Best friends Nathan Yun and Rex Zhang launched their essentials clothing brand Paire in 2020 and recently opened their first bricks and mortar store at QV Melbourne. What began as a business idea in Rex’s garage making quality socks, has expanded into a chic capsule of essentials where sustainability is the driving force. They’re the anti-thesis of fast fashion, and prove their Shark Tank TV idea has blossomed into a cult textile favourite in other Asian countries including Singapore and Malaysia. Now they’re hoping the retail store will bring more fans to their brand.
Rex Zhang talks to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series and what it means to finally have a store open in the city he lives in.
MY CITY
Melbourne – The coffee, the street art, the people. Slow, but not boring, Chill and alive. Also, the mix of cultures makes it so vibrant and young.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
Wagyu Nigiri from WAGA YA. Crazy expensive, but worth the price.
FAVOURITE BAR
Antique Bar Elsternwick Village. The ZOMBIE 2.0. Rum – it matches Antique Bar’s retro vibe perfectly, and makes you feel like you are just in a friend’s house party.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
Tequila sunrise. Picturing cosy chats with close friends all night, and enjoying an early-summer tipsy beach sunrise, that’s very me.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
VC effervescent tablet, trust me, it works.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
ANTE Sake bar, NSW. Chance to taste different sake all at once, plus great music selection.
OVERSEAS BAR
If you visiting Tokyo, try the bars in Shinjuku Golden-Gai, just walk in random ones, each one has very different vibe, very unique experience, you get to experience very different Japanese culture as well.
FAVOURITE WINE
Maotai – Chinese Baijiu. It’s my dad’s favourite (he kept some really old ones from the 80’s), and now I enjoy it as well.
FAVOURITE WINERY
Foxeys Hangout in Red Hill. My wife’s good find, great food, unbeatable view.
NEXT DESTINATION
Keen to visit Japan again, Kyoto especially. Want to explore more sake options.
Tell us about the decision to open a flagship store at QV Melbourne?
Opening a flagship store at QV Melbourne was a natural next step for Paire. We’ve always been an online-first brand, but nothing beats letting people experience the products in person. Our pop-up store in QV proved that—customers loved being able to touch, feel, and try before they bought. The numbers made sense too. The store performed well and became a key driver of profitability. So, when the opportunity came to make it permanent, we went for it. This space isn’t just about selling—it’s about immersing people in what Paire stands for: comfort, quality, and sustainability.
How has the brand evolved since you launched five years ago?
Paire started with one simple goal: to make socks better. That quickly grew into a bigger mission—redefining everyday essentials. Five years in, we’ve expanded into underwear, activewear, thermals, and loungewear, all designed with the same focus on comfort and function. The biggest shift has been our approach to fabric innovation. We’re no longer just making better basics; we’re developing proprietary materials like BioFlex™ and SilKnit™ to push the industry forward. Sustainability has also become more ingrained in everything we do. What hasn’t changed? Our obsession with making products that feel incredible to wear.
What’s the best thing about being best friends and now business partners?
Trust. Nathan and I have known each other for over a decade, and we’ve been through a lot together. That foundation makes decision-making faster and problem-solving easier. We also have completely opposite skill sets—he’s the growth guy, while I focus on textiles and production—so we naturally cover different sides of the business without stepping on each other’s toes. Most importantly, we know how to push each other without ego getting in the way. When you’re building something from scratch, that kind of partnership makes all the difference.
Why is it important to be practical but chic, essential but a little bit luxury?
Our focus has always been on elevating everyday essentials. We’re constantly refining what we have while exploring new categories that fit our ethos. The next step? Expanding our essentials line, introducing more versatile layering pieces, and pushing further into activewear with natural performance fabrics.
Why the balance of practical and chic? Because clothes shouldn’t just look good—they should feel good and function well. That’s where luxury comes in. To us, luxury isn’t about a price tag or a logo. It’s about the quality of the fabric, the craftsmanship, and how effortlessly a piece fits into your life. Practicality means you can wear it daily. A touch of luxury means you’ll actually want to.
