Celebrate the festive season at Paper Republic

As we near Christmas, and festive fever hits the world, there are few better shopping experiences than taking a walk down Bourke Street Mall.

It all starts with soaking in the Myer Christmas windows, a tradition for Melburnians dating back to the 1950s, then stepping back in time while walking down the magical Royal Arcade.

Decorations hang from the arcade’s ceiling, shopfronts are filled with festive cheer and an enormous Christmas tree greets you as you enter this 150-year-old piece of Melbourne’s history.

“It’s an experience more than just a place to shop, the Royal Arcade in Christmas is a truly wonderful place to be,” said Courtney Oehms from iconic fine stationery and boutique gift store, Paper Republic.

Paper Republic sources high-quality artisan creations from around the globe, accompanied by a strong focus on Australian designed and manufactured products. 

According to Ms Oehms, the excitement that is beginning to build, not just in store or the arcade, but throughout Melbourne, is something to behold.

“The experience of walking down Bourke St and into the arcade, seeing the decorations and the buzz you can feel around Christmas, we’ve brought that feeling in store and celebrated it,” she said. “It’s an overwhelming time for shopping, especially in the city, there is so much you don’t know where to start. When you walk into our store, you’ll find well-made and thoughtful gifts, hand wrapped … it’s a special experience that matches our special location.”

“With our range of gifts there is truly something for everyone. You can get someone something as simple as the perfect soap, or a beautiful journal set. No matter the price point or intention, you will find something whoever you’re shopping for.”

Paper Republic specialises in hand-crafted, bespoke diaries and calendars, stocking brands like Cavallini & Co., Blue Island Press and Paper Blanks, and for this festive season, they are offering free gift wrapping for all in store or online purchases.

“I love the internationality of Christmas in Australia. Whether you have friends or family interstate, or the other side of the city, or even the other side of the world, the appreciation for every type of Christmas in Australia is wonderful,” Ms Oehms said.

“We cater to whatever Christmas means to someone. It’s a personal thing, especially in a country like ours that is so diverse and so multicultural, not everyone has the same definition of Christmas. It’s so important to appreciate and celebrate that … we bring it together really well. It’s a celebration of what brings joy to people.”

To complement its instore experience, Paper Republic has just launched a new and improved website which will give these products the best spotlight possible for those people that might not be able to visit instore.

The New Year will see plenty of new products on the shelves, expanding on their Australian made range, while importing some of the best products from across the globe like Italian leather journals, stationery, and cards. •

For more information: paperrepublic.com.au

Photo by Hanna Komissarova.