Joff Chappell and Razak Mohammed transform Adelaide's east end in 1980s with Miss Gladys Sym Choon cool fashion
Joff Chappell and Razak Mohammed lived above the Miss Gladys Sym Choon store at 235a Rundle Street, Adelaide.
Razak Mohammed image by Shane Reid for Adelaide Festival
Joff Chappell, with life partner Razak Mohammed, took over the legendary Miss Gladys Sym Choon store at 235a Rundle Street, Adelaide, in 1985 and built a new fashion empire that transformed the city’s east end. They renamed the shop as an homage to its former owner and South Australian business pioneer “Miss Gladys”, who sold luxury goods from Asia such as silk, lace and rosewood in the Rundle Street building from 1928.
Razak Mohammed came to Adelaide in the 1980s from Malacca, Malaysia, to study building. He found an abandoned sewing machine in the basement of his apartment building and discovered a talent for clothes making. In 1984, the self-taught designer opened the Rundle Street fashion boutique with Chappell, selling cutting-edge contemporary fashions including his own internationally-acclaimed labels Razak and Milk. They expanded their fashion empire to include Miss Gladys on Sea, Mr Choon and Gladys Corner.
Chappell and Razak instinctively built a business around empathy, leadership and style that attracted interesting and creative talents. Its clientele included Danish crown princess Mary, actor Teresa Palmer and American singer/songwriter Usher, who went on a buying spree for himself and his crew with the shop closed for them and Chappell serving wine.
Chappell was one of Adelaide’s most original characters, larger than life, always upbeat, and loving to stop and speak with locals and fellow traders. He was a former chair of the East End Coordination Group and was heavily involved in evolving the east end through the 1990s and 2000s into a fashion strip – in contrast to the days when Rundle Street had four fishing tackle shops, three butchers, a hardware and grain store.
Joff Chappell died in 2020, ending the last days on his battle with cancer on the balcony of the terrace home he shared with Razak above the Miss Gladys Sym Choon shop.