@melanie_caple in her custom German velvet suit with silk melon lining and gold button details. The first suit I made in this lush velvet. Sadly the cost of this beautiful fabric has gone up so much it is now too expensive for the local fabric store owner I buy it from to import. When I heard that I said, give me everything you have left!! So I have one big roll left, enough for maybe 3-4 suits, and then it is gone. Things are tough in the local trade at the moment, fabric stores and local designers are struggling with price hikes and there is a huge shortage of local tailors and machinists due to COVID. Part of this for small designers like me is the fact that large companies like Bardot or Forever new are beginning to make things in Australia because importing is becoming more difficult. It sounds like that might be a good thing, but it’s really undercutting all the businesses that were already doing so, and we all know the second they can get things made back in China with ease, they will. We are doing our absolute best to get everything made as fast as we can - we promise! It’s in our interest to, there is no personal benefit in me taking too long. Trust me, I’m hustling! Most of the people that make my clothes are women with children and elderly parents to care for so it’s a very unpredictable time with all that is going on, two of my tailors have had family members tragically pass away due to it all. I myself have been in and out of lockdown with my kids since opening my store, and am so grateful to my friends and the Northcote community for supporting and keeping our little space alive! This shit ain’t over yet as we all know. If you like having cafes, music venues, restaurants and little shops down in Northcote to visit, Come visit High st and see us! Don’t take it for granted that it will be there forever, we have to fight for the things we love about Melbourne as a community! Thank you so much to all the people that come visit and play dress ups share our space- we love you! Xxx Anna 📸 @everyday_nicky