-old building itself was design by local architect Harry Norris, with previous tenants including Cole’s store and the David Jones Men’s site.
“This building holds a special place in Melbourne’s history, and we wanted our flagship to honour that legacy at every turn,” Rodd & Gun CEO Mike Beagley said. “From the restored architectural details to subtle references to its celebrated past, every design choice was made to respect its heritage while creating something entirely new for today’s guest to enjoy.”
Rodd & Gunn’s new store covers four levels, with the new store featuring arched motifs, curved joinery, stepped stone profiles and metal inlay detailing, alongside natural stone, warm timber colourways and marble accents.
“While New Zealand will always remain Rodd & Gunn’s spiritual home, the opening of our Melbourne flagship is our way of giving back to a city that has supported Rodd & Gunn from the very beginning,” The Lodge Group director Josh Beagley said. The Lodge Group is the hospitality arm of Rodd & Gunn.
“Every surface in this flagship tells a story – a dialogue between past and present that honours the history of the building and the fabric of our brand.”
The interior has been designed by Melbourne based Studio Y, and includes a lower ground cellar and caffetteria, a ground floor shopping space, a members bar on the mezzanine and The Lodge Dining Room on level 1.
The dining is run by Michelin-starred executive chef Matt Lambert and head chef James Evangelinos.
Rodd & Gunn operates around 100 stores across Australia, which includes concessions at both Myer and David Jones.