With a highly curated selection of over 100 local and international brands, the retail trade show for original and ethically made gifts and design returns from 28 to 30 July 2022 at Meat Market in North Melbourne.
Buyers and industry professionals can find unique products in categories such as fashion, jewellery, ceramics, stationery, homewares, kids’ products and more.
“We’re Australia’s premier retail trade platform for creative brands looking to connect with like-minded creative retailers,” owner and director, Simon Obarzanek, states.
Indeed, established design brands including Orbitkey, Write to Me, Luxtech, Nature Footwear Australia, Sands Made, Erin Lightfoot Studio, Capra Designs and Tightology will be showcasing their latest collections at the fair.
Sands Made’s homewares range spreads over quite a few price points and products, so the typical customer could be anyone from a wedding planner to a commercial food stylist to a young couple looking to equip their kitchen with objects they won’t have to replace, says designer and founder, Robbie Sands.
“Despite the varied demographic, their attitudes are often similar; the product’s form is minimal and usually attracts the eye of someone who likes simplicity,” she explains.
“Timber homeware design and production is largely dominated by international brands whose products are often a race to the bottom in terms of quality, price and environmental sustainability. I think my product is a unique blend of high production quality and materials with a realistic, accessible price point. Matching this with a consistent minimal design approach has been what sets my product apart in the market.”
Don’t miss new labels such as Carla Dinnage, ceramics, ethical fashion label Care By Me, quirky sock label Chatty Feet, Elodie jewellery and Melbourne-made clothing brand Rice Paper the Label.
Rice Paper the Label has been built around transparency as a concept, says founder, Eve Walton-Healey. The customer can see through all layers of the brand and its ethics, just like looking through the layers of rice paper.
“Every year I release two collections based on autumn/winter and spring/summer seasons. I’m always working on expanding the types of garments we are releasing. What’s becoming just as important for the label are categories like accessories and sleepwear,” she says.
Make sure you check out the handmade gourmet foods section where brands including Misty’s Salted Caramel, Mount Zero Olives, BatchMade, MOOD Tea and Indigenous bush foods from Kakadu Plum Co will be on hand to show retailers why this is an increasingly popular category.
“My customers are fine food lovers who appreciate delicious locally made products and support other local businesses,” says Misty’s Salted Caramel founder, Misty Walsh.
“They read food labels, they want to know what’s in their products and where these ingredients are sourced. They also love Misty’s Salted Caramel because of the nostalgic feeling they get from high quality homemade products.”
Creative and ethical kids brands include Bobby Stitch (high-quality wearables for little people), Buttonworks natural timber puzzles, the latest illustrated books from Red Parka, prints from newcomers Wally Paper Co and childrenswear built with purpose for sensory stimulation from Wild Warriors.
Also, this year The Big Design Trade welcomes a host of exciting new brands from around the world such as cutlery label Deejo (Paris), elizabethW (artisanal fragrances), Blabla Kids (toys and décor) and We Dream of Colour (jewellery) from the US, as well as Studio ROOF from Amsterdam and Berlin brand I Like Paper.
To register for The Big Design Trade in Melbourne click here.
