Style that shields: Step into designers’ pop-up shop

A UNIQUE collection of designer clothing and artful accessories is filling The Unicorn Collection with a sense of drama.

The newly launched Step Into Armour pop-up shop features the collaborative creations of Melbourne fashion designer Jude Ng and Ballarat jewellery designer-maker Dearne Mills of Mainichi.

Running for three months, it follows on from the Ng-Mills collaboration that featured as part of Ballarat Craft and Design Week’s BOUND exhibition earlier this year.

“We got a pretty incredible response during BOUND, and this is an opportunity for anyone who missed us then,” Mills said.

The project re-imagines the traditional three-piece suit through layered, repurposed materials, while playing with notions of wearing clothing as “armour” with which to face the world.

The curated collection of contemporary unisex fashion features handmade apparel, jewellery and accessories, with a focus on sustainability and playfulness.

“We’re all about recycling and re-purposing,” Mills said.

Ng said their ethos with clothing is to create “slow fashion”.

“One-of-a-kind, artisanal pieces,” Ng said.

The pieces are all available for purchase and Mills said stock will be regularly updated throughout the duration of the pop-up.

The Unicorn Collection residency will also feature Ng and Mills respectively leading workshops including fashion re-purposing and jewellery-making.

In addition, the pop-up offers a chance to chat to Mills while she works on her creations in-house, while Ng will also be offering personal styling sessions.

“It’s an interactive retail space, a chance to meet the maker,” Ng said.

More details and updates can be found on each of the designers’ websites. The Unicorn Collection is at 131 Sturt Street.