Last Saturday, 29th of October saw the doors of iconic local fashion store Scintilla open its doors to the Raglan public for the last time. Many loyal customers flocked to the store in support of brand co-founder and local resident, Rebecca Dowling.
“The sale was great but it was a bit of a mixed bag for me, I felt sad for Raglan and the customers, it’s been a tough weekend,” says Rebecca.
Since launching their brand and opening the flagship Raglan store almost 13 years ago, the Scintilla name has become synonymous with the creative and enterprising nature of local residents.
The economic recession has had a profound impact on the fashion industry and with three other retail stores to manage in Hamilton, Wellington and Silverdale (north of Auckland), the mounting costs and responsibilities lead to the tough decision to shut shop in Raglan.
“We’ve seen a real change, particularly in the weekends where we used to be able to rely on people coming into the shop but it’s been a bit touch and go this recent winter, “ says Rebecca.
While the question of who will occupy the space that previously housed Scintilla is still unclear, Rebecca is hopeful of still having a presence in the town.
“At the moment, myself, Saya Skin and Frocking Gorgeous are looking to collaborate in these tough times and hopefully I can still have an area devoted to the Scintilla brand,” says Rebecca.
While future plans for Scintilla involve developing an online presence, Rebecca holds her past experiences in Raglan close to her heart.
“ I just really want to thanks everyone from the bottom of my heart for all the support,” says Rebecca.
