Christopher Esber is launching his first-ever retail store in the form of a Sydney pop-up.
The space opened on 4 December and will last through to March 2025. It sits within The Strand Arcade in Sydney’s central business district, a heritage-listed arcade built during the Victorian era that features ornate galleries, tiled floors and timber-framed shop fronts.
Esber’s store pays homage to the historical setting with 20th-century French antiques contrasted by plush carpets, polished chrome and sateen steel fixtures (referencing the designer’s signature hardware detailing). The store launches with the brand’s resort 2025 collection, including ready-to-wear, swim, shoes, handbags and sunglasses.
The label, founded in 2010, is known for its wearable-yet-unique dresses in slinky silhouettes with signature cutouts. The pop-up is the first step in Esber’s retail expansion strategy. He’s hoping to trial new locations across his key markets (Europe accounts for 36 per cent of sales, while the US stands at 32 per cent) before launching a flagship.
That’s not to say Esber is pivoting from wholesale. Currently, wholesale accounts for 65 per cent of sales; the brand has over 130 stockists globally including Mytheresa, Neiman Marcus, Moda Operandi, Galeries Lafayette and Harrods. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) accounts for 35 per cent of sales.
Esber has seen a spike in popularity over the past few years. From 2021 until now, annual revenue has grown 86 per cent and annual sales have hit eight figures. His designs have been worn by A-listers including Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Zendaya, Dua Lipa and Emily Ratajkowski. In June, Esber won the Andam Prize, which includes €300,000 in funding and a year’s worth of mentorship from OTB Group on sustainability, Mytheresa on communications and Tomorrow London on merchandising.