The door is locked but they are open.

Inside, a customer is picking up a favourite jacket that has been altered. On the exposed brick walls, black and white prints and photographs of skaters and surfers; on the racks, one-off designs of hoodies and T-shirts.

Ratbags concept store may have its seeds in fashion, but stand back and the bigger picture reveals a vibrant, lovingly curated mash-up of covetable handmade clothing, jewellery and hats. Colour, character and coolness. A place to showcase local makers, brought to you by the new kids on the block, Richie Boyens and Mitch Smyth.

Richie started sewing at 12, first making an apron at school. His label is Clothes I’ve Made. Mitch is the master of graphics and marketing.

They’ve only been open a month, but it feels properly grounded in the buzz of Symonds Street, where heritage (Gemmell’s, Kiteworks) meets the new designers on the block.

Richie and Mitch are new to Eden Terrace, but their story began when they were just kids.

“We first met at primary school in Napier,” says Mitch. “Richie’s mum was a teacher there. Then they moved to Dunedin.”

“Yeah, that was hard,” says Richie.

The tyranny of distance, however, would be no match for the tightly woven threads of destiny and a bond that would span the decades.

“We reconnected in Dunedin,” says Mitch, “and started making clothes together.”

Richie’s mum had a sewing machine and Mitch was studying at Otago University.

“He came over,” says Richie, “and we both just got hooked on the sewing machine and had little side hustles making clothes. Mitch helped develop it to something that could go further and we started selling them on TradeMe.”

Mitch eventually moved on, to Wellington, then Auckland. “Then one day, I saw Richie in the supermarket car park ... and the second lockdown happened. I was living alone and so was Richie so we made a bubble. And that’s kinda the foundation of us working together again.”

Ratbags is about threads and things of beauty. But their abiding philosophy is broader in scale: embracing community.

“A big part of the business,” says Mitch, “is about finding other makers and creatives to be part of it. We have Baxter Watson’s Pistol Knits, which are the hand-loomed beanies and the handmade jewellery by Lochie Watson, aka Frank Silver. We’ve just got another guy Matt, but we call him Trev because his last name’s Trevelyan.

“He has his own brand of clothing he gets manufactured here. So we’re just trying to build that up and have a place for people like Matt to showcase his stuff.” 

Working this way also allows Mitch and Richie to subvert the traditional retail model, with its steep margins.

“If you are making at home or are in a small business,” says Mitch, “that model is not viable because everyone needs their cut. We offer much more attractive margins, but it’s more about fostering community and creativity and having a place that has the ability to sell one-offs. A place where people can get a piece to try on and buy or get a custom-piece made.”

The store’s interior, with its high ceilings, is flooded with light and right there, among the racks of clothing and art, is Richie’s sewing machine, an industrial Brother and an overlocker.

“I needed a space to live and work and when you’ve been a hoarder of sewing equipment for 10 years, you need a place to put it. So when this popped up it was ideal. A space where we could tell a story of sewing, designing. This was the perfect place.”

It’s surprising how much foot traffic they get, says Mitch, and while their market is generally aimed at men between 25-35, they get a broad range of customers.

“I had a lovely couple the other day,” says Mitch, “who were probably in their 50s and they were so stylish. They came in and they really loved it. It’s kinda for everybody.”

It’s a tough and competitive industry, but Mitch and Richie believe their point of difference is keeping it local.

“Here we have very small runs of things,” says Mitch, “so there’s personality in the clothing and jewellery and art. You could come in here any day and Richie will be there making something, so it’s pretty much as local as you can get.” 

“I know when I was younger, I really wanted things that no one else had,” says Richie. “That hasn’t gone away and I think there are people out there who really appreciate that.

“We make stuff here that allows you to show your personality. Support things that are a little different.”

Outside the shop, what informs their mahi?

“I really love interacting with people,” says Richie, “and the psychology around what makes you feel good, daily. It’s often not because you have a good job, or family even, it’s about the clothing that you wear daily and the friends you have. People are the inspiration.”

For Mitch, who’s long been inspired by skateboarding and surfing culture (“the fringe sports”) the sweet spot is tangible connection too: “It’s about us trying to share what we do.”

And the friendship that began in childhood, and grew into a shared business, will prevail.

“You have to compartmentalise the friend- ship and the business,” says Richie. “Friendship is always going to be there. That’s important. Not getting caught up, but feeling confident about making strong business decisions. We are still learning that. Always will. Consciously I love this guy and that’s always number one.” 

Ratbags

161 Symonds St

Web: ratbags-store.com
Email: ratbagsstore@gmail.com