Shop

If you’ve had your fill of online shopping, it’s time to rediscover Melbourne’s retail scene. Head into the city for epic days of browsing and buying.

Depending on your fashion preferences - streetwear, local design or edgier offerings - Melbourne has it all. But it doesn’t end there. Melbourne makers are renowned for their creativity, so freshen up your home or bring a smile to a friend’s face with a thoughtful gift. Here’s a thought: why not base yourself in the city for a few days so you can put in some seriously stylish yards?

Craft Shop

The retail outlet at Craft, Melbourne’s exhibition space for makers and designers stocks pieces that are both beautiful and functional. From handmade jewellery to exquisitely detailed ceramics, you’ll discover something to suit your creative side. +craft.org.au

Design A Space

This fashion destination showcases pieces, often one-offs or limitededition runs, by more than 170 up-and-coming local designers. Flick through the racks of colourful dresses, try on new-season trousers or finish off an outfit with inspiring accessories. +designaspace.com.au

Dot Comme

The interiors of this store, located across two floors of Curtin House, are as stylish as the clothes on its racks. It’s where to go if your eye is caught by top international names. Think Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake and Walter Van Beirendonck. +dotcomme.net

Incu

Those who aspire to high style every day will find their dream outfits here. Twin brothers Vincent and Brian Lu look across the world, including Australia, for the best talent, plus they create their own line of menswear, as well as accessories and artisan homewares. +incu.com

RetroStar Vintage Clothing

If your motto is ‘reuse, reclaim, recycle’ this warehouse-sized treasure trove of preloved fashion should keep you busy for hours. Whether your style is more 70s rock groupie or Hollywood glamour circa the 1950s, you're sure to find something to suit. +retrostar.com.au

The Melbourne Shop by Lumbi

When you really want to keep it local, this is the place to visit. Its Melbournemade gifts and apparel run the gamut from tram scrolls to hang on your walls to bags printed with Skipping Girl to dangle on your shoulder. +lumbi.com.au

Dot Comme RetroStar Vintage Clothing

Other Matter by Jessie French Jessie French

Spotlight On Jessie French

Melbourne-based maker Jessie French’s work explores speculative futures through algaebased bioplastic and ocean ecologies.

As an artist and experimental designer, Jessie French’s practice explores consumption, symbiosis, ecology, science and technology in the context of human experience amid a human-driven environmental crisis. She is interested in engaging with environmentally vital issues and experimental artistic projects refracted through the lens of science. “The waste involved in daily life weighs heavily on me," she says. "There’s certainly a lot of potential in this material. It could be integrated into everyday life to solve a huge issue we have with waste and the use of petrochemical plastics.”

When asked about the impact of ongoing isolation and social distancing across Victoria, Jessie acknowledges some positive outcomes the lockdown has provided for her practice.

“Being able to check on things at all hours and see how they change and develop throughout a process enabled me to learn,” she says. “The pandemic also allowed me the opportunity to go back to post-graduate study, which informed my studio practice heavily and led me to continue with things that I may have given up without this kind of methodology in place.”

Jessie’s works are available at Craft Victoria’s online store. +shop.craft.org.au

Craft

Discover Australia’s best contemporary makers in the heart of Melbourne. Located off Flinders Lane, Craft showcases immersive exhibitions and one-of-a-kind collectable objects by leading Australian artists and designers working across mediums including ceramics, jewellery, glass, textiles and more. Get inspired with Craft’s summer program this year. The major exhibition, Shaped, features more than 30 craftspeople working across diverse mediums. By cutting, stretching and throwing, each artist works to give form to concept. Tram: 1, 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72 Train: Flinders Street Station Open: Tue–Fri, 11am to 5pm; Sat, 11am to 4pm (excluding public holidays) or by appointment Watson Place, Off Flinders Lane, Melbourne t 03 9650 7775 w craft.org.au Find us on:

Lightning Ridge Opal Mines

Join the Le Souëf family to learn about the most beautiful gemstone in the world. With more than 50 yearsʼ experience mining, cutting and exporting opals, we can teach you about all eight varieties available in Australia and how they are cut, polished and valued. Visit our showroom for a unique, interactive, obligationfree lesson, then browse our huge range of internationally guaranteed opals. Tram: Route 19, 57 or 59 to stop 2 Open: Mon–Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm Weekends by appointment 94 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne t 03 9654 4444 w opals.net.au Find us on:

Fashion On Foot

Discover the best slow and sustainable fashion in Melbourne when you join a walking tour with Donna Cameron.

