“But … I find that if you’re into something a little bit more underground or a little less accessible, less polished – the spaces for that have gotten smaller … Especially in music and art. COVID just destroyed so many people.”
In that sense, 199A feels like a regroup for the Chius. They closed Double Double in August, having earlier taken over the entirety of the lease.
Japanese label Comme de Garcons at 199A.Credit: Kirsty Sycz
“What we’re trying to do with 199A is make it more empowering for the youth that are coming up. There’s more energy in a younger creative scene.
“And Brisbane’s creative scene does skew slightly younger because it’s emerging. So hopefully, this is a good space for them but it’s also an exciting place to be in terms of fashion.”
“It’s not entirely geared around youth,” Ben adds, “simply because a lot of the brands we have are inaccessible cost-wise for that demographic. But it’s a space for adventures in fashion.”
199A is a striking, spacious boutique. Designed by Bones Studio (co-owned by the Chius’ sister, Allana Chiu), it’s all high ceilings, strip lighting and timber floors. The signature feature is a staircase of white tiles, which leads to a second room that plays host to the Chius’ collections of Maison Kitsune and Comme de Garcons Play.
199A in Brisbane’s CBD.Credit: Kirsty Sycz
The store is also an opportunity for the Chius to dabble in different brands such as Hysteric Glamour, Eckhaus Latta, Hyein Seo and Open Product.
“A lot of [our clothes] are very gender fluid,” Nick says.
“It’s pushing out that boundary of boys wearing girls’ clothes, and the other way ’round. But we’re also still leaning into what we do well, which is a lot of Japanese brands … all it takes is someone to go to Tokyo and they get what we do.”
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