IMAGE VIA FUGU
WORDS BY CAIT EMMA BURKE
“We really wanted to work with the natural layout and feel of the building and allow the clothes to speak for themselves.”
Many couples have shared passions, but for Melbourne couple Yuwen and Corey, their love of collecting vintage clothing and homewares evolved beyond a hobby. As their joint collection grew, they started selling pieces on Depop and at local markets under the name Fugu where they quickly found a loyal customer base.
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A website followed and earlier this year, they found a permanent space in Fitzroy. Home to a carefully curated selection of vintage gems, the store has a particular focus on ’90s hip-hop and early 2000s pop culture. Below, Yuwen and Corey tell us about the process of making the space their own and what they enjoy the most about the area it’s in.
Tell me a bit about how the vision for Fugu came about.
Fugu was started by Corey and Yuwen from our shared love of vintage fashion and the sustainability and individuality that come with it. We got inspired by hunting and giving new life to unique used pieces that might have otherwise been lost and destroyed. From true vintage gems, ’90s hip-hop to early 2000s pop culture and everything in between.
We always focus on selecting what makes us excited and passing them on to our customers. Walking out of chain clothing stores with mass-produced pieces with no personal connection and seeing a bunch of people wearing the same thing felt super hollow to us. We want to be a sustainable alternative for everyone to unearth their unique style.
How would you describe the store’s aesthetic?
Down to earth, comfy, with a touch of nostalgia. We really wanted to work with the natural layout and feel of the building and allow the clothes to speak for themselves. We didn’t want to over-design the space and be stuck with something for a long period of time; we are constantly adding and taking away new elements, art etc so the aesthetic is changeable as our personal tastes and style evolves over time.
What was the process like putting the store together and were there any challenges or roadblocks along the way?
We were selling online, stocking at Stupid Vintage and doing every market we could such as Fitzroy, 91 Vintage and Second Life Markets for years before we even thought about opening our own shop. The process flowed organically for us and we knew it was the right time to take the leap.
Bringing our vision to life physically was one of the biggest challenges as we had to find the right space and location as well as the right price point. We also had zero experience with retail design and fitting a shop out so the two of us had to freestyle it and learn through trial and error as we went.
Who did you collaborate with when bringing the store to life?
We had a tight budget so we had to get creative with renovations. Luckily, our neighbour at home is a builder which was a game changer as he took care of every element from the flooring and construction to electrical, and we handled all the design elements ourselves.
We also collaborated with local artists @mayzeone who painted our shopfront sign and @blinkerfluid_ who did the amazing art on our change room denim curtains. Also shoutout to our friends who helped out a lot in exchange for beer, food and love.
What’s your favourite feature/area of the store?
One of our favourite areas is the change room, it has a staircase that adds a level change to the store, a seating space and a unique window feature that connects the change area to the shop and adds to the fengshui and open feel we were after.
We kept it largely unaltered instead of removing the wall so we could keep the retro feel and characteristics of the original building. The mirrors were placed outside of the curtains which creates a space where customers and friends can interact and have conversations giving life to new style ideas.
What do you like about the area/the Melbourne creative scene in general?
We love the sense of community that you feel as a creative in Melbourne, whether it’s artists, vintage or local brands and shops, everyone is super inviting and open to collaboration and sharing information. Our end of Smith Street has a good diversity of clothing boutiques, vintage furniture stores, record shops and bars and restaurants which we absolutely love. Thanks to everyone who comes in for a chat [and to] browse and buy something or [to] inspire us with your dope fits!
