How Typical of Metal kind of sounds like a label that might be worn by teenagers who hang out in garages listening to Metallica. Especially when you factor in that it’s the label of Queenslander Ray Cook, who’s nickname is actually “Metal”. And that Cook is a stonemason by trade who’s ventured into making leather accessories.

But Ray Cook is not your typical metal-head, and How Typical of Metal is not your typical brand. It’s a range of handmade marble rings and meticulously crafted leather bow ties that are making their Sydney debut in Cook’s undeniably atypical showroom 4.5 Billion Store. In short, How Typical of Metal is “everything no one is doing”. And certainly no one else is doing traditional bowties reformed in combinations of leather and suede, brightly coloured “anime couture” ties, cigarettes on necklaces and sporadic 7.25am store openings.

Cook’s rings are the standout pieces of his showroom. Handcrafted from marble, granite and fossilised stone, they’re threaded through black wax leather and hung from a 1930s chandelier fused with antique fox traps that hangs over the showroom floor. By the looks of things he’s put as many hours into crafting the little space as he has into crafting the actual accessories. Bare light bulbs tangled in their own wires illuminate the otherwise sleek workshop, and semi-restored 1950s British and Australian handmade bicycles — which Cook further restores himself right there on the floor — lean against the walls like art pieces. And, granted, Cook was an installation artist before starting his own label.

Alongside that label he’s also stocking dress shirts by Gold Coast-based fashion brand House of HUMiLiTY, and vintage-inspired button-ups in vibrant shades by young local designer Alice Nightingale.

Whether you’re a dapper gent, a young lass who can rock a sweet bow tie or you just really like old bikes, there’s finally a good reason to venture down that funny bit of road behind Redfern Station.