A LEAP OF FAITH
TOLD BY Chris Dobbs PHOTOS Supplied
It’s 2001, and we felt Working Style had a firm foothold in the North Island with stores in both Auckland and Wellington, but we didn’t have a presence in the South Island. We had so many clients asking when was Working Style going to open in Christchurch – so we took a leap of faith. We opened on Colombo Street opposite Ballantynes. Our current Creative Director, Karl Clausen, a local boy, helmed the business, and we were away. The fit-out was consistent with our other stores at the time – a quirky take on a men’s club and, at that time, perfect for our tailoring centric collections. We wanted to ensure that our stores, as we still do today, are a joy to visit and spend time at.
“That first 10 years flew by, and in 2011, we moved quickly to find a new location post quakes, to re-establish the business. The corner of Murray Place and Papanui Road in Merivale became our home. The character of the building had beautiful charm, surrounded by established trees synonymous with Merivale. Each room of the house showcased our different collections, and like the original Colombo Street store, it was important that the store felt like a place you could dwell and spend some time.
“By the time 2020 rolled around, we had been looking to move back to the central city for a while, and when a stunning location popped up which had been developed by Richard Peebles – we jumped at it. Not only had shopping habits changed and shifted back to the CBD, but Working Style as a company had also evolved. No longer solely a tailoring specialist, we are now a contemporary clothing company. New casual lines had been developed and introduced, and it was important our new location showcased these.
The store at 102 Oxford Terrace, adjacent to the Bridge of Remembrance and next to Riverside, is a cracker. The interior is spacious, finished with polished concrete floors and has a stunning high ceiling.
“We are very proud of our new Christchurch store – I hope that we are here for a hell of a long time!”