A new chapter on Montreal Street
Heritage, considered design, and a warm welcome come together at Working Style’s largest-ever store.
There is something fitting about a menswear brand with wool at the heart of its tailoring finding a new home in a former wool store. At 382 Montreal Street, where Victoria Street meets Montreal Street, Working Style’s new concept store celebrates the building’s heritage while bringing a fresh perspective to Christchurch retail. Its largest-ever single-level store reflects the brand’s confidence in Canterbury after more than 25 years in the city.
This is its fourth Christchurch location. After being displaced by the 2011 earthquakes, the business rebuilt in Merivale before returning to the central city. Now, Montreal Street offers room to realise a more expansive vision: beautiful clothes, thoughtful surroundings, and time to enjoy both.
For founder and Managing Director Chris Dobbs, who oversaw the design and build, the move reflects the mood of the city.
“There’s a growth, optimism, and vibrancy in Christchurch at the moment that’s contagious,” he says. “The city has been very good to us over a long time, so we have tremendous confidence in making a splash and investing in its future.”
Chris founded Working Style in 1987, selling shirts door to door after persuading his mother to help him make the first collection. Nearly four decades later, he remains closely involved alongside his brother Tim and staff partners. That personal connection runs through the new store, from its distinctive furnishings to the emphasis on making customers feel at home.
Designer Bridgit Thornton, whose work with Working Style now spans six stores across New Zealand, has allowed the building’s architecture to set the tone. Timber ceilings, polished concrete floors, and wooden joinery provide a generous backdrop for a palette of travertine, velvet, and bronze.
Mid-century Danish furniture in Brazilian rosewood brings warmth and sculptural detail. New Zealand-forged bronze clothing racks sit alongside bespoke joinery and lacquered finishes, with each material contributing to the richness of the interior.
It is a space with plenty to catch the eye. Vintage 1960s light fittings from the Czech Republic introduce another layer of history, while English sculptural busts mounted high on the walls emphasise the building’s height. Moving imagery of the latest collections brings a contemporary rhythm to the heritage setting.
For Bridgit, the pleasure lies in how those elements come together: an eclectic collection of materials, furniture, and fittings that feels individual, inviting, and appropriate to the building.
Practical considerations have received just as much attention. Five dedicated customer parks sit directly outside the entrance – a detail Chris knows will matter to regulars.
“We look after busy people who are short on time,” he says. “They’ve been telling us for years that they would love customer parking to be part of the experience, and I’m pleased to say we’ve listened.”
Inside, the pace can slow. Open seven days a week, with appointments available, the store makes room for the conversation and hospitality that have long been part of Working Style’s approach. A drink, a considered fitting, and advice from someone who understands your wardrobe are all part of the welcome.
The investment also carries a deeper significance for a business that shared in Christchurch’s difficult years.
“Like so many, we had a tough time in 2011 and had to make some difficult decisions as we rebuilt,” says Chris. “We’re now seeing the benefits of those decisions, and we feel very confident about the future of this city.”