Amber Days and Yarn Strong Sista have secured a three-month creative residency at 54 Errol Street, establishing a fashion boutique, education centre and place for First Nations businesswomen and artists.
It’s part of the City of Melbourne’s Creative Spaces program, which connects artists with accessible spaces to support and promote their work, and for live and virtual events.
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.
The Aboriginal 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 led by Amber Days – an ethical children’s and womenswear label inspired by the Australian bush, desert and sea.
Other Aboriginal businesses sharing the space during the residency will be Wunyun, ancient aroma products and cultural healing services; Lee Couch sharing Dadirri deep listening and learning. It is a sense of the spirituality experienced through quiet, still awareness, meditation.
Miluny, connect to earth and yourself in an immersive wellness ritual and create your own clay powders for skin brightening, purification and relaxation. 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.
For more information on the Creative Spaces program, visit the City of Melbourne’s website.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp
“Our Creative Spaces program is a game changing initiative, 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.”
“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.”
Quotes attributable to Creative Portfolio lead Jamal Hakim
“Melbourne’s creative sector is central to our city’s identity, and we want to do everything we can to support artists and creatives – particularly as they bounce back from the impacts of COVID-19.”
“This is a fabulous shopfront activation that connects country, culture, fashion and education just perfectly.”
Quotes attributable to Creative Director Corina Muir
“The chance to showcase our 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.”
“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. I have always been passionate about the environment and people so when falling pregnant with my daughter, finding clothing that didn’t use harmful chemicals in their processes was really important to me.”