Chic boutique offers one- stop Flinders St shop for women

High fashion in store

IN a move that will delight local fashionistas, Canadianborn retail professional Candace Gardner is opening a chic new fashion boutique in the CBD called Hazel Maï.

Ms Gardner, who studied fashion in Toronto and was a lead visual merchandiser for global giant H & M, has made Townsville home after meeting her partner here about four years ago.

It seems Toronto’s

loss

is our gain. Hazel Maï will focus on quality garments from Australian labels and designers with all the add- ons in a onestop CBD shop for women.

Ms Gardner has taken a five- year lease over a 110sqm retail shop at 345 Flinders Street, part of the former Dimmeys Arcade complex.

She said the Hazel Maï style would be much more suited to a way of life and attitude than defined by an age.

“We hold exclusivity to stock Melbourne- based brand Mossman, as well as Billini shoes, among other labels,” she said.

“We chose 345 Flinders Street because of its prime location in the heart of the city and brand exposure to Flinders Street.

“I’m looking forward to putting my stamp on the Townsville fashion scene, sourcing homegrown Australian talent with a Torontonian edge.”

The boutique is due to open next month.

Colliers

International Townsville executive Kim Addison said they had only recently begun marketing shops on Flinders Street belonging to the old Dimmeys Arcade which had been closed for over five years.

“To have already secured one fantastic fashion shop and have other tenancies under offer is a great outcome,” Ms Addison said.

“It proves there is a demand from tenants to be located in the CBD and continues the recent trend of restoring life to previously boarded up properties.

“The city is enjoying the early stages of a revitalisation and it’s wonderful to see residents returning, breathing life into our CBD.”

Ms Addison said four tenancies of between 100 and 200sqm with frontage on to Flinders Street in the Dimmeys complex were available with a tenancy of about 1800sqm next to the Chemist Warehouse available on Sturt Street.