Melbourne-based not-for-profit empowering young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, The Social Studio (TSS), has opened a new bricks and mortar retail space at Melbourne’s Collingwood Yards.
For the first time, the team has also taken the retail store experience online to create a TSS e-commerce platform that will open the social enterprise up to a nationwide audience.
The concept behind the stores is to celebrate up and coming Bla(c)k, indigenous, people of colour and culturally and linguistically diverse creatives across a range of products including apparel, accessories, and lifestyle items.
Alongside supporting makers from BIPOC and CALD backgrounds, the stores will continue to create opportunities for refugee and new migrant youth through education and employment, as well as funding their NFP fashion school. The retail stores will stock TSS’ in-house label, produced from up-cycled materials that have been salvaged from landfill.
“We’re thrilled to be throwing our support behind some of the country’s most exciting, socially-conscious makers,” TSS CEO, Dewi Cooke said.
“Our mission at the Studio is to celebrate and elevate the talents of diverse communities, and we hope that by creating this platform we will help to not only focus the spotlight on the incredible skills and talents of emerging BIPOC and CALD designers but amplify their stories and voices, too.”
TSS stocks labels including REMUSE, Badaam, North, Gammin Threads, Bananalands, Aneau, Companion, Beit e’Shai and Elnaz Ceramics.