Our Story

Blank Space is a clothing store at 85 Main Street, Fairlie. We have been here since 2016. This is how we got here.

In the beginning, 2016

Blank Space was born in 2016 in the hometown of our founder, Ben Dobbs. At just 18 years old, Ben walked away from a bakery apprenticeship at the local Bakehouse to follow a vision: he saw a significant gap in the market for high-quality fashion in the Mackenzie District. The business originally began in a tiny, 20-square-metre room as a gallery for Ben's photography. The name Blank Space stemmed from his desire to help people fill the empty walls of their homes with art. However, it wasn't long before Ben's passion for streetwear took centre stage. He realised that while art was beautiful, fashion was a way to connect with people every single day, and it was a lot easier to ship nationwide.

Growing with our community, 2018

Our goal from day one has been to pride ourselves on providing top-quality clothing, excellent customer service and fast shipping. Thanks to a constant flow of loyal customers, we were able to significantly expand our operations in March 2018. We moved to a new, larger location that was double the size of our original space. This move was a game-changer: it allowed us to increase our storage capacity and stock even more exciting brands, offering a wider range of clothing options and a much improved shopping experience for our customers.

The birth of BLANK SPACE., 2021

In July 2021 we took our biggest creative leap yet by launching our own in-house label, designed and proudly made in New Zealand. Launched during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, this label was our way of supporting local businesses and providing employment within our own country. Our label is a reflection of our passion for unique, high-quality fashion. We worked hand-in-hand with local manufacturers to make sure every piece was made with care, attention to detail and ethical standards.

The flagship era, 2022

In 2022, Blank Space reached its most significant milestone yet: we moved into our 120-square-metre flagship store at 85 Main Street. This move was about more than a retail floor. We added a large warehouse to manage the growing volume of orders and, most importantly, built a dedicated photo studio. That let us shoot every outfit in-house, so our online customers could see exactly how the clothing looked and sat. This era turned Blank Space from a local boutique into a working fashion business.

Partnerships and purpose

We believe a business should give back to the community that builds it. Since 2022 we have been a partner of the Breast Cancer Cure Fashion for a Cure events, working with New Zealand's top designers to fund research for the women who have supported us from the beginning.

In 2025 that extended to the national sporting stage when we became an official partner of the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse. We dressed the coaches and management for the ANZ Premiership season, so the Pulse whānau looked as sharp on the sidelines as they played on court. There is more on both on our Corporate Partnerships page.

Adapting to a changing world, 2026

As we move through 2026 the world looks very different to when we started. Like many New Zealanders we have felt the weight of the cost-of-living crisis, and the economic climate meant domestic manufacturing became increasingly unsustainable for a business our size. We faced a difficult crossroads: we could not continue under the old model.

To secure the future of Blank Space we revamped our label and moved production to a new offshore factory. That means we can keep making the designs our customers want and stay a viable business. It was a decision made to protect our future so we can keep serving you for years to come.

Ten years of Blank Space

To mark our new direction we opened a summer pop-up in Queenstown, bringing the revamped label to a wider audience. As we approach ten years in business we look back on the journey with pride. From a bakery apprentice in a 20-square-metre room to a 120-square-metre flagship and an international supply chain, Blank Space is a lesson in adaptation.

Thank you for choosing Blank Space. If you want to talk to us, email hello@blankspacethestore.com or come and see us on Main Street. Our hours and address are on the Contact page.