The country charm of children’s clothing in the Block Arcade

JODIE Porter has been a successful Ballarat businesswoman for twenty-five years, recently catapulting her distinct range of children’s clothing to the enchanting Country and Vintage Babes shopfront in the Block Arcade.

She’s succeeded in growing her business from a home-based party-plan enterprise to country markets and retail shopfronts as well as adapting to the lucrative online market, allowing her to sell and ship her hand-made garments around the globe.

Jodie used her personal experience as a new mum and her sewing skills, passed on by her own mother, to create an all-Australian children’s hand-made, country-inspired clothing line made of classic, durable fabrics such as corduroy, ginghams, linen, cottons and moleskins.

Her first retail store, Country Babes, opened in Buninyong in 2000.

She then set out on the road visiting agricultural fields days, and still does to this day, with Jodie’s loyal customers eagerly awaiting her new lines.

“This is where my brand began. It was the bread and butter of my business in those early days, and our customers have remained so loyal over the years,” she said.

Jodie firmly believes her commitment to quality and durability is what keeps people coming back.

She still cuts the fabric herself and employs a group of like-minded people to help sew and work in her Country and Vintage Babes store.

Jodie is fastidious about the fabrics she uses. Everything is Australian made, sourced mostly from Melbourne, where she said the quality is unmatched.

“Clothing that lasts longer than one child, that’s what I’m chasing,” she said.

“Our moleskin coats last for generations because the fabric is made in Australia. No one offshore has ever been able to replicate the same quality that we can achieve here. It’s that good.”

Jodie’s team loves talking to people about the babies and children they are buying for and helping them with their purchases.

“In this disposable world we live in, people really appreciate hand-made clothing, particularly for babies,” she said. “It’s something very personal and precious that can be handed down.”

Jodie’s ability to change colours and fabrics to match the seasons and new trends, while maintaining that classic country style that doesn’t date, is what has kept her clothing line relevant and popular with new mums and grandmothers who have gravitated to her store.

Her children’s clothing lines include a selection of adorable baby doll floral and check designed rompers, dresses and boy’s wear that is both durable and on trend, with a touch of country.

In addition to her own clothing lines, Jodie carries a selection of popular organic items, vintage cars and children’s vintage suitcases.

Country and Vintage Babes caters for newborns to children of eight years and can be found in the Block Arcade, entry via Doveton Street or Myer.

You can also shop online at countryandvintagebabes.com.au or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.