In a city that prides itself on its style and love of fashion you may be forgiven for thinking that you had seen and done it all when it comes to shopping in Melbourne. However the
Up and Comers Market is the latest shopping experience set to leave it's mark on Melbourne, proving that this city's obsession for great markets is well and truly alive.
First launched in May of this year, it is the first market in Melbourne purely devoted to providing young emerging designers with the opportunity to bring their creations straight to the Melbourne public (much to our excitement). Designers are scouted Australia wide, so that visitors are not only offered the wares of local innovative designers but also those who have traveled from interstate, who are willing and eager to present their unique designs.
If it is original fashion that you are after (minus the high price tag) then look no further. At
The Up and Comers Market you are unlikely to find a scrap of a designer label bag or shoe, instead, the market brings together some of Australia's latest independent clothing and accessories designers, each selected for their creative designs and unique perspectives. Catering for both males and females you are likely to find anything from dresses, tees and jackets to jewellery, accessories, vintage pieces and much more.
Stallholders include labels such as
Harvest Powell,
Evie & Anna,
Lilyhart,
Marika King Jewellery and
Borsha. And though these designers have yet to be classed as household names it is only a matter of time before many of these labels start making appearances in high street stores. As such, it appears that The Up and Comers Market is the place to discover the next big name designer while you can still afford to purchase their pieces.
Held on the second Saturday of each month at Ormond Hall (from 11am till 5pm), visitors can peruse the racks and satisfy their fashion cravings by browsing through upwards of 30 fashion stalls. Naturally, much like any great market musical entertainment and refreshments are also on hand with the neighboring and iconic
Belgian Beer Café running a bar and a number of food stalls inside the hall.
The Up and Comers Market, is the perfect way to empty your wallet and fill your wardrobe all for a good cause, as it gives emerging young designers an inexpensive way to showcase their designs and get the exposure they need.
So if you are looking for that something to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon that supports a good cause all the while enabling you to indulge in a little retail therapy then head on down to the Ormond Town Hall. Support the fresh young talent on offer and discover the next big thing - before your friends do. However try and avoid a pint at the Belgian Beer Café before hitting the stalls, that way you can only blame the buyers remorse on yourself and not the beer!
