THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN RETAIL: A Conversation with ARRAY STORE
INTERVIEW | Written: Yewayi Mushaya
08.12.2025
Parked outside the brand’s storefront in Annerley, I had the opportunity to speak with Larissa Kunst, the woman behind Array Store. Going into this conversation, I was genuinely excited; it’s one I had been wanting to have for a long time.
I’m a recent convert from the world of mainstream shopping to independent retail. I think we can all admit we’ve fallen victim to the never-ending online dialogue about “finding your personal style.” For me, that journey has led to discovering that I often find pieces I love through independent retailers who curate a more diverse and intentional range of designers.
My favourite investment? The Edie Jeans, from Oblielia’s the Label, which I bought at Array during their one-year anniversary party. My size had sold out, so I purchased the next size up and had them tailored, because when a product is made with real quality, you know it will love you back for a long time.
That’s something I’ve noticed quickly about independent retail: they champion pieces that last, created by people who genuinely care. Having the opportunity to sit down with Larissa meant exploring this idea even further, and I learnt more than I ever anticipated.
From Array’s origins, to Larissa’s relationship with creativity and fashion, to the designers she champions, and the anticipation surrounding her own label, the conversation was expansive and deeply insightful.
THE INTENTION BEHIND ARRAY
Yewayi: Thank you so much for sitting down with me.
Larissa: No worries.
Yewayi: So I have to start with the obvious question. How did Array Store come to be?
Larissa: Ha. The way I got here was from trying a lot of different creative avenues in my life. I have dabbled in music, artworks, and even now venturing into my own brand. Array has stood as a way for me to showcase all of these experiences, all the things I have had a deep passion for within one space. So, as much as Array has an audience that is very fashion-forward and fashion-focused, it is equally about showcasing tastemakers through books, magazines, and different artisans and perfumes that I have collected through my time and travels. Array is really about intention and supporting emerging communities all over.
Yewayi: Ahh, so Array is almost more of a cultural hub rather than just a retailer?
Larissa: That would be a nice way of putting it. I think the emphasis on clothes has been within the younger demographic who love Array, but for me, I love the nuance behind the brand. For example, the scent we have in the store is from La Tombée, created by a duo of sisters in Montréal, then I have my friend Jimmy, who produces the aluminium pieces on the wall, and then the print that I have is from a collection that I’ve built over time. So it was important for me to showcase that, especially since these are industries that don’t have a lot of, quote-on-quote, commercial support.
Yewayi: As we’re starting to see a bigger rise in more independent and vintage stores, what were your intentions behind Array? Did you notice that there was a lack of options in Brisbane?
Larissa: I guess so. I definitely noticed there was a lack of certain brands in Queensland in general, so closing that gap was massive. It was important for me when developing the store to feel the clothes, touch the fabric, to try on the sizes, because with small brands, the designers are usually pattern-making directly from their own bodies. Shopping with a small brand is an investment, and I wanted to ensure the size and fit of the pieces feel true.
BRANDS IN STORE
Yewayi: I think one thing I’ve loved about my experience with Array is the immense knowledge you have behind the designers you stock. On my first visit here, I fell in love with the Angelica Tights from the designer Roylance, and you were able to explain the origin behind him. Suddenly, the tights felt more than just tights.
Larissa: I think that piece in particular is so cool because Roylance was a designer who was originally from Brisbane and then moved to England to attend Central Saint Martins. With that piece, he basically has two printing processes for the one garment. He uses wood-linoleum blocks to create the opaque shapes on the pattern, combined with sublimation printing on the tights. As a print nerd, I’m like fuck yeah, I love the intricacy behind the process and creation of such garments.
Yewayi: Can you walk through the main designers you hold and what your intention was behind sourcing them?
