With Christmas only 22 days away, Melbourne is ramping up to a frenetic hive of shopping activity. With sales and markets sprouting up almost daily, it’s getting difficult for me to keep up!
One of the most aesthetically pleasing shopping experiences that I’ve attended recently has been Marche Rouge, a small pop-up market in the Nicholas Building which is being held for three days only.
Kim Hurley, a visual merchandiser who works on Kleins Perfumery’s store windows (amongst others) has organised the event in her light-filled art deco studio. On entry, what caught my eye were the colourful crocheted branches (by Kim) and the tiny nests cupping each stallholder’s business cards. How adorable is that!
Kim has set up her visually inviting stall with a deliciously scented array of pretty items, from fabrics sourced from the South of France, vintage haberdashery (I loved the colourful rolls of antique French ribbons), pot pourri possets, fragrant seed pillows and other hand-crafted items.
For my goddaughter and her new brother, I bought two Christmas stockings for their Santa pressies.
The market also includes these artists:
Three Blind Mice, a sisterly team crafting one-off accessories using found items and some vintage kimono fabrics from Kimono House (Level 2, Room 207, Nicholas Building). They’re just starting out and I fell in love with this particular neckpiece.
Buttonmania, the one-stop shop for all your button needs (Room 201, Level 2 Nicholas Building).
Melbourne own small-run publishers of small-sized books, Arcade Publications. Their most recent launches are Our Girls, Aussie Pin-ups of the 40s and 50s (Madeleine Hamilton) and Hoax Nation, Australian Fakes and Frauds, from Plato to Norma Khouri (Simon Caterson).
Milliner Serena Lindeman (Room 602, Nicholas Building), who has been featured in the most recent edition of the book Handmade in Melbourne.
Mandy Murphy Millinery (Room 4, Level 7, Nicholas Building). This elegant sculptural hat was a finalist for the Myer Fashions on the Field Millinery Award at Flemington this year.
An eye-catching stand brimming with a cornucopia of Christmas decorations and floral and fruit arrangements. Unfortunately I didn’t catch the name of the florist but will find out.
Marche Rouge is a lovely little jewel of a market in one of the most beautiful buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Take some time to drop in – the market is open Thursday 3 December 12-8pm, Friday 4 December 12-8pm and Saturday 5 December 10-4pm.
- Marche Rouge Christmas Shopping Event, Salon 205, Level 2, Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston St, Melbourne
That neckpiece is just beautiful – did you get it?? And out of curiosity, what does a fantastic hat like that cost? I see them sometimes at markets but they rarely have prices on display (also because I feel a bit sheepish asking as I’ve never had an occasion to get one!)!
Hi Vee
I thought long and hard but in the end I decided not to buy it, so it’s all yours if you want! To be honest, I’m not much of a hat wearer so I have no idea how much a hat like that would cost. But I expect that it was probably made bespoke so would not be cheap. You could always email Mandy to ask, there’s no harm in that (just click on her name in the post for an email link).
Jetsetting Joyce
I was lucky enough to be over in Australia just before Christmas but wasn’t fortunate enough to catch this event. I am due back in Melbourne towards the end of the year. I do hope it’s going to be repeated.
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WOW! Some of those items are absolutely fantastic. The time and effort put into making them must have been alot! Wish these could be bought online?
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