Australia’s Venroy opens its first store in Europe

In 2011, Venroy launched from Bondi Beach in Sydney with an offering of European-length swim shorts. It quickly garnered a cult following and has grown in the last decade to boast a seasonal offering of resort and leisurewear with stores also found in Melbourne and Brisbane. The printed staples, luxury knitwear and buttery linen is uniform in the eastern suburbs of Sydney so it comes as no surprise that the natural next step for the brand was Europe.

Situated on the Mediterranean island of Capri, within Italy’s iconic Bay of Naples, Venroy has opened a seasonal concept store and its first international outpost. The beige concrete walls of the label’s local stores in Australia have been reimagined by the in-house architect, Sarah l’Anson. The store embodies the spirit of the Venroy hotel concept, playfully realised from room to room through curated furniture and objets d’art – selected for both aesthetic and function – to dynamically display product.

Interiors are underpinned by natural materials and an understated colour palette: warm honey hues, soft whites and bold orange accents, tempered by cool, polished steel. Coir, raw canvas and timber create a sense of ease and comfort; layered for a raw, al fresco feel, these tactile and enduring textures will age well and develop character throughout the store’s lifespan.

Coloured-glass lighting and stainless steel metalwork contrast the natural materials and elevate the space, bringing to mind the italo-disco clubs found across Italy and wider Europe during the ’70s. Meanwhile, ornate terracotta pots are featured en masse – a playful reference to the artisanal heritage of the beloved island.

“Nostalgia is a key component of our spaces. When you walk into our stores, we want you to feel transported, we want to evoke a fond memory of somewhere you visited once and will never forget. For just a moment, we want to take you back there,” says brand founder Sean Venturi

The space comprises of three connecting rooms. The first is an intimate, curtained dressing room featuring a mid-century modern Italian triptych dressing mirror and a linen-upholstered mannequin, lit by a vintage Harvey Guzzini Meblo chandelier lamp. Room two services retail, displaying current collections within a mid-century wardrobe, alongside a vintage hotel desk and Goffredo Reggiani table lamp. Lastly, Room three features the iconic Capri Collection, displayed in a beautiful 19th-century Austrian Biedermeier walnut display cabinet.

In keeping with the resort theme, the building also features a secluded, sun-drenched terrace where visitors are invited to relax on lounges and enjoy an aperitif. Cin cin!