St Agni’s trademark pared-back aesthetic has become synonymous with Australian style over the last decade. The Byron Bay brand is repeatedly praised for its less-is-more approach – both in the design of individual pieces, as well as the concept of a tightly edited wardrobe.
And while St Agni is often named as a minimalist must-have, until now shoppers outside of Byron Bay and Brisbane have only been able to buy a selection of styles IRL at multi-brand boutiques and in some David Jones stores.
A focus on its retail footprint has seen the brand open the doors at two new bricks-and-mortar stores in the early days of 2024. The Paddington boutique is the latest addition to The Intersection shopping precinct in Sydney, while Melburnians can now find the brand on High Street, Armadale.
Both stores were designed in collaboration with Sydney Studio McQualter, which has worked with retailers like Zimmermann, Scanlan Theodore and Mecca.
“The team at Studio McQualter not only understood the essence of our brand but also delved deeper into our vision for the spaces. Their ability to translate concepts into tangible, innovative designs contributed to the creation of spaces that truly encapsulated our brand’s identity,” co-founders Lara and Matt Fells told Broadsheet in an email.
While both stores have their own nuances, there is a common thread in honouring the character of each space. The Armadale store, which is housed in a two-storey Victorian building, offers a larger floor plan to play with and feels more distinct from the brand’s modern outposts in Byron Bay and Brisbane. Meanwhile, the Paddington boutique makes use of mirrored walls to help illuminate the one-room space. Scents from Le Labo are used in both locations to enhance the shopping experience.
Across the stores, gloss paint brings sleek, modern appeal and contributes to a bright atmosphere, while carefully designed and placed lighting adds warmth, and cascading curtains offer privacy and comfort for change rooms. Vintage furniture features throughout the spaces, nodding to the founders’ penchant for one-off finds and a homey feel. Lara cites the ’70s Le Corbusier velvet armchair in Armadale as one of her favourite pieces.
St Agni Paddington
Shop 8/2 16 Glenmore Road, Paddington
(02) 83541890
Hours:
Mon to Fri 10am–6pm
Sat &Sun 10am–5pm
St Agni Armadale
1037 High Street, Armadale
Hours
Mon to Fri 9.30am–5.30pm
Sat & Sun 10am–5pm
st-agni.com
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