Brisbane is home to so many incredible creatives making incredible things – if you love being able to wear the art you invest in (and which are often small batch or unique, one-off pieces) this list might be a good place to start.
Australiana prints, cute embroidery, fun clutches featuring ibises, hand knitted jumpers with Aussie phrases…what more could you want? From design to final detail, Alice makes all her pieces in her Brisbane studio with a focus on using secondhand, vintage, and locally produced fabrics. Check out her online store, it is chock-full of gorgeous things.
58 Vulture Street, West End
A combined workroom and shop with ethics and sustainability as a core part of its ethos, aiming to help people reconnect with the value of thoughtfully-made garments by offering an insight into the design process. Regularly designing and making in-store, Practice Studio also offers alterations and repairs on both new and well-loved clothes.
The shop features work by emerging designers who are producing seasonless collections, limited edition art-fashion pieces and short runs of garments and accessories. The perfect place for a really unique outfit or accessory, and you’re supporting emerging artists too!
Phoebe Sheehy aka Phoebe Paradise is a multi-disciplinary artist and entrepreneur, and the label has been operating since 2014.
Phoebe’s work often has a grungy, distinctly Queenslander feel. As far as wearable art, there are a number of tees in her online shop at the moment, and check out her gorgeous art prints while you’re there.
Bold, exciting prints and classic cuts – Jericho Road was started by two sisters and the pieces are designed in Brisbane but manufactured overseas (details here). They have regular fabulous collaborations with local artists like Debra Hood, Tiffany Atkin, and Bianca Jean Studio.
70 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley
Downes are the proud home of Australia’s largest range of Dr Martens shoes, boots, and accessories, and they post nationwide as well as further afield (postal service willing, given the pandemic).
Downes offers gift vouchers, available in-store or via post/email, and exchanges if the fit is not quite right. They also post shoes/boots/accessories/vouchers within one business day as you pay, with all stock onsite, if you are ordering online. They specialise in modification, rehab, and repair of Docs, if you’re looking for a super unique gift for a Doc-lover who doesn’t need another pair, or whose favourites are in need of some TLC.
I bought my Doc Martens at Downes, as a birthday gift to myself years ago, and can’t speak highly enough of the wonderful, friendly, patient and knowledgeable service.
Handmade intimates (bralettes, crops, undies, swimwear) in Tencel, Merino and Organic Cotton. Simple cuts, soft fabrics, fun colours – no bows, no frills, and no tight elastics or hardware.
A fashion label from Brisbane sisters Bianca and Kiara Bulley, ready to wear and bespoke pieces “for the culturally curious and romantically inclined”. Lots of ruffles and unusual silhouettes, and I personally love their floaty dresses and fabulous corsets.
Looking for fabulous secondhand and vintage fashion? Check out Day 1: Buying Secondhand
Backstreet Brisbane 
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