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The word “antipodean” immediately gave me pause.
Unfamiliar with the term, a quick Google search yielded two instant definitions: “relating to Australia or New Zealand” or “a person from Australia or New Zealand.” Armed with a new word to describe Chris Hemsworth, Vegemite and Yellow Tail wine, I now understood what John Prikryl, creative director of Rodd & Gunn, meant when he described the New Zealand-headquartered brand as creating menswear through a “distinctly antipodean” lens.
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Recently celebrating its first standalone store in Canada — located in Yorkville in Toronto — we caught up with Prikryl to learn more:
Q: For those who aren’t familiar, what is Rodd & Gunn?
A: Rodd & Gunn is a New Zealand menswear and lifestyle brand providing customers with a distinctly antipodean experience. We source all our woven fabrics from Italy and Europe and have a strong focus on the provenance of our raw materials, with nearly all our Cotton being sourced from select regenerative farms in Australia and our Merino also from regenerative farming practices in New Zealand. We place a huge focus on quality and offer a unique two-year guarantee on our product, which is a testament to our faith in our product and the experiences we offer our customers.
Q: What makes the brand unique?
A: Our Southern Hemisphere perspective. We bring a different lens to menswear and desire to design the best possible product for everyday refined but relaxed living.
Q: Who is the target customer?
A: Anyone who appreciates quality and style and places importance on natural fabrics woven in Italy into everlasting styles.
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Q: What makes Canada a good fit for the brand?
A: I believe Canadians and New Zealander’s share a natural affinity with each other’s cultures and place in the world. At opposite ends of the globe and with similar lifestyle ideals, we believe Rodd & Gunn can offer a familiar yet fresh take on menswear.
Q: Is there a hero style or line in the collection?
A: Depending on the season, we have plenty of iconic products. In summertime, our Italian linen shirts and Australian cotton polos take centre stage for easy warm-weather dressing. Come fall, our hybrid outerwear stands out and forms the backbone of the collection alongside our 100 per cent New Zealand Merino sweater designs.
Q: What is the price range for the products?
A: We aim to offer the best value possible for the best quality possible and with our focus on Italian fabrics and traceable fibres our premium product is priced to lend as much value as possible.
Q: Lastly, where can people learn more?
A: We recently opened our first standalone lodge in Toronto’s Yorkville area at 21 Hazelton Ave. This new location complements Rodd & Gunn’s ecommerce business and existing Canadian presence with its more than 30 concessions within Hudson’s Bay stores.
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