Located on Melbourne’s prestigious Flinders Lane, Melbourne menswear boutique Up There has found its new home. Purveyors of streetwear and sneakers, Up There was founded by James Barrett, Brendan Mitchell, and Jason Paparoulas in 2021 and has since then become an important–if understated–part of Melbourne’s fashion scene. Born out of a need for more space, the 345sqm flagship was designed in collaboration with Melbourne architecture firm Kennedy Nolan.
Designed to push the boundaries in terms of colour and materiality, Up There eschews the hallmarks of a typical retail store fit-out. Drawing from the distinctive space — the partially subterranean area is situated at the base of the Herald and Weekly Times building and features a deep plan opening — Up There is characterised by its theatrical, cineamic, and abstract approach.
“Each element of the store has been considered, from the shimmering surfaces of flat and perforated galvanised steel, to the elevated experience of fitting rooms with their secret salon, complemented with the roughcast texture of the ‘concession’ shells right through to the overall colour palette of unexpected, saturated colour,” says Adriana Hanna of Kennedy Nolan.
“Guarding the entry and perhaps marking the strongest visual imprint are the two temple dogs at the front of the store – they are vitrines for merchandise, but more importantly they are mascots for the store. They define the space as a place where something special happens and are there to welcome you back on every visit.”
Underfoot, there’s a strikingly intense green carpet on the ground level, redolent of a grassy field. The hue is a key colour for the brand, with a darker inkier iteration blaneketing the ceiling. Said ceiling also plays host to an array of hanging busts, which lead visitors into the store. Merchandise is thematically arranged into demarcated zones, providing opportunities for collaborations and events.
Along the sneaker wall, there’s a ‘funhouse’ of mirrors, while lustrous fabrics in bold shades in the fitting room aid in creating the feeling of a transitory space; devoid of time or geographical specificity.
Prompting visitors to stay a while, there’s also a coffe bar in store. “Essentially, we just want to be good hosts to our customers, so there is a real emphasis on places to hang out in the store,” says Jason Paparoulas, co-founder of Up There. “All the spaces are social, but at the very end of the store is a large table and generous banquettes creating a spot to try on some sneakers and have a coffee from the in-house café.”
Words by Theo Rosen
