SWOP Melbourne by Mills Gorman Architects and Joseph Gardner

With its tightly tailored curation of quality second-hand and rare archival pieces, SWOP has been redefining what a circular fashion economy can offer while building its own keen community of sustainable style connoisseurs for a decade.

Following the success of its Brisbane and Sydney locations, the relocation of SWOP’s Melbourne emporium to Peel Street presented the brand’s director, Brigid Gordon, with the opportunity to express the business’s identity in an expansive warehouse space that is part of the very fabric of Collingwood.

“I envisioned our new Melbourne store to be a true reflection of our brand’s values: quality, integrity and connection,” says Gordon.

Formerly home to CLUB80, an inclusive venue for gay and bisexual men, the new SWOP Melbourne showroom gave Gordon a chance to craft a thoughtful, energising space that continued to celebrate that spirit of diversity, personal expression and community with her own evolving business. She turned to Mills Gorman Architects – “whose expertise and guidance were pivotal in bringing our vision to life” – and Joseph Gardner of Studio Gardner.

“I envisioned our new Melbourne store to be a true reflection of our brand’s values: quality, integrity and connection,” says Gordon. “Collaborating with Joseph was an effortless experience, thanks to his exceptional talent and dedication to our vision. He curated a stunning collection from Australian makers that aligned perfectly with our aesthetic and ethos. The result is a space that offers our customers a truly immersive and inspiring shopping experience.

By training the lens directly at the local design landscape for the interior fit-out, Gardner has brought together an edit of leading Australian creative talents teamed with iconic pieces.

By training the lens directly at the local design landscape for the interior fit-out, Gardner has brought together an edit of leading Australian creative talents teamed with iconic pieces. For instance, the soft angles of a timeless Isamu Noguchi Akari floor lamp – sourced from the interior design consultant and stylist’s own practice, Studio Gardner – complement the sinuous silhouettes of a Sarah Ellison sofa as well as vintage Maralunga lounge chairs by Vico Magistretti from renowned collectible furniture specialist Castorina, which is only a stone’s throw away on Gertrude Street in neighbouring Fitzroy. Artisanal touches include a custom fabricated counter and cabinets by Melbourne-based maker Torren Clifford of Old Four Legs, a brushed stainless-steel and ox blood leather bench by Simone Tops of Studio Tops and a coffee table by Adelaide-based Studio Mignone. Each piece makes a statement on its own but are also deeply complementary as a whole, much like a wardrobe of key pieces – the exact kind you’d build upon at SWOP.

Artworks by James Lemon from Oigåll Projects bring a further individualist streak to the store, another nod to the value of considered, meaningful style that is integral to SWOP, echoing Gordon’s own ethos. “By prioritising beauty in our resale stores,” she says, “we hope to promote a deeper appreciation for second-hand clothing and mindful consumerism.”

Architecture by Mills Gorman Architects. Curation and styling by Joseph Gardner.