Venla: Satu Raunola-Spencer and Minna Monaghan open preloved designer store Bondi Junction

Chanel, Louboutins, Armani, Gucci and more are coming to Oxford Street Mall at bargain prices. Find out how you can snag a genuine, high-end designer piece on the cheap.

A new store boasting affordably priced designer clothing and accessories will open in Bondi Junction’s Oxford Street Mall once the Sydney lockdown is lifted.

Venla is the second store of its kind in Sydney with the concept piloted in Mosman six months ago.

The store was the brainchild of former eastern suburbs resident Minna Monaghan and her business partner Satu Raunola-Spencer who wanted to launch a business focused on sustainability.

Supplied Editorial Minna Monaghan and Satu Raunola-Spencer are behind the new store Venla in Bondi Junction

The Finnish natives have tapped into the vintage designer market with locals invited to rent one of 30 racks in the store for a fortnight and stock it with the unwanted items from their wardrobes.

The Mosman store, inspired by the Nordic flea markets, has seen prized pieces including Hermes, Gucci, Armani and an $11,000 vintage Chanel handbag pass through its racks.

Well travelled eastern suburbs residents are also filling their racks with internationally purchased fashion the likes of which is hard to obtain in Australia.

The idea has proved so popular both the Mosman and yet-to-be opened Bondi store racks are fully booked with waiting lists.

Ms Monaghan, who previously lived in Elizabeth Bay, Rose Bay and Darling Point, said eastern suburbs residents had flocked to the Mosman store and demand became so great she decided to open one in her old neighbourhood.

“Because the concept so new it really fills a gap between taking clothes to Vinnies and taking them to consignment stores,” Ms Monaghan said.

“Lots of ladies who come to us have potentially tried to sell online which is annoying and hard whereas selling in our store is easy and fun.”

Ms Raunola-Spencer said the eastern suburbs was the obvious choice for Venla given the community’s love of designer goods and passion for the environment.

“We expect it will attract people from Woollahra and Double Bay where we know there are a lot of people who have an excellent quality of fashion they don’t use anymore,” Ms Raunola-Spencer.

“This is about getting rid of it in a very sustainable way as we know people in the east are very focused on sustainability and thinking green right now.”

North Bondi’s Jenny Vernon was a big fan of the Mosman store and among the first to pre-book a rack in the new Bondi shop.

“There’s everything from good quality discount department store clothing through to luxury high end fashion so you have the opportunity to sell a fantastic piece from Zara while still finding a good place to safely and securely get rid of your Armani handbag you haven’t used in five years,” Ms Vernon said.

“I sell a mix of high end and quality department store quality. What really impressed me was on one Saturday morning I was at school sport they sold 19 pieces of my clothing in one morning. It was all done with minimum effort for me and I sold everything from a Gucci clutch to a Lululemon T-shirt.”

Ms Vernon is also a keen customer with her recent bargains including a pair of Loewe jeans which retail for over $1000 bought for just $110.

Do it yourself rack rental is $180 per fortnight plus Venla takes 25 per cent of sales.

Sellers also have the option of an all inclusive package where staff will pick the clothes up from your home, clean, hang and price them and take 50 per cent commission.