Meet Melbourne’s Makers: Where to buy Melbourne-made

Home to an enterprising population of creative, crafty types, Melbourne is one of the best places in Australia to pick up locally-produced fashion, homewares, accessories and art. From small boutiques nestled down city laneways to outdoor markets bursting with local talent and hip studios filled with edgy, one-of-a-kind buys, shopping Melbourne’s makers is a fun way to pick up a unique keepsake or two to remember the city by.

Shops & Boutiques

While Melbourne has its fair share of modern malls, it’s the urban shopping strips, city laneways and neighbourhood villages that are favoured by Melbourne’s small businesses.

Many artists, ceramicists, designers and furniture makers have set up shop in the cool inner northern neighbourhoods of Collingwood, Fitzroy and Brunswick, with Smith Street, Gertrude Street, Brunswick Street and surrounds home to many locally-owned boutiques. In Collingwood, shoppers can buy Melbourne-made merino leggings in distinct colours and zany prints at Adventure Pants by Captain Robbo while in Fitzroy beautiful, beaded gowns up the romance factor at the dreamy boutique of in-demand Melbourne fashion designer Gwendolynne Burkin. Over in Brunswick East, The Boroughs showcases the work of many talented local designers under one roof including beaded necklaces by Emily Green and vintage-style Melbourne neighbourhood pennants by Cottage Industry.

Elsewhere in Melbourne, Prahran’s Lunar Store makes shopping local easy for visitors and residents alike with a store full of ceramics, homewares, books, bags and more made by local designers and brands. In the city centre, the Royal Arcade is home to Melbourne Shop by Lumbi an emporium dedicated to Australian-made and Melbourne-themed souvenirs, gifts and decorations. For people who can’t get enough of all things Melbourne, Bourke Street’s Melbournalia stocks enough Melbourne paraphernalia to keep even the biggest of Melbourne fans happy. Shoppers can expect beer flavoured chocolate by Melbourne chocolatier Monsieur Truffe, books by celebrated chefs from Melbourne and prints of the city’s iconic yellow and green trams.

Galleries & Studios

Sometimes set up as a collective, other times owned and run by the makers themselves, Melbourne’s small galleries and studios are a great place for visitors to connect with the city’s working artists and makers.

Located on vibrant Smith Street, Incub8r is a retail space where artists and makers can showcase their wares for customers to buy. Also on Smith Street, The Social Studio is a not-for-profit retail space run by local youth from refugee and migrant backgrounds. At The Social Studio, shoppers can not only pick up some handmade, locally-designed fashion but also help support emerging fashion designers at the same time. Open on Friday and Saturday, ceramicists at design studio Cone 11 welcome visitors to their working studio located within the Abbotsford Convent complex. Here, visitors can meet the makers and browse the inventive ceramics this label is known for creating. One of Victoria’s largest and oldest arts organisations, Craft is set to open the doors to its new home in Watson Place early this month. Dedicated to championing and showcasing the work of Victoria’s supremely talented craftspeople, the space will serve as a retail and gallery space for Victoria’s established and emerging makers.