Scanlan & Theodore has opened a new store - but the biggest change is yet to come.
The local designer brand Scanlan Theodore has expanded its Australian retail network with the addition of a new store in Sydney's Strand Arcade as it prepares for a potential re-brand.
The boutique marks the 10th Australian stand-alone store for the Scanlan Theodore brand and will serve to strengthen the label's local retail footprint.
The store launch also coincides with a potential re-brand on the cards for the local label, which is being trialled currently and could see the former Scanlan & Theodore label name changed slightly to simple 'Scanlan Theodore', excluding the ampersand.
The gallery-style space designed by renowned architects Meacham Nockles McQualter, features custom-made palladiana flooring, bright polished stainless steel, stark white walls and floor to ceiling mirrors.
The aesthetic, described as a “refined, modern interior” contrasts against the Victorian heritage of the historic Strand Arcade building.
The coup is the continuation of a new era for the Scanlan Theodore brand, miles away from the troubles it experienced in 2011 when it locked horns with the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) over allegations of ethical issues with its supply chain.
As previously reported in Ragtrader [July 29, 2011], in early 2011, the TCFUA revealed it was investigating the brand over ethical issues with its supply chain.
While Scanlan Theodore strongly denied any wrongdoing at the time, the union mounted a separate attack on the brand following concerns over the liquidation of knitwear manufacturer Blossom Road, a former key supplier to the local brand.
The liquidation of Blossom Road, which occurred in May 2011, saw workers lose close to half a million dollars in employee entitlements. Following the collapse, the company resurfaced under a new business name, resumed business at the same premises, and continued supplying Scanlan & Theodore, which was a major client at the time of Blossom Road's collapse.
The saga came to a close in October 2011, with TCFUA national and state secretary Michele O'Neil confirming that all of the union members at Blossom Road had received their entitlements in full, following four months of campaigning by the union.