Our Story

Blank Space is a New Zealand clothing store. We have been going since 2016 and we ship nationwide. This is how we got here.

In the beginning, 2016

Blank Space started in 2016. Our founder, Ben Dobbs, was 18 and halfway through a bakery apprenticeship when he walked away from it to chase something else: he could not find the clothing he wanted to wear without ordering it from overseas, and reckoned he was not the only one. The business began in a 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.

Outgrowing the first room, 2018

Our goal from day one has been to pride ourselves on providing top-quality clothing, excellent customer service and fast shipping. By March 2018 we had outgrown the room. We moved into a space twice the size, which meant we could hold more stock, carry more labels and get orders out the door faster. Most of what we sold by then was going to people we had never met, in towns we had never been to.

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.

Building the studio, 2022

2022 was the year we stopped improvising. We took on a much larger site and put two things in it that changed how we operate: a proper warehouse to handle the order volume, and a dedicated photo studio. The studio is the one that mattered. It meant we could shoot every piece ourselves, on real people, so someone buying online could see how a garment actually sits rather than guessing from a supplier image. That is still how every product on this site is photographed.

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 label of our own, our own studio and orders going out across New Zealand and overseas, Blank Space is a lesson in adaptation.

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