CAPE TOWN’S ARTCLUB & FRIENDS MAKES a CASE FOR SLOW STUDIO RETAIIL

Twelve floors above Cape Town’s city centre, past the usual rhythm of foot traffic and office corridors, is a room designed with intention. The new private showroom by Artclub & Friends doesn’t announce itself loudly. It doesn’t need to. Booked by appointment, the space is calm, textured, and designed for people who care about the feeling of a garment before the fit.

Founded by Robyn Keyser in 2016, Artclub has spent the past few years shaping an identity that feels lived-in. Each piece is considered, made slowly and with purpose. From early studio drops and local collaborations to their presence at the V&A Waterfront, the brand has moved with clarity; a steady articulation of what fashion can look like when it is built to last.

The showroom, located inside their working studio in Constitution House, offers more than a new way to shop. It introduces a slower rhythm. Appointments are intimate and personal. You’re not just browsing rails. You’re stepping into a space where fabric, design, and atmosphere are given equal weight. It’s less about the transaction, more about the experience.

There’s a quiet elegance to Artclub’s design language. A kind of restraint that allows cut and texture to lead. Colours are chosen with care. Shapes feel grounded, but never static. There are through lines with international studios like Studio Nicholson or the earlier phases of Aimé Leon Dore, but Artclub is distinctly rooted in the South African context. There is no sense of mimicry. The garments hold their own.

Tees are priced around R350, while coats and outerwear sit between R2,000 and R5,500, depending on material and construction. These are not garments made to follow pace. They are built to carry weight. To be worn, styled, and lived in across time.

For those outside of Cape Town, the online store continues to offer access to current collections. It’s clean, well-photographed, and functional. But if you value weight, drape, or movement, the physical experience matters. There’s a difference between seeing a piece online and understanding how it settles on the body in person.

For Johannesburg, Artclub is hosting a two-day pop-up at HERE. in Rosebank on 26 and 27 July. The event will showcase the Crescendo capsule — a collection that was previously unavailable after their Jozi stockist closed. A few pieces have been held back specifically for this. The offering is limited, but intentional.

In Cape Town, the studio showroom remains open by booking. It’s a space for conversation as much as it is for clothing. If you are drawn to garments that reveal themselves over time, it’s worth spending an hour inside.