THIS SUNDAY - to MARKit ... Fed square et al

Its cold out side... but when you think of all the flurry of energy and creative brain space that is happening in Melbourne town at the moment, you cant help but feel the warm inner glow!

So much activity .. its like friction.. rub those bark and wood pieces together and Fire will be yours! Well this Sunday that fire may burn a hole in your pocket!

Can you believe it.. the State of Design Festival is not even upon us yet, and Federation Square is to play host to not one but TWO design markets this coming Sunday..

In the CARPARK are of Federation Square - you will find all sorts of incredible DESIGN focused stalls, some more established labels that others - look out for NEST and Melbourne's own KeepCUP to name just a few - there is a promise of many new Stall holders this year... so worth heading down..

Beware.. there are CROWDS at these things... and you may want to be aware - not all stall holders have EFTPOS or Credit card.

The inaugural MARK it ( reference to decorative and illustrative design) market in the Atrium will bring some new player to the already successful market precinct with local design favourites such as Beci Orpin, our own tour hotspot Corky St Claire ( look out for their special signage made just for the event!) and my own personal BLine will be made for these great little note books!

OH and f course there will also be the Arts Centre Sunday Market - up on the Lawn area on St Kilda road - due to the Hamer Hall renovations..

Wave if you see us!.. we love show and tell....

Fiona

Fashion ADDICTS... - September Issue on for Free at FED Square

Film Buff's, some hilights of the 2009 MIFF festival will be on show at Federation Square this month! head on down to the big screen, and perhaps join us for the wonderful insider film THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE - to be shown on Thursday 18 February, 7.00pm

Hang out on the Deck chairs.. and enjoy the FREEdom...

grab a friend.. and soak it in .. we'll be there..

An engrossing glimpse into the life of Vogue Editor, Anna Wintour and the glamour of the fashion biz.

The guys and gals at  Madman have arranged all the legal stuff to get it on the screen for you, so go support them... The picture here is shown courtesy of the Promotional Material of the Film in 2009

FREE fashion Seminar Feb 19 - Sustainable Living Festival

The Sustainable Living Festival started this weekend - 6th - 21st Feb - so many things to see and learn- this is one we can highly recommend!

A forum  at BMW Edge Feb 19th - with Australia's leading ethical and sustainable fashion experts including Cameron Neil, Emer Diveney, Sue Thomas, Grace McQuilten and Tiffany Treloar. Hosted by Kate Luckins.Following a very successful ethical fashion forum hosted by Alice Euphemia earlier in the year,This will be an opportunity to ask all the questions about fair trade, sustainable textiles and design principles, while picking up some tangible tips to reduce their fashion footprints.

Cameron Neil is the Operations Manager for the Australian and New Zealand branches of Fairtrade. He has founded 'otherWISE' - a capacity-building program that educates young people about sustainable consumption. Cameron is a very well-informed and engaging speaker with many ideas about how the fashion industry can embrace sustainability and get the Fairtrade stamp of approval.

Emer Diveney has a solid background both within the fashion industry and the corporate responsibility sector. She is the author of numerous research reports on the social and environmental impacts of the Australian fashion industry. Emer is the National Coordinator of Ethical Clothing Australia and is Chair of the RMIT Fashion Program Advisory Committee.

Sue Thomas is a renowned sustainable fashion academic from RMIT University (The Fashion Department, Architecture and Design). She is currently completing her PhD in Sustainable Fashion Ethics and Buddhism while she teaches the RMIT fashion students. Sue's witty commentary can often be heard on the radio as she is one of Australia's sustainable fashion experts.

In 2009 Grace McQuilten founded the Social Studio, a not-for-profit organisation which facilitates education and employment pathways for the young refugee community in Melbourne. Grace's interest in social enterprise developed after working in community development for several years, along with extensive research on the relationship between design, sustainability and social change.

Tiffany Treloar has been sewing since she was just 10 years old and she has been working in the fashion design industry throughout various incarnations of her own label. In recent times, she is working towards a complete synergy between her environmental values and her work. This journey has influenced her design process, studio footprint and material selections for her collection entitled PROJECT 332.

Kate Luckins is the founder of The Clothing Exchange, a unique clothes swapping event that has inspired a swapping movement in Australia! She has a Masters of Fashion from RMIT University (on sustainable fashion consumption) and is currently finishing her PhD research into the sustainable lifestyles of young people. Kate is a sustainable consumption researcher who writes for Peppermint Magazine

Wireless - free or otherwise - this is not New York!

Its Wednesday morning and a lovely friend of Fiona's, Romy - amazing local paste up adventurer.. called for a catch up, and her limitations were that she needs to access the internet...  I wont get into the broadband debate.. but suffice to say there really is a lot to be learned from the practice of FREE wireless that abounds in NEW YORK.... to be able to leave the office for even just an hour and sit in a park, and do some catch up on the all important Vitamin D.. as well as little social networking, or general emails...
    WHY doesn't Melbourne have more of it!  So today is my starting effort to share those little gems of Wireless Hotspots.. where business owners are keen to keep your loyalty by sharing the love and their Wireless access.

As with all things of Hidden Secrets Tours... we are not out to exploit such generosity.. I will scout out those that actually tell you of their services!..

1. first of the rank FED SQUARE... the WHOLE place is free!!! - Swanston Street, Melbourne
2. The New Middle Park Hotel  - Canterbury Road, Middle Park
3. Presse Cafe Wine Bar - Brighton Road, Elwood

Please stay intouch and tell us any that you know of! - PS.. this is one of Romy's Paste ups... at Wall280 cafe Balaclava...

x Fiona