Larissa: One of the main brands that I started with is my dear friend Briar, who does Briar Will. She has such an original idea with her garments, and I felt honoured to carry her stock because once it’s in the hands of a store, you’re in charge of how it’s being represented. That’s a big deal, and it takes a lot of trust, especially because I was really new at the time. One of the other brands I’ve been honoured to stock is Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp, which is now Niamh Galea. She has now taken on her own name and taken the brand in a new direction, so having her pieces here has been incredible. Honourable shout-out to You Took Your Time and Obelias The Label. It’s amazing watching brands become stand-out brands in the store. There are some other brands in the pipeline that I can’t talk about right now, but all I can say is that I’m really excited for the early stages of 2026.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF INDEPENDENT RETAIL
Yewayi: I think a beautiful thing about the rise of independent retail is that I grew up shopping with my mum every Saturday morning, and that is such a core memory of mine. Unfortunately, as I’ve gotten older, mainstream retail hasn’t been able to satisfy the demands or desires I currently have for the wardrobe I’m trying to develop.
I feel like I took the tags off three big brands at the moment, and mixed them up, you wouldn’t be able to distinguish among them. Everything looks the damn same. For some reason, we are in this beige rage era.
From your perspective, how do you think independent retail is filling in where mainstream retail is falling short?
Larissa: I guess the biggest things are quality and diversity in style, but I also think the exploitation of workers is a big conversation. It’s present from the start of their manufacturing process to the sourcing, even down to the retail staff.
There is a massive elephant in the room that many people know but don’t say anything. I think this is a part of mainstream retail that needs fixing.
Yewayi: I think a place my mind also goes is this style conformity. At the moment, personal style is a conversation that seems never-ending. There is this demand for it, but also this pressure to have it in a particular way. I feel like the lack of options currently seen within mainstream retail furthers this agenda.
Larissa: It’s so funny, because as a retail owner, what you realise is the way you style a piece is so different from how someone else would. How I wear Obelies is different from how someone else wears Obelies. That’s what I love about personal style, it’s experimental; it’s trial and error.
So many people in this younger generation come in and say, “I’m trying to change my style.” I never had those thoughts, and I think it’s mainly because of the influence of the internet.
When I was growing up, there was tabloid imagery and the prehistoric bones of social media like Tumblr and MySpace. Additionally, you could create your own website. But there was never this thing of influencers and people consistently selling you things through the phone that you carry with you every minute of every day.
There was space for you, both digitally and mentally.
I think that’s why I haven’t had to battle those internal conflicting thoughts of “Who am I? What is my style?” because no one was constantly challenging me on it. I would just figure it out.
For me, that’s how I want to represent my store. I’ve never wanted to be someone who markets the hell out of it. Most of the content that I post is just people engaging with the space — not me actually trying to sell people anything.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT GUSSY
Yewayi: For you, has having an independent retail store allowed you to make space and opportunities for designers that usually wouldn’t be there within mainstream retail? Access to people, and better distribution?
Larissa: I would say it’s provided the people who come here with many options; however, there are still limits for us store-owners. Often, we are limited to local stock and options, whether it’s due to budgets, taxes, or skyrocketing rent. Having a physical storefront rather than e-commerce is not easy. There is way more room to grow, but you need reach, and you have to market, and create content, and then still sleep. That’s why, for me, I think the next part for Array is me developing my own brand, GUSSY.
Yewayi: Can you give me a sneak peek into this?
Larissa: Yeah, so the word stems from an old slang term that I’m pretty sure came from the 80s. My mum used to be like, “Gussy up!” The brand is locally made, and I’m hoping to launch it soon. I think nowadays the way to survive in the world is through the creation of your own product, but it is a big undertaking. It’s like: wake up, run my store, develop my brand, and hopefully still have time for to sleep, then world domination.
Yewayi: That’s so fair, that’s also in my notes app right after buy eggs. How has the process of developing Gussy been? I assume understanding Array and developing it would have given you insight into what you want this to be?
Larissa: Through my experience of being a stylist and styling and organising shoots for myself and other brands, I’ve had so many moments on set where I’m like, “Oh, this would be so cool,I wish you could have this.” So for me, that “this” I keep gravitating towards, I’ve realised I need to make it. One of the main things I’ve always wanted is for Gussy to be standalone from Array, like the voice is different, and I think the style is more aligned with me, myself. What’s really important to me is ensuring that it’s size-inclusive, because as women, our bodies naturally fluctuate, and I want people to feel sexy and confident.
Yewayi: I’m excited to see when you launch. Thank you so much for sitting down with me