Women's fashion brand takes first step into brick and mortar retail with shop in Chichester

At 1,300 square feet, East Street the shop is home to the brand’s wide range of products, its latest collections and a variety of unique items built specifically for the store. Owners and staff hope it will serve as a destination for the Albaray brand, drawing in customers from across the South Coast.

A spokesperson said the brand chose Chichester, and the former Phase Eight site, thanks to the city’s developed infrastructure and a strong resurgence of high street footfall in the years after the pandemic. Aligning with Albaray’s professed commitment to sustainability, the shop has also been designed with eco-friendly materials and a carbon-neutral approach in mind, making for a shopping experience which, Albaray says, will be as environmentally friendly as it is welcoming to customers.

The brand was originally conceived during lockdown by three industry veterans keen to pioneer a considered approach to fashion. It was launched in March 2021 with a direct to consumer website and stock in high street giants like NEXT, M&S and John Lewis.

The owners say it remains a digital first and London-based company, but insist that the new store is a “milestone” for Albaray: “Our first ever store is not just a retail space but a platform to showcase the brand, inspire customers and help educate them to make mindful choice,” said co-founder and chief creative officer Karen Peacock. “We believe fashion should be effortless, work hard, inspire, and be made responsibly, and we are excited to share this vision with the Chichester community”.

For third co-founder Kirstie Di Stazio, the new store is a “milestone” for the burgeoning brand: “We couldn't be more excited to take our first steps into bricks and mortar. Albaray is London-based, however, we deliberately selected a location away from the city that will allow us to develop our store environment and work directly with the local community. We are a small brand with big ambitions, and this milestone moment is key for our future growth”.