A group of five friends launches a vintage clothing store in Braddon, promising a grand opening filled with unique fashion pieces and community spirit.
Five 19-year-olds are set to launch a vintage clothing store named Canberra Garms in a prime location on Lonsdale Street in Braddon, Canberra. The grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., promising an event filled with over a thousand vintage pieces to browse, complimentary Red Bull, a live DJ set, and a special muffin and matcha pop-up in collaboration with Lil Mama’s Studio.
Canberra Garms has evolved from a simple side hustle into what its owners describe as an “evolving vintage clothing empire.” The founders, Gaby Leydman, Thomas Rush, Amaru Ley, Aiden Hellyer, and Finn Harmer, have been friends since childhood and were introduced to thrifting while wrapping up Year 11 in late 2022. Driven by their shared passion, they began to build their collection but quickly realized they needed a more significant outlet as their personal stashes overflowed.
After turning to Depop, a social e-commerce platform, to sell their preloved clothing, the group faced an obstacle due to the platform’s minimum age requirement of 18. However, Amaru’s mother provided her account for them to utilize. “We started to make money on it and realized we could actually do something with this,” Amaru stated, highlighting the moment they understood the potential of their venture.
Their efforts led to impressive success on Depop, where they became the number one seller in Australia and earned a spot in the global Top Five. To accommodate their growing inventory, they transformed Tom’s parents’ garage into a makeshift storage facility until they could secure their own warehouse. Following successful participation in market stalls with the Fashion Thrift Society, the group decided it was time to establish a physical storefront.
In an effort to connect with the local community, Tom expressed, “We want the store to be a reflection of us; we’d like to become a part of the community within Braddon and raise awareness around secondhand shopping.” The offerings at Canberra Garms will include a mix of iconic brands like Dickies, Harley Davidson, and Ed Hardy, in addition to athletic apparel from labels such as Adidas and Nike. Their selection also includes classic American sports merchandise and Crumpler bags, drawing inspiration from a diverse array of cultural icons such as David Beckham, Lil Yachty, A$AP Rocky, and Dennis Rodman.
The young entrepreneurs also plan to expand their inventory to include women’s fashion influenced by early 2000s trends, with items reminiscent of what celebrity Paris Hilton might refer to as “That’s hot.” This will include Juicy Couture velour tracksuits, bedazzled Ed Hardy baby tees, and coveted Coach monogram bags.
As the community anticipates the opening, Canberra Garms aims to carve a niche within Braddon, promoting secondhand shopping among locals and capturing the essence of street, sports, and music culture. Those interested can find the store at G16/27 Lonsdale St, Braddon.
Source: Noah Wire Services
