Everything
Barely two shakes of a lamb’s tail after opening its doors in Sydney Chinatown Country Club has skyrocketed to cult status, becoming the go-to haunt for snagging threads from the crème de la crème of global fashion brands. With its eclectic mix of streetwear staples like EYTYS, the avant-garde Andersson Bell and crowd favourite Maison Margiela, CCC as its more affectionately known became a pilgrimage site for fashion fanatics and celebrities alike. Yet, amidst the buzz and the hustle, Chinatown Country Club, named for its blend of exclusivity and welcoming ambiance, harboured grander ambitions. Thus the unveiling of APT CCC, an appointment only shopping experience for vintage, pre-loved fashion for clients seeking out collector pieces or hard-to-find archival garments.
According to CCC co-founder Oliver Li, the APT CCC extension is the realisation of a more longterm dream he and business partner Harry Matthews originally had. A multi-disciplinary concept designed to deepen connections between the store, their brands and customers. From its inception, says Li, the CCC idea was to create more than just a space—it was about crafting an experience. “We always wanted to be more than a store; an experiential, community-focused destination.
“We feel like there’s a gap in our market that lacks a very curated selection or a mixture of a bit of everything. Sometimes when you go to a second hand shop it’s all thrifting or luxury handbags certainly. So we wanted to do a mixture of everything and we thought it was a good space opportunity to do it.”
Located several floors up from the OG CCC shop floor on Clarence Street, the space boasts a New York loft vibe with its herringbone timber floors and expansive windows. Far more personal and intimate than your traditional shop floor, almost like you’re walking through someone’s wardrobe. Which is the exact vibe they were going for, says Li. Rather, he and Matthews see APT CCC more about building a community, fostering relationships, and then offering an unparalleled retail experience. “We wanted to create a space where people could lose themselves, not just in fashion, but in a shared love for creativity and community,” Li muses. The future of retail, as envisioned by Chinatown Country Club, transcends the transactional; it’s about creating a haven where fashion, culture, and community intertwine in the most unexpected and delightful ways.
To launch the new venture, Li and co delivered one of the buzziest events of the season: a pop-up store hosted by Troye Sivan for his new homewares and fragrance brand Tsu Lang Yor. But the true heart of APT CCC? A sea blue, Pierre Paulin Dune Ensemble sofa that promises cozy chats and intimate browsing sessions. This iconic piece, once catapulted into the limelight by Frank Ocean, symbolises the blend of comfort and style that APT CCC embodies. “It kinda felt like destiny,” Li muses, recalling the moment they decided the couch was perfect for their ‘apartment’ concept—a place designed to feel like home.
It does beg the question though, how Li has managed to thrive where so many other businesses have struggled to compete. “I feel like at the end of the day, bricks and mortar needs to offer what online does not offer so often online caters to price and convenience. So what offline needs to create is this very experienced driven shopping kind of experience. I think what makes a store do well in this kind of market is I think having a great selection of products that is not offered online. We’re focusing on fashion-forward brands, but also throwing in a sprinkle of luxury designer pieces for good measure,” Li explains. The natural progression of this, he says, is to delve into rarer articles of interest to hone in on on a fashion crowd that knows the worth of their garment, be it emotional or economical.
“It’s definitely for the fashion nerd and people are so dedicated into fashion. I think there is a audience for that year. I mean as we’ve run downstairs, we kind of realise there is this very specific crowd that they only want to wear very specific pieces and I think we’ll have an offering here that’s for them.”
