Shop locally at this huge design market
Words by Sasha Gattermayr
“It’s a really beautiful experience when you see how many creatives there are, all in one place.”
Online shopping means it’s never been more important to shop local.
Markets are a big part of that. It’s a community of people who love their craft and a crowd of customers eager to support them.
This is the ethos behind the design markets The Melbourne Collective hosts four times a year.
Over sixty independent designers will converge at Coburg Town Hall this August to sell art, ceramics, jewellery, homewares, fashion, decor, and stationery.
“Melbourne is a very dynamic and creative city, and there is such a buzz of events,” explains Rochelle Djokic, the founder of The Melbourne Collective. This kind of creative hub is what inspired her to start holding and organising markets in the first place.
“There are so many creatives out there saying, “We are going to start our own business and we are going to give this a go,” she explains.
What started as a way to connect creative small business owners to one another rapidly transformed into a vibrant and bustling community of stallholders and shoppers.
While still maintaining its dedication to showcasing handcrafted, artisan, and homemade products, Rochelle is focussed on creating an electric atmosphere for shoppers and makers alike. Food trucks, live music and DJs are a huge part of the Design Market atmosphere, even in the colder months.
Shoppers can expect vegan beauty products, ethically produced sustainable fashion, locally produced alcohol, hand-stitched accessories, gluten-free desserts and more.
“What’s gorgeous about the market industry is that it’s not mass-produced, it’s beautiful, handcrafted and made with love and creativity.”
The Melbourne Collective will also host a vegan Christmas market in December, once the weather gets warmer.
The Design Market will be held at Coburg Town Hall on Saturday August 10.
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