City of Melbourne’s Creative Spaces program transformed a North Melbourne shop front for Indigenous Australian entrepreneurs under a three-month creative residency.
The location, 54 Errol Street, will allow Amber Days and Yarn Strong Sista to establish a fashion boutique, education centre and place for First Nations businesswomen and artists.
The City of Melbourne’s Creative Spaces program works to connect artists with accessible spaces to support and promote their work for both live and virtual events.
The Indigenous Australian and female-owned businesses will bring the space to life seven days a week, with unique retail offerings, workshops and activities, and events.
The space will showcase the work of a diverse range of start-ups, creatives and entrepreneurs, including Amber Days – an ethical children’s and womenswear label inspired by the Australian bush, desert and sea.
Other Indigenous Australian businesses sharing the space during the residency will be Wunyun, ancient aroma products and cultural healing services and Lee Couch, a spirituality experience sharing Dadirri deep listening and learning.
Some of the other businesses in the retail space will be Kykoe, Miimi and Jiinda, Emro Designs and Soul Sister Co.
Shop 54 will also feature a designated zone for children’s play and a culturally safe space for people to connect and enjoy native bush teas.
City of Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, called the Creative Spaces program a game changing initiative which is reactivating under-utilised spaces to give local artists and entrepreneurs a chance to display their innovative creations.
“Independent artists and small to medium-sized creative organisations are a highly vulnerable part of the creative sector, and we’re proud to support them with access to space to test their business ideas and entice people back into the city,” Mayor Capp said.
“We’re proud to back Amber Days and Yarn Strong Sista, two creative companies founded by talented First Nations women, Corina Muir and Annette Sax.”
Creative Portfolio lead for City of Melbourne, Jamal Hakim, said Melbourne’s creative sector is central to the City’s identity.
“We want to do everything we can to support artists and creatives – particularly as they bounce back from the impacts of COVID-19,” Mr Hakim said.
“This is a fabulous shopfront activation that connects country, culture, fashion and education just perfectly.”
Amber Day’s Creative Director, Corina Muir said the chance to showcase the work that “represents our proud connection to country is so valuable”.
“People from all over Melbourne have been visiting Shop 54 because they are interested in ethically sourced clothing that has meaning,” Ms Muir said.
“Amber Days was born out of my desire to follow my dreams and have financial freedom for me and my daughter without jeopardising the importance of being a present mum, which is so valuable to me.”
The City of Melbourne Shopfront Activation Program is giving local creatives, artisans and entrepreneurs the opportunity to breathe new life into empty retail spaces with one-of-a-kind offerings to reignite parts of the city that need it most.
For more information on the Creative Spaces program, visit the City of Melbourne’s website.
