It seems everywhere you shop these days the world of ‘fast fashion’ is unavoidable. Well a range of small boutiques in Sydney are fighting against the unethically oiled fashion machines to bring you locally designed and handmade products.
The Society Inc.
This vintage and handmade hospitality interior retail store and studio space is the quintessence of high quality vintage. A trip to the Mary Street warehouse is the closest thing you will get to experiencing Ralph Lauren’s Colorado ranch (hyperlink), with vintage utility accessories, art, home wares and knick-knacks of which owner and founder Sibella Court has accumulated along her travels and perfectly curated for the people of Sydney. You can expect to pick up everything from a Love Goa Travel Guide book to vintage French shutters, to a custom-made wooden shed. If the pressure of shopping is too much for you to handle The Society Inc. also has an online store.
Monday –Saturday (10:00am – 4:00pm)
Warehouse 3.02, 75 Mary Street, St Peters 2044
Commune
In true Bondi fashion this little gem of a boutique embraces everything local, handcrafted, beachy and alfresco. Established in 2016, Loren Morton and Kristie Keith created a space that was more than just a store but something with meaning and substance. All wares in Commune are carefully selected by Loren and Kristie and is either Australian-made or designed. Although the boutique only stocks womenswear brands like Estilo Emporio, Lacausa and Nobody, a broad range of accessories, pottery, home wares and furniture is sure to entice anyone to pop in for a browse.
Monday – Saturday (9:00am – 5:00pm), Sunday (9:30am – 4:00pm)
1/96 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi Beach 2026
Jim + Jane
Founder of Jim + Jane, Amber Barnes has been a well established fashion buyer since the 90’s and therefore knows better than most how to fill a space efficiently and effectively with the perfect balance of style and practicality. Unburdened by the everchanging trends of fashion, this carefully constructed boutique sources both handcrafted products from around the world such as hand painted trinket boxes, ceramic candles and vintage Indian lassi glasses, as well as contemporary Australian fashion designed products like Sol Sana shoes, Fairley Jewellery and OnceWas clothing. For an exploration in fused homewares, accessories and clothing the Jim + Jane two story boutique in Annandale is a sure pit stop.
Monday – Friday (9:30am – 6:00pm), Saturday (9:30am – 5:30pm), Sunday (10:00am – 5:00pm)
45 Booth Street, Annandale 2038
The Vignette Room
Just as the name suggests this interior design shopping experience in the heart of Paddington is ‘a small visually pleasing picture achieved through the grouping of several objects.’ The concept of this store is derived from a very organic passion for interior design intended as an immersive experience for shoppers. Established by mother and daughter Tracy Kennedy and Jennifer Brown, The Vignette Room aims to be an inspiration space with a shopping component consisting of the highest-quality homewares, accessories and furniture, including pieces from renowned Sydney based designer Greg Natale. To add to the full interior decorating experience, interior designer Cassie McCulloch works in-house offering everything from styling tips to full home service interior design. One visit to this impeccable store and you will be mentally re-designing your house.
Monday – Friday (10:00am – 5:00pm), Saturday (9:00am – 5:00pm)
42 Gurner Street, Paddington 2021
Sarah & Sebastian
With a showroom in it’s Alexandria workshop and a flagship store in Paddington, Sarah & Sebastian is the embodiment of elegance, minimalism and simplicity in jewellery design. Designers Sarah Gittoes and Sebastian Grynkofki have created a space that perfectly reflects the aesthetic of this jewellery, with pristinely tinted glass falling as a backdrop to the heritage listed sandstone building where it resides. Aside from designing and creating the jewellery themselves in a workshop inspired by their travels, Sarah and Sebastian source the highest quality materials from trusted local suppliers and boast a minimal-inventory business model. Their admirable no-wastage approach to production also ensures a superior, ethically conscious final product. The jewellery at Sarah & Sebastian is also made-to-order and designed specifically for the client.
Monday – Saturday (10:00am – 6:00pm)
Kiosk 261 Oxford Street, Paddington 2021
Have you spied any other local ethical and sustainable stores around town?
