Mitchell McCabe — The 123 Year-Old Menswear Store
Still from The Proprietor — A Short Documentary about the 123 year-old Menswear store Mitchell McCabe South Melbourne, December 2024.
Andrew Scawen is the proud owner and operator of Mitchell McCabe Menswear, located in the heart of South Melbourne, Australia. The store has been located at it’s current premises for 123 years, and we recently had the opportunity to go into the world behind the historic store for gentleman and those alike! The 8-minute short documentary was produced over a 5 month period, from August to December 2024 — and shares the story of how an incredible small business like Mitchell McCabe can have such a lasting impact on so many people over the stretch of generations.
Although Andrew isn’t the first and sole owner of the business (if he was he’d anti-aging processes would most certainly be studied by many), he purchased the business Mitchell McCabe in 1998 and has been running the store, ever since. Mitchell McCabe has multiple stores across Melbourne now, three in total to be exact. One, located at the subject of this short documentary in South Melbourne.
Inside the Mitchell McCabe Store. Two camera interview setup, with the BMPCC6K Pro and Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 (Blackmagic Design)
“The Annex” a smaller store located around the corner in Coventry Street South Melbourne, and a third more recently opened in Elsternwick, Victoria. The entire Mitchell McCabe collection is also available online, and it’s physical stores stock an array of products that suit the contemporary gentleman or individual that’s looking to update their wardrobe.
Customers can find a variety of clothing pieces, accessories and footwear in a kaleidoscope of colours, shapes, patterns, sizes and styles. Ultimately, I set out to create this documentary because I simply love the store, it’s incredibly beautiful to both enter, and admire, when browsing the items available on display and especially the fixtures & fittings of the heritage store.
Mitchell McCabe stocks a variety of iconic eclectic international brands including; Scotch and Soda, A Fish Named Fred, No Nationality 07, Ben Sherman and More.
Looking at how the documentary was shot, and what gear was used, I utilised predominantly my Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 from Blackmagic Design and the Pocket 6K Pro (BMPCC6K Pro), with a variety of lenses. Mostly, the trusty Sigma 18-35mm as well as a couple of cinema primes which included the Samyang 50mm and 85mm lenses. Furthermore, the project was entirely graded, edited and sound-mixed in Davinci Resolve 19, a platform I couldn’t live without, after switching over to it from Final Cut Pro in 2021.
Additional lighting ear that was used includes: The Apurture 200x and 100d with Lantern 90 and 90cm Parabolic Softbox for lighting. Alongside two Zihyun pocket lights for accents. The Sakk cine-saddle was also essential for maintaing stabilised shots when conducting handheld movements.
Mitchell McCabe Short Documentary BTS
Shot mostly on the Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K G2 in 16x9, the final project was shared in a 1.5:1 aspect ratio, replicating similar Opengate Full Frame camera sensor dimensions.
Ronan Jenkins also provided fantastic support on lighting and camera assist throughout our multiple nights of shooting at the store, and in the surrounding areas within South Melbourne.
South Melbourne is a historic inner-city suburb just 2 kilometers south of Melbourne's CBD, known for its Victorian-era architecture, vibrant culture, and attractions like the South Melbourne Market and St Vincent Gardens. Originally called Emerald Hill, it has evolved from its working-class roots into a sought-after area with trendy cafes, diverse dining, and a thriving arts scene.
Well-connected by Melbourne's tram network, it offers a mix of heritage homes and modern developments, attracting a diverse community of residents. Nearby landmarks like Albert Park and the South Melbourne Town Hall add to its charm, making it a dynamic blend of history and modernity.
You can watch the full Short Documentary below.
If you’d like to learn more about the store, either search “Mitchell McCabe” on google or go to https://mitchellmccabe.com.au
Mitchell McCabe Menswear South Melbourne
(03) 9690 5695
304 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205
Mitchell McCabe Menswear Elsternwick
(03) 9690 5695
335-337 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick, Victoria 3185
Mitchell McCabe Menswear South Melbourne (Annex)
(03) 9690 5695
275 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205