Outdoor brand Kathmandu has returned to the city in which it was born, with the opening of a flagship store in Christchurch on Thursday.

The launch represents a milestone for the business, which saw its previous Christchurch location destroyed during the 2011 earthquake.

“Christchurch is a very special place for Kathmandu, it’s where the brand found its start,” Kathmandu chief executive and managing director Xavier Simonet said.

“Now, 32 years on, our customers continue to include our gear on their biggest adventures right around the world.

“The new flagship will be a celebration of our long and proud heritage in New Zealand.”

The store has been in development for 18 months, and features materials natural to the New Zealand environment – including rough sawn timber panelling, plywood joinery and stone-clad walls.

The store will also offer complimentary recycling of old clothes, as well as a water refill station.

The business commissioned local artist Sean Duffel to create a mural of South Island in the store.

The store will also feature a summit club and community table where customers can find information about local hikes and summit club activities, as well as wireless charging points.

Fale Maoama, the business’ longest standing employee, will manage the store.

Earlier in August, Kathmandu reported a 3.9 per cent decline in same-store sales in New Zealand in FY19, and a 2.7 per cent increase in same-store sales in Australia.

Simonet has previously stated international growth remains a priority moving forward, with profit growth in the core Australasian business set to be fund investment into future growth.