FOR years I’ve walked up and down High Street in Fremantle’s West End, blissfully unaware of the tiny paragon that is Compendium Design.

Nestled between a waxing salon and gallery, the shop is a tardis of fine accessories, stationery, jewellery and homewares.

After a few years working in graphic design, owner Jayden Weston wanted to create a design store for the Freo community, so he opened Compendium in 2010, bucking the trend for online retail.

“We really focus on providing a great in-store experience, be it through in-store customer service, helping with gift ideas, gift wrapping, window display, and pleasant ambience with music and candles,” Weston says.

The shop’s eclectic layout is inspired by contemporary art galleries and brands like Muji, Mr Porter and Warby Parker, incorporating a mix of muted colours, light timber and clean lines.

The store has a concise selection of local and international vendors, including Hellolulu, Kaweco, Royal Republiq and Sole Ceramics.

Compendium recently collaborated with Apolis, a brand that supports artisans in developing countries, to create a customised Fremantle Market tote bag.

True to its name, the shop’s shelves are brimming with eminent books and periodicals on design, fashion, lifestyle and culture, and Compendium is also an official stockist of Tintin books and collectable figurines.

As a lover of nice-looking magazines I’ve often perused the latest editions of Monocle, Kinfolk and Fantastic Man, only to leave with enough literature to keep a bookworm happy for life.

For folk that want to splurge cash, Compendium has a selection of expensive design watches, but with the store located so close to Notre Dame University, they also stock more affordable products and gift ideas.

The shop has been open for seven years and Weston attributes its success to the special one-on-one relationship he has with his customers, and the ever-changing product range, which caters for Fremantle’s diverse population.

“We find we get great support from locals who love Fremantle and the Fremantle brand and we love being apart of the local fabric and community.”

BY JAYDEN O’NEIL