Alpaka: a sleek and functional brand finds its home in Docklands

Eight years ago, Alpaka was born from a business thesis at RMIT. What started as a Kickstarter campaign for a single messenger bag has now grown into a globally-recognised brand specialising in sleek, weatherproof everyday carry (EDC) bags.

Alpaka has come full circle, setting up its flagship store in Docklands – a location that holds deep significance for the brand’s origins.

“The first Kickstarter campaign was shot in and around Docklands, so Docklands is a very meaningful part of the brand history for Alpaka,” brand experience and content manager, Gelo Acosta, said.

Alpaka’s focus has always been on designing products that balance functionality and aesthetics.

“The goal was to create sleek, travel and urban-tested, weatherproof bags that can be great everyday bags,” Mr Acosta said.

“They don’t look like hiking bags, but they’re still highly functional.”

The brand caters to a niche yet growing subculture of consumers known as EDC enthusiasts.

“EDC is a subculture of the carry consumer market, that’s our primary audience. But since opening the retail business, we’ve also started catering to CBD workers, students, young professionals, and the public,” Mr Acosta said.

The decision to open Alpaka’s first flagship store in Docklands was an easy one, with Mr Acosta sharing that the location was one of the main reasons for opening an in-store retail experience.

“The idea was for it to be just an event and local community space,” he told Docklands News.

“We run a lot of events with our brand partners, as well as educational partners like RMIT. But when we opened the showroom, local residents just started treating it like a normal store. They walked in, asked about the bags, and bought them.”

Beyond selling high-quality bags, Alpaka is committed to fostering a vibrant community, such as through participation in the upcoming District Docklands Easter egg hunt, as well as recently hosting a watch launch for a local micro-brand.

For Mr Acosta, who started as a fan of the brand, working at Alpaka is a full-circle moment.

“I didn’t even know they were Melbourne-based until four years ago. I supported their first Kickstarter while living in London,” he said.

“The brand’s tagline is ‘Keep Moving Forward’, and that’s how I’ve been living my life – moving from the Philippines to London, LA, and now Melbourne.”

With an office, a design workshop, and plans for a dedicated photo and video studio, Alpaka hopes to embed themselves as part of the Docklands community for the long haul.

“We’re pretty much a Docklands local now, I even moved here five months ago,” Mr Acosta said.

More than just a retail store, Alpaka is a hub for community engagement, innovation, and stylish, functional carry solutions. •