Where to shop in Naarm, according to two fashion creatives
IMAGE VIA @SUKUHOME/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
From those who know best.
Melbourne residents are lucky for a few reasons. Aside from the more practical elements (great public transport system, quality healthcare options and world-class education), we’re a culturally dynamic city with a thriving independent sector. Each suburb boasts its own assortment of emerging designers, artists and small business owners, making Naarm its own kind of talent incubator.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
Made in collaboration with local creatives, our recent content series is designed to highlight some of the standout stores around the city. A Melbourne spin on Fashion Journal’s Hey, I Like Your Style!, the series focuses on fashion insiders Corin Corcoran and Savannah Anand-Sobti as we visit some of their favourite shops around Naarm.
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Corin is a Wailwan designer, creative director and actor, whose style is all about vintage pieces, “colours and fun things”. Sav is a Desi-Kiwi content creator (“I‘m a recent TikTok addict”) and the founder of Ladies of Leisure. For Sav, the perfect outfit is a vibrant mix of playful, comfortable – key word – pieces from Victorian makers and designers.
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A special thanks to Creative Victoria who made this iteration of Hey, I Like Your Style! possible. Scroll on for some of Sav and Corin’s favourite stores in Melbourne.
Cleopatra’s Bling
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“It’s such a beautiful, cozy shop,” Sav says of jeweller Olivia Cummings’ flagship Collingwood store. The Cleopatra’s Bling aesthetic is distinctive. Olivia’s collection features bold colours, rich symbolism and historical references, handcrafted using high-quality gold, sterling silver and sustainably-sourced gems.
The best part? “Cleopatra’s Bling works with a group of women in the Black Sea who are escaping domestic violence,” Sav says. “They use this craft as a way of income and moving away from that life… conscious buying is really important to me.”
74 Johnston Street, Collingwood
Clothing the Gaps
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Clothing the Gaps is the Naarm-born clothing brand and social enterprise creating colourful, inclusive streetwear. “They produce merch with a message that unites Indigenous people and non-Indigenous peoples,” Corin explains.
“I know for myself personally… it feels really respectful for me to see other people wearing Clothing The Gaps merch, especially allies.” Corin says the merch functions as both a conversation starter and an important identifier, particularly the pieces from the Mob Only range.
274 High Street, Northcote and 744 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Error 404
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A Fitzroy hub for free-spirited emerging designers and creatives, Error 404 is both a clothing store and a platform for self-expression. “Error stocks some really great Victorian labels,” Sav says. “Kacy, who founded Error [404], really nurtures these creatives and offers them [the] opportunity to sell their products in-store.”
Stocking labels like Alix Higgins, Erik Yvon, Moss Tunstall and Posture Studios, Error 404 is a store at the forefront of the independent Naarm design scene.
165 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North
Retropolis
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Whether you’re a vintage collector, thrifting novice or just someone who prefers an immersive shopping experience, Retropolis is a Naarm must-visit. The female-run Preston spot functions as a sprawling secondhand marketplace, offering everything from kitsch memorabilia to ’60s shearling and go-go boots. “There are 65 different stallholders, so it’s great to go around,” Corin says. “I feel like I’m going through moments in time.”
1 Newman Street, Preston
The Koorie Circle
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Another of Corin’s favourite Blak-owned Naarm businesses, The Koorie Circle crafts contemporary earrings from materials like sustainable timber and hand-painted resin. “They specialise in Australian-made earrings that celebrate Aboriginal culture,” Corin tells Fashion Journal. “I love supporting Blak businesses because not only does it look sick, but it comes with an important message.” Think brightly-coloured kookaburras, intricately etched serpents and traditional motifs.
274 High Street, Northcote
Dream Baby by Suku Home
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The brainchild of Melbourne-Indonesian designer Chrissy Lafain, Dream Baby is Suku Home’s first-ever concept store. “It’s such a beautiful shop… one thing I really love about Suku is the inclusivity of sizes,” Sav says. “They go from a size 0 up to a 22… it’s just nice to walk in somewhere and know that you’ll fit the clothing.”
Alongside her own clothing and homewares collection, Chrissy has curated Dream Baby to showcase a variety of creative talent from Australia and Indonesia. “As a feminist myself who runs a community project… I love that they collaborate with a lot of women,” Sav says.
128 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
For more of the best spots to shop in Melbourne, head here.
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