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In Conversation with Khloe // Amelia Lee Boutique
"I did what I had to do to keep my business going and my children fed. I had to lay off my entire staff and could not pay rent at one of my locations for two months. I was hit hard financially, but because of all the hard decisions I made during closure, it allowed me to reopen both the stores now. I find strength because I have two beautiful children, an incredible team of women that work for me, and a community that I call home. I do it for everyone."
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In Conversation with Alison & Darian // Noanoko
"We don't tend to look at trends – I have never worked that way. It feels as though you aren't growing, reaching or challenging yourself as a designer if you only talk about what's current or on trend. The more important focus to me is how can we create something which draws people in, or how do we re-interpret a specific design detail, and so on. Be aware of your industry at large but try to interpret what that looks like for your own brand or company. Never copy."
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In Conversation with Ariel & Jess // Iyé Creative
"During this COVID crisis, the inequalities within oppressed communities increased exponentially, unveiling the incapacity of the system to distribute the wealth and work on systemic issues. Taking accountability in this historical time in humankind, we started to create different garden beds in our backyard to limit our dependence on grocery stores and stop supporting the international agricultural business. In our search for answers about how to give people tools of liberation, we found out that gardening is a resilient act to re-connect ourselves with the land, and prioritize a food justice model that serves all living beings, especially our Black brothers and sisters who are usually left at the bottom.…
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In Conversation with Nicole & James // Mango’s Boutique
"Our clients’ style changes as they age, so we have to always be careful and pay attention to what they are wanting. Sometimes when you’ve carried a line too long it gets “old” ... you have to learn to let go and find something new and fresh. Over all the years in business, it doesn’t get easier, it gets more challenging in what you bring in, as there are so many different styles and trends to accommodate for."
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In Conversation with Ila // Barber and Fritz
"I've always been rebellious and creative — I was a wild teenager! I moved out of my home at a very young age and I knew I needed to find a career that allowed me to be creative, social, was something in the fashion industry and that provided me autonomy. I've always loved cutting hair. I cut my first bob with kitchen scissors when I was nine years old on my little girlfriend and her mom said it was the best haircut she's ever had."
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In Conversation with Stef // Lore General Store
"Not very often do we get the time where there is no one around and for us to figure out what works and what doesn't. Reach out to people in your community and ask for advice. Now more than ever, people are in the spirit of helping and it's a great time to make new connections. Remember there is light at the end of the tunnel."
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In Conversation with Alexa // A La Mode Consignment
"Closing was difficult, laying off my girls was difficult, not knowing if I could pay rent is still difficult. The first month after we closed, I was at the shop alone every day, cleaning, organizing, taking photos, posting on social media. Running, running, running, and asking: what do people want to buy? Do people want to buy? It was a race to nowhere. We have always had family meetings in our house, with my husband, me, and our two children. Last week we had a meeting and I told them I was burnt out, hustling, running, chasing. They all looked at me and said, so stop."
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In Conversation with Erin // Reunion
"Even after 30 years of experience, it's hard to predict what is going to sell. Once we find a line that fits well and is good value for the price, we order core styles (proven best-sellers), then add exciting trends of the season, keeping in mind our climate, and most importantly, our customers."
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In Conversation with Stephanie // Open House
"I don’t worry too much about trends. Although I am aware of what is going on, it’s never been that important to me. I prefer to stick with a set theme or palette for the season. I try to choose timeless, well-made pieces in classic silhouettes, so they can be worn for multiple seasons and years. It’s about creating a wardrobe of pieces you love and bring you joy, buying less and investing in well-made products."
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In Conversation with Dylan, Jen & Laurie // Shampoo Hair Bar
"The decision to take on debt in order to stay in business has been a tough one, especially since we have never had to carry any debt with the business before this. We have also decided to sell our products online, which is brand new to us. Not too sure how it will all work out! Looking forward to the time on the other side of this."
Supporting small businesses in Victoria and beyond. #shoplocal