As a personal stylist working in Fitzroy, it didn’t take Donna Cameron long to become captivated by the creators working around her.

“I was surrounded by microbusinesses creating fashion and accessories – handmade shoes, dresses, jewellery, a whole range of different things,” she says. “As someone who can’t sew, I found it fascinating to watch the process, from sketches on someone’s wall to big rolls of fabric. Two weeks later, there’d be this incredible garment.”

Inspired, Donna wanted to reveal this world to other fashionistas, and small-group tour business Fashion by Foot was born. That was four years ago, and now she and business partner Briar Jasper-Batson lead walking tours uncovering Melbourne’s most innovative, independent and ethical designers.

“I talk about fashion but what I’m really referring to is clothing rather than trends,” says Donna. “We’re into things that will last and not look really dated within two seasons.” +fashionbyfoot.com

Donna Cameron Rachel Mackenzie

Five of Donna’s Faves Metascent

“If you think about it, fragrance is a key part of a person’s personal style,” says Donna, and she recommends this parfumerie, where you can create your own bespoke fragrance. +metascent.com

Tiffany Treloar

She fully embraces the entire colour palette, which is a huge attraction for Donna. “Tiffany is Prue Acton’s daughter, which is interesting in itself. Prue is an artist now, and works with colour, and so I love that influence Prue has on Tiffany’s work.” +tiffanytreloar.com.au

Wendy Scully Millinery

“Wendy trained in sculpture, so the hats and headwear she makes are so well balanced, not only in terms of the way they feel but also in the way they look. Her work is incredible.” +wendyscully.com

Essensorie

Products in this chic Block Arcade store are created using the highest quality essential oils and are blended onsite. “They also sell beautiful sachets you can put in your wardrobe to look after your fantastic purchases by keeping the moths away,” suggests Donna. +essensorie.com

Wendy Voon Knits

“Wendy works on domestic knitting machines and with a local Melbourne knitting mill. It’s all about slow fashion with her.” +wendyvoon.com

A great way to explore the Market is with the Ultimate Foodie Tour, a guided walking tour where you’ll indulge in some of the best food the Market has to offer. Bookings essential at qvm.com.au/tours

visit

queen victoria market

Queen Victoria Market is an authentic, bustling, inner-city market that has been the heart and soul of the city for more than 140 years. Home to over 600 small businesses, it’s a great place to discover fresh and specialty produce, handmade and local products, delicious coffee and food, and friendly traders. Shopping at the Market has always been one of life’s great pleasures. It’s not just the abundance of fresh food, it’s the friendly banter with the traders, the vibrant and multicultural atmosphere, the special events and festivals, and the sense of belonging that comes with a trip to the much-loved Queen Victoria Market. Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also open seasonally on Wednesday evenings for themed night markets. For trading hours and what’s on visit qvm.com.au

qvm.com.au

INDUSTRY PARTNER

Spencer Outlet Centre

Shop Melbourne CBD’s only outlet centre, conveniently located next to Southern Cross Station, in the city’s free tram zone. Discover more than a hundred of your favourite fashion, food and homeware brands including the CBD’s only TK Maxx, Harris Scarfe, Cotton On Mega, as well as Chemist Warehouse, Coles supermarket and Liquorland. You’ll fi nd great bargains, every day. Open: Sat – Wed 10am to 6pm, Thu & Fri 10am to 7pm Food court open from 8am daily 201 Spencer Street, Melbourne t 03 8689 7577 w spenceroutletcentre.com.au Find us on:

The Rose St. Artists’ Market

In the heart of eclectic Fitzroy, The Rose St. Artists’ Market showcases everything from quirky homewares and stunning fashion to intricate jewellery and unique paintings. So if you’re a lover of all things handmade then look no further. Come along and experience it for yourself. Tram: Number 11 or 96 from city to stop 16 Open: Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm 60 Rose Street, Fitzroy t 03 9419 5529 w rosestmarket.com.au Find us on:

The Tea Rooms 1892

Located in the Block Arcade, The Tea Rooms 1892 is home to the original Hopetoun Tearooms. Indulge in a truly unique experience, from the historic settings to the delectable selection of savouries and sweets. Book your high tea online. Open: Mon – Fri 8am to 5.30pm, Sat – Sun 9am to 5.30pm Shops 1 & 2, The Block Arcade, 280 Collins St, Melbourne w thetearooms1892.com.au Find us on: