We've reached that time of year where Canberrans are slowly re-awakening from their Summer holiday slumber. I for one belong to the bunch of 'I am not ready to face reality/ still-in-holiday-mode' sticklers. The recent heatwave throughout Canberra has, in addition to sending some of us into a hazy and lazy la la land, initiated a semi-change of season. The leaves have changed colour and residents are reaching for their rakes quicker than their coronas - you could have fooled me Summer, it feels like your dear buddy Autumn might make a premature arrival this year. Although I am not quite ready for Summer's impending departure, Autumn does mark a new shift in the world of fashion and, [drumroll], another Hustle&Scout!
[If you hadn't got the memo already - the next market is 12 April and applications to be a stallholder close next week on 30 January. Be there folks, we have lots of new applicants which is super exciting].
Did you make it along to the Summer market? I'm going to have a nostalgic moment and look back to our second-ever market. This event incorporated 11 additional stalls compared with the inaugural market, which was made possible by the timely opening of Hotel Hotel - thank you thank you. Stalls were scattered throughout the Nishi foyer and patio area, and throughout the Hotel Hotel foyer, including the new entertainment space 'Deadset'. We had a colourful mix of stalls on show, many of which showcased sustainable pieces such as the upcycled jewellery by 9 Lives Re-Creation, hats and fascinators by Sovata, zero-waste designs for guys and gals by SZN, organic cotton and veggie-dyed pieces by Pure Pod, second-hand treasures by Librarian Chic, April's Caravan and Landspeed Clothing, vintage-fabric bow-ties and ties by Dressed for Sunday, and much more.
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| Hotel Hotel. Photo: Martin Ollman |
Throughout the evening we had roaming models from April's Caravan sashaying up and down the Nishi staircase between dramatic platforms where they grooved and posed and 'played house', true to the April's Caravan signature style. Then, tucked away in various nooks and crannies of the Hotel Hotel foyer, Haus Models were being photographed by pro-photographer Leighton Hutchinson. The models, who are the most recent additions to the Haus family, were styled by none other than the lovely Annie Brown and Steve Wright.
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| The not-so-camera-shy Lym, for April's Caravan. Photo: Martin Ollman |
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| Jay is styled by Steve Wright and wears pants by Corr Blimey and neck piece by SZN | Cinzia is styled by Annie Brown and wears cocktail dress by Sofia Polak and skull necklace by Rockstars & Royalty. Photo: Leighton Hutchinson |
On the musical front, we welcomed Matt Barnes, drummer of local indie outfit Lavers, who graced us with a beautiful acoustic set before he was joined by the rest of his band for a bangin' set (these guys definitely captured the attention of many a passer-by who found a perch on the Nishi staircase to sit and enjoy the music). We also had local duo Beth n'Ben play, which was a real treat (these guys are currently numero 6 on the Triple J unearthed roots chart!). DJ Louderest topped the night off with a mixture of pop and house tunes. Music is an important part of the Hustle&Scout experience. The big dream is to continue to connect our creative community, whether it be through design, music, photography, modelling, blogging or illustration - this event is more than just a fashion market, it's a celebration of the senses.
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| Lavers. Photo: Canberra Times |
The great thing about our Summer market was that punters were keen to squeeze in a few drinks in between shopping stints. Palace Electric served up their always-delicious $10 Hustle&Scout cocktails, and the Hotel Hotel bar was all buzz and booze amidst bargains and bustle. Palace Electric also had a special 2-4-1 movie deal on for 3 weeks around Hustle&Scout which was redeemable by presenting a Hustle&Scout flyer. Those efficient shoppers who finished their market loop early were able to grab a bite of dinner and catch a movie later in the night. Can't think of a better sequence of entertainment, really (yes I am bias, but the fashion-food-film combo is probably one of best).
This is going to be an exciting year ahead and I am really looking forward to welcoming some new talent to the Hustle&Scout family for our Autumn market. We already have some musical funksters on board, which I shall be annoucning soon, and the new Hustle&Scout illustration by Alice Carroll is underway. I am also looking forward to continuing to work with our event partners, Hotel Hotel, Palace Electric and Haus Models - it is a wonderful feeling collaborating with other businesses who share a similar vision for thinking outside the box and giving back to the creative community. A mere three weeks after our April market, Fashfest will return to Canberra - bigger and better than ever on 30 April, 1, 2, 3 May. I don't know about you, but I'll be looking to buy an outfit or two from the market to wear to Fashfest - any excuse!
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| The talented Scott Holgate, Tropfest 2012 finalist & New York Tropfest finalist 2013 |
CHECK OUT THIS PROMO INTERVIEW FROM OUR LAST MARKET: https://vimeo.com/84569926