MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Delbro Premium Brings High End Men’s fashion to Port Elizabeth’s Carnaby Street

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Friday evening 4 May saw the official evening opening of the new Delbro Premium store in the old Peri’s premises on Westbourne Road, Central.

In a cruel joke someone dropped the fashion philistine (ME) an invite – no wonder the security guards at the entrance thought I was crashing the party for some free booze and a little nibble!

I was pleased to see one or two familiar faces, included in which were Selwyn Willis and ‘he who just missed the top spot’ to be crowned second in the 2012 Mr South Africa contest, William Heydenrych. I was happy to play the ugly friend to William whilst watching the waitresses and women trip over themselves to get a little closer to him. Entertaining stuff, especially when William does not get affected by the adulation (or was it drooling?).

I had a little walk around the store and can report that the fashion is certainly a little north of my budget. Besides that I don’t think the Longhair will look with favour upon me should I start splashing out.

Now some people are placing Port Elizabeth’s Westbourne Road as the Carnaby Street of the Metro as Delbro Premium joins a block of up-market men and women’s clothing and hire outlets, fashionable hairdressers, restaurants, modern and speciality furniture stores, one of the metro’s oldest framing companies and more.

“We see it as an extension of Stanley Street, with its unique vibe. In order to extend the strip, we have gone for a refined, modern, urban-contemporary look,” says Hashik Dullabh, owner of Delbro Premium.

With Delbro Premium, the company has gone back to its roots.

Delbro was founded in North End as a gentleman’s clothing store in 1946 by Dullabh’s late grandfather, Thakor Dullabh.

Dullabh also has an outlet at the Bridge in Greenacres, where the focus is on hip clothing and trendy shoe brands.

Dullabh says Westbourne Road was chosen for Delbro Premium because of the vibe of the street, its accessibility, and the high traffic volumes going past.

“We wanted to differentiate ourselves from the other Delbro outlets. This is a destination store, with a completely different atmosphere to the hustle and bustle of a mall.

“Our customers will be businessmen, many of whom don’t like malls. They tell me they just want to park, walk straight in, and walk out”, he says.

Dullabh says he took what many have described as a “brave” step to open a high-end men’s store in Port Elizabeth after his customers had told him that they “can’t get decent shirts or suits in Port Elizabeth. They said they had to go to Sandton in Johannesburg or the Waterfront in Cape Town to get high-quality fashion clothing”.

Delbro Premium stocks a range of exclusive imported brands, “selected for the fashion conscious who are happy to pay for quality and style”. “We will monitor the market, and decide whether to stock more exclusive brands,” he says.

Customers are able to select from a complete wardrobe of clothing, including shoes, jackets, suits, belts and other accessories.

“Fashion conscious” staff have been “specially selected” to complete the experience.

Hashik Dullabh
Hashik Dullabh in his new Delbro Premium Store
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.