Ethical retail venture The Social Studio (TSS) has launched its first stand-alone store at Melbourne Central to take its designs to the mainstream market.
The TSS pop-up shop, which will remain open until September, marks the first project of this size for the non-profit organisation and will be home to regular workshops, events, and the clothing collections.
A TSS spokesperson said the organisation launched the new store, located on level 1 at Melbourne Central, to increase awareness of The Social Studio and give “customers the chance to get their hands on unique designs hand-made by TSS design students”.
“The Social Studio do sell clothing from their workshop in Collingwood, however the Melbourne Central pop-up store is their first stand-alone store. They wanted to broaden their reach and bring in new customers, so a store in Melbourne Central was a perfect way to do this.”
The store will feature the recently released TSS3 autumn/winter line from The Social Studio, and will also provide an opportunity for TSS students to learn the ropes of the retail world, with students set to man the shop floor. All income generated from the sale of clothing will be funnelled back into the enterprise to provide retail and fashion training for refugees and new migrants.
The TSS3 collection, produced by current TSS students, includes 20 pieces in velvet and silk and features techniques inspired by Mana Couture, such as hand-dyeing and detailed pleating.Key colours for the collection range from creamy pastels to inky blues, charcoal, fiery reds and orange.
Garments from the TSS3 line retail from $40 to $295 and the pop-up store will be open every day except public holidays from 10am – 6pm.
For more information, see: www.thesocialstudio.org