This article was first published on Couturing.com
We are greeted with croissants, apricot Danishes and fresh coffee upon arrival at
Bassike Hawksburn’s launch breakfast- the perfect beginning to a lazy Saturday.
Bassike’s very first Melbourne boutique is situated on the picturesque, tree-lined Malvern road, already a bustling hub for the inner suburb’s fashion elite. The space itself is immaculate- huge glass windows providing an abundance of natural light, bare walls with pale wood details and a simple vase of cherry blossoms. The store features clean, fluid lines, entirely appropriate given the label residing within these walls.
Bassike’s stunning SS12 collection, which has been in stores since July, comprises of basics in classic cuts made of premium quality fabrics. Grey marles and oatmeals broken up with citruses and amber yellows. Sheep skin vests, silk Lurex shorts, and a hooded dress made of 100% organic brushed cotton fleece, all made in Australia with the most impeccable attention to detail.
The ongoing success of the Bassike range lies in its exceptional craftsmanship. The cuts are simple and classic, featuring such fluid design that putting the perfect outfit together becomes truly effortless. There are simply no garments that cause the “But I have nowhere to wear this!” turmoil within a prospective buyer as everything in the boutique is so very wearable. What sets Bassike’s designs apart is the quality and longevity of each garment. You won’t find yourself buying an ordinary pair of jeans- these are the perfect, acid wash, slouchy-fit unisex jeans made of ‘30 year no holes’ Japanese denim.
Formerly only stocked in Melbourne within David Jones, Fat and smaller boutiques, the Hawksburn store offers a far more tangible experience for shoppers, with the store decor adding an entirely new element to the Bassike persona. The boutique stocks more than just the Bassike label and is interspersed with fine imports allowing shoppers to integrate Bassike with other designer garments. The store encourages a “high-low” approach to dressing, enabling customers to focus on teaming basics with a number of luxury imported garments. Among these statement pieces we find an immaculately detailed 100% pelle leather jacket by Girogia Brato, hand dyed and crafted in Italy using artesian technology as well as a mint, apricot and lemon striped knit, imported from Berlin based label Maiami, crafted from 100% virgin wool- the first shear of the sheep.
Designers Deborah Sams and Mary-Lou Ryan are visibly excited to be welcoming their well-heeled guests into their first Melbourne boutique. “It’s so nice to finally bring Bassike here,” Ryan, originally from Melbourne, tells us. “We have been waiting to open a boutique down here for a long time but it was really important for us to find the perfect space- we didn’t just want to settle. As soon as this [space] went on the market, we realised the time was right.”
Bassike’s Resort 12/13 collection will be hitting stores in October. We’re told to expect an exciting new colour palette incorporating even more wearable neutrals with splashes of soft cherry blossom- fitting, given the Hawksburn boutique’s interior.
Each Bassike piece is timeless and adaptable, infused with a subtle luxury. The opening of the Australian design duo’s first Melbourne boutique is set to provide their Victorian customers with a personalised Bassike retail experience.
Visit Bassike at 617 Malvern Road, Hawksburn.
Images by the divine Anne Hasegawa for Couturing.
