One of the biggest goals I had for Hustle&Scout was to create an unrivaled atmosphere. After years of going to markets to stock up handmade and unique pieces, I have observed what, in my opinion, works really well and what does not work as well. One of the biggest elements missing from your stock-standard market, for me, has always been the lack of sensory experience. Having a room filled with stalls is one thing, but adding some trimming and extra TLC to the venue to bring it to life has the potential to take a market to another level. I felt very motivated with Hustle&Scout to develop a visual feast for visitors, which was born from a personal interest in interior decoration. I drew upon props from my pile of collected treasures, which included different sized glass bottles and jars filled with bright flowers scattered up the Nishi grand staircase (thanks to Coco and Dave Florist), handmade vintage fabric bunting, an old 1950's blackboard sign, giant round balloons, and a display of retro furniture brought to life with roaming models adorning beautiful vintage outfits and playing 'house' in their assumed characters. April's Caravan took upon this challenge and created a stunning display, which I have an inkling will feature in markets to come. I was also very keen to get one of the beautiful Rockstars & Royalty gowns displayed in the middle of the Nishi Foyer. Having only seen Rockstars & Royalty gowns in photographs or on the runway, I was very excited to give people the rare opportunity to closely admire the craftsmanship and skill involved in producing one of these spectacular gowns. While some may have found all of these trimmings a sensory over-load, it reflected me and my taste, and that is something that I want to continue to bring to each event to give it my creative stamp.
Each of the 22 stalls at Hustle&Scout did a fantastic job at bringing their spaces to life. Opshoppers featured a big spray-painted poster display that gave their stall an edgy feel; Corr Blimey staggered brightly-lit mannequins up the Nishi staircase, and Rancho made impressive, custom-made solar lighting displays to make their pieces shine. Jodie Cunningham also used solar lighting to bring her cylindrical displays to life, and Pure Pod spotted their stall with fairy lights to bring a little magic to their bustling corner spot. Feedback from the stalls has been very positive and I know many are very excited to return for the Summer market. Although the first hour was extremely busy and many stallholders battled to get through lines of customers as quickly as possible - this was the best problem to have, and we quickly learnt that the punters were on a mission to get in early! I was very honored to chat to each of the stallholders throughout the night and was blown-away at how lovely and down-to-earth each of them are. It felt like the true spirit of the design community was alive, and I was pleased to see designers catching up and laughing with each other throughout the night. For me, seeing each of the designers and collectors take so much away from the night has given me a huge boost to continue using Hustle&Scout as a platform from which emerging fashion businesses can build their client base and increase the exposure of their brands to a new demographic.
Live music was another essential part of bringing the Nishi Foyer alive at Hustle&Scout. I was pleased to feature four different local music acts throughout the market, starting with Amber Nichols and two accompanying vocalists, who kicked-off the afternoon with some dreamy acoustic tunes. Next, we had James Pender with his acoustic guitar, who shared the stage with another male acoustic talent, followed by a female vocalist who played the flute - these guys played a range of covers and had many visitors stopped in their tracks to just watch, listen and enjoy. After the sun had set over the lake, we decided to turn up the beat a little and get DJ Jayo to fill the space with some funk and reggae music. Jayo's upbeat set saw the models from April's Caravan dancing up and down the staircase and into the crowd. Lastly, the night ended with Mr Michael luring the crowd into the Prosecco Bar, where he played his violin alongside DJ Doppel during a wonderful fashion parade coordinated by Haus Models. The fashion parade saw models showcase looks from the various Hustle&Scout stallholders. Each model channeled their wild side and wore animal masks to keep with the theme of 'Hustle' the stag and 'Scout' the fox - the two 'manimals' that represent the Hustle&Scout brand (by illustrator Alice Carroll). The models trotted, prowled and hopped around the magnificent circular Prosecco Bar at Palace Electric Cinema, and golden-ticket winners enjoyed front-row seats to the show. Throw in fresh, spring-themed $10 cocktails and we had ourselves a fabulous night filled with quirky surprises and a whole lot of personality.
I am now hard and work planning for the Summer market. It has been lovely having a week to recuperate after the first event, but I am more motivated than ever to make the next Hustle&Scout bigger and better. I am excited to announce that HotelHotel will be opening up on the first floor of the Nishi Building, which may see the next market spread across two levels of award-winning designed spaces, including a new bar and lounge for those who enjoy taking 5 with food and drink to soak up the atmosphere (in between shopping stints, of course). Applications for stallholders are currently open and I am on the hunt for interested musicians and entertainers to get in touch about contributing to the entertainment line-up. Spread the word, and the love, and I look forward to seeing you all on 14 December!
Photos: Courtesy of Ark Photography and Red Photography
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