Sydney-born fashion brand Okanui has opened its first-ever store in Darwin city, with CEO Simon Kasprowicz confirming there are more store openings ahead across the country.
The new store is located on Kitchener Drive, and adds to a portfolio of eight other stores in similar tropical locations such as Noosa Heads, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, Port Douglas and Sydney’s Manly Beach.
"We're incredibly excited to open our new store in Darwin, especially during such an exciting time for the city,” Kasprowicz said. “With the surge in both domestic and international visitors, Darwin is buzzing with energy, and we see the NT as a huge opportunity for Okanui to expand its retail presence.
“This dynamic city has established itself as a key gateway, contributing to a record-breaking $2.3 billion in visitor spending across the NT last year. Our team has worked hard to create a space that reflects the brand’s positioning of Escaping the Everyday.”
Kasprowicz said the plan is to have nine stores opened and operating before the end of the year, with another store planned to open in Sorrento later this month. This is being driven by a 150 per cent year-on-year growth in sales over the last year for the swimwear and lifestyle brand.
“We have a big market in Victoria, so it will be a great achievement for us, as a small family business, to offer a physical retail presence to our Victorian customers.
“Following the popularity of our Manly store, we are also looking to explore our retail footprint into the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney or Bondi more specifically.”
Okanui was born by Dick Ash in 1978, and has since become known for its signature hibiscus print. The brand is still family owned and run by Ash’s niece Wendy Kasprowicz and her husband Simon.
As well as a retail footprint, the brand also has a select number of wholesalers, predominantly small retailers along the East Coast of Australia, and is sold online. Kasprowicz confirmed that online sales are a key part of the business, holding 30 per cent of total revenue. The online channel has grown over 100 per cent year-on-year.
Looking ahead, Kasprowicz sees several promising opportunities for growth.
“Our women's and kids' ranges are showing strong potential, and we’re excited to expand these collections with new styles and designs,” he said. “Additionally, we're focused on increasing our retail footprint across Australia to make Okanui more accessible.
“Internationally, we’re seeing encouraging growth in sales and we’re committed to strategically expanding Okanui's presence globally. Tackling these opportunities involves staying true to our core brand values, while continuing to innovate and meet the needs of our diverse customer base.”