Australian fashion label Sabo is opening its first Sydney store in Westfield Bondi Junction on March 29, 2025.
The new store will add to its current two locations in Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast and Chermside near Brisbane.
Co-founded by Brisbane sisters-in-law Yiota Kouzoukas and Thessy Batsinilas, Sabo (originally Sabo Skirt) originally started as a fashion blog in the spare bedroom of Batsinilas’ parents home, selling customised vintage pieces and wholesale of other labels.
The brand launched exclusively online in 2011, selling a selection of affordable, resort-style pieces. Sabo now ships to more than 200 countries, with all pieces designed in-house at its Brisbane headquarters.
The brand began its retail rollout in 2017 with Chermside, with Pacific Fair opening in late 2018.
"For us, moving into bricks-and-mortar isn’t just about having stores - it’s about creating a real-world experience for our customers,” Kouzoukas said. “Having a physical space makes SABO feel even more tangible, builds trust, and allows people to connect with the brand in a way that goes beyond just shopping online.
“It’s about bringing our vision to life and making our community feel even more a part of it.”
Kouzoukas and Batsinilas made the decision to open Sabo’s first NSW store after strong demand from their customer base, and the success of their Queensland stores.
“Sabo obviously started online and we have been a digital brand for over a decade with a dedicated audience and customer base online, but there is still a huge portion of Australian female consumers who prefer to shop in store,” Batsinilas said, adding that the average order value (AOV) is higher in store, compared to online purchases in Australia.
“When we launched our Queensland stores, we knew they would do well, but we really didn’t anticipate just how successful they would be,” she said.
Despite Sabo’s bricks-and-mortar stores accounting for just 10 per cent of total revenue, the brand’s Queensland stores became profitable in their early years, so the pair have “very high expectations” for Sydney.
“Sydney has always been at the heart of our Sabo community. It's where most of our Australian followers are based, and they’ve been asking for a Bondi store for years. Expanding here felt like the natural next step,” Kouzoukas said.
The pair added that the push into Sydney will help them build out Sabo’s winter offering. Globally, the brand’s customer base is split 50-50 between its local consumers and its global audience.
Sabo has two more stores scheduled to open in 2025.
“We’re always thinking about what’s next, and right now, that means growing our presence in Australia and beyond,” the pair said.
“We’ve loved seeing the impact of our physical stores, and we know this is just the beginning. 2025 will be a huge year for Sabo as we continue to expand and make our brand even more accessible. We have big plans, and we’re so grateful for the support of our community every step of the way.”