It amazes me that Melbourne can support a business that specialises in buttons. But then again I think out of all the cities in Australia, Melbourne is the home of the artisan, the handmade and the unique, hole-in-the-wall shop.
Not generally being the crafty type I’ve never had reason to visit Buttonmania until now. Their website states that ‘Buttonmania is an amalgamation of over 8 separate button and belt businesses and private collections which have been combined to form one of the world’s most definitive button, buttonhole, belt and belt buckle retailers and manufacturers.’
This week from Monday 21 June (9-5pm) to Saturday 26 June (10-3pm), Buttonmania is having sale across the hallway from its cute premises in the Nicholas Building. Two rooms have been filled with buttons galore as well as random tubs of fabric scraps, wool, Simplicity patterns and leather strips.
Prices for most of the buttons are at $6/kg, with some special buttons being $1 or $2 each. When you think that most buttons, from say Lincraft or Spotlight, start around $1, and I got 40 buttons for $5, that is quite a bargain. Even if you’re not a button freak I think they make really good gift-wrapping ornaments (check out this idea, or this one, or this one), and in fact I may go back again later in the week for another rummage when I’m feeling inspired.
- Buttonmania, Level 2, 37 Swanston St, Melbourne +61 3 9650 3627
This news comes at a welcome time! Having recently bought the most awesome cobalt blue vintage skirt, it wasn’t long before the unique fabric coated buttons on the back kickpleat fell off. Annoying! Now I have to replace them with something different – maybe I can find the right button here
Thanks for the news!
Twitter: kittysdrawings
| June 22, 2010, 7:19 am
try also george street fitzroy
http://craftcitymelbourne.blogspot.com/2008/06/craft-city-fitzroy-jimmy-buttons-aka.html
Hi Mike
Thanks for the tip – I was actually intending to get my buttons from Jimmy Buttons on the weekend before I realised that Buttonmania was on sale. My crafty friends tell me that their buttons are cheaper than the usual stores, although I have found the service there a bit brusque.
Jetsetting Joyce
That’s a lot of buttons. LoL. You can never have too many buttons. And there’s a lot of uses for them. Not just for your suits. But you just have to be imaginative about it. Or maybe that’s just me, I’m into knitting and quilt work.