Instead of heading to the shopping centre this weekend, why not visit some local boutiques around Brisbane – it’s a great way to find unique products, explore local neighbourhoods and discover new brands. Here’s a list of eight gorgeous retail spaces where you can shop local and hand-made products and show your support to local businesses both big and small.
Perch and Pantry, Cleveland
(main article image – Michelle from Perch and Pantry)
Perch and Pantry is a cosy, inviting shop filled with earthy colours and organic tones. They specialise in sustainable, fair trade and handmade home wares, gift and lifestyle products that don’t cost the earth. This cosy shop features mud cloth cushions by Restore Grace, Mojo Candle Co soy candles, Kim Wallace ceramics, Ivy & Wood mason jar candles and aromatherapy, Lindy Lou Jewellery, Song Bird Collection whistle necklaces and more.
Website: www.perchandpantry.com.au
Instagram: @Perchandpantry
Millie Jones, Jindalee
Millie Jones is an inviting and beautiful lifestyle boutique with a great collection of gifts, home décor, women’s fashion, candles, jewellery, handbags and baby clothes and accessories.
Some amazing brands stocked here include Glasshouse candles and difusers, Celia Loves candles, Rollie shoes, Elk clothing, Keep Oh hanging vases, Jones & Co ceramics, Nudie Rudie playmats, Tiger Tribe children’s games, Bon Maxie wallets and Lala Land Australian inspired gifts. There is even a dedicated corner for children within their store, which makes it a perfect place for them to play while you shop.
Website: www.milliejones.com.au
Instagram: @milliejones.boutique
Thousand Island Dressing, Paddington
This gorgeous Paddington boutique is filled with a rainbow of accessories. It’s the perfect place to find a quirky addition to you or a friend’s wardrobe. At Thousand Island Dressing you’ll find Hello Joy leather earrings, Lalu pop culture icon inspired earrings, Fat Mango Earrings, Debra Hood brooches, Theresa E Designs PVC clutches, Sooshichacha greeting cards, Lala Land Australian themed greeting cards, Mazdevallia colourful clay earrings, Karla Cola headbands and many, many more.
Website: www.thousandislanddressing.com
Instagram: @thousandislandpaddington
Vend Marketplace, Virginia
VEND Marketplace is a stunning, open-plan retail space, open seven days a week. It is home to over eighty shops run by local small businesses, including Boomerang Bags, Chris Riley Art, Mugwa Cottage, Sconnie & Jam, Eco Pout Australia, Lionel the Label and plenty of others. You’ll find everything from up-cycled furniture, to handmade ceramics, to women’s and kid’s fashion, to body products. Not to mention loads of plants. VEND also has it’s own cafe, which provides great quality food and coffee, all sourced locally. In this unique retail space you’ll also find an upstairs area for workshops, as well as a greenhouse space for functions. VEND brings family, friends and local businesses together to create a positive, supportive and sustainable community of shoppers.
Website: www.vendmarketplace.com.au
Instagram: @vendmarketplace
The Happy Cabin, West End
This awesome independent store in West End stocks men’s and women’s fashion brands from Australia and around the world. The Happy Cabin really is just that – a happy and cosy cabin-like store stocked full of handpicked clothing and accessories for life in the outdoors. Stocking brands such as Frank Green, Jericho Road, Ivy & Wood, Afends, Salt Water Sandals, Kanken, Bimby & Roy, Dr Denim, Happy Sock and more, there’s something for everyone. The Happy Cabin is open 10am until 5pm, Mondays to Sundays and also stocks great gifts such as enamel pins, puzzles, greeting cards, key-rings and socks.
Website: www.thehappycabin.com.au
Instagram: @thehappycabin
Open House, West End
In April 2019, local makers, Blaklash and Box Vintage joined forces to create Open House Collective: a dynamic community venue and boutique retail store. Open House stocks an array of slow fashion, vintage clothing, local makers and designers, one-off hand-made products and Aboriginal art and products. Some of the carefully curated products include Freak Street t-shirts, Amber’s Food Wraps, Giggle Suds handmade soaps, Houses of West End tea towels, The Sewloist clothing and accessories, Nelson Molloy clothing, Magpie Goose clothing, Bananalands tote bags, Busy Head earrings, Dale Chapman’s cookbook and more. Not only is Open House a beautiful retail space, but it also doubles as a studio, workshop and art gallery on occasions.
Website: www.openhousecollective.com
Instagram: @openhousewestend
Mott & Mulberry, Indooroopilly
A family business founded in 2012, Mott & Mulberry strives to provide great quality gifts while supporting and showcasing the best of Australian artists and designers from across the continent. Mott & Mulberry stocks a wide variety of unique gifts, including Tiff Manuell PVC clutches and keyrings, Happy Socks, Elk accessories, Down the Rabbit Hole earrings, Bopo Women oils and perfumes, Palm Beach candles, Huxter soap, Jones & Co face vases, Erin Lightfoot ceramic vases and earrings, Squirrel Design Studio handcrafted greeting cards, Hall & Wares hand-carved animal hooks and Vendula London bags, to name a few.
Website: www.mottandmulberry.com.au
Instagram: @mottandmulberry
The Common Thread, Bulimba
The Common Thread stocks a curated collection of ethical and sustainable wares for women, mothers and children. This coastal-themed boutique features dresses from Arnhem, linen staples from the M|N|ML, swimwear from Salty Gypsy, sneakers from Veja, children’s swimwear from Cosmo Crew, beauty products from Dunkle Authentic, The Beach People towels and beach accessories and coconut palm slides from Bulibasha Style. The Common Thread’s goal is to provide the local community with products that are good for the planet, while supporting local makers and companies who are also passionate about sustainability.
Website: www.thecommonthreadstore.com
Instagram: @thecommonthread_
The Nook, West End
The Nook is a sweet little cottage-like shop filled with quirky and colourful finds, mixed in with a whole lot of greenery. Open Wednesdays to Saturdays at 10am until 3pm, here you’ll find perfect gifts for those hard to buy friends, or a perfect gift for yourself. The Nook stocks jewellery by Togetherness Designs and Denz and Co, ceramics by Robert Gordon and Liquorice Moon, beauty products and oils by Bopo Women, bags by Baggu, clothing by Coy Street, candles by Sèsame, 1000 piece puzzles by Journey of Something and an array of books, magazines and greeting cards.
Website: www.nookbrisbane.com
Instagram: @nookbrisbane
