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“We’ve been quite lucky in that when we opened there was a specific focus and that was on small designers, primary local, Geelong people, Melbourne people,” McLaren said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had some international artists as well, but always with a really grassroots focus, people that were independent and things that are handmade.”<\/p>\n
“We do have some big designers, Elk and Nancy bird and The Horse, but they’re grassroot companies, Australian start-ups, which is what we’re really passionate about.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The style at Quirk Collective, as the name suggests, is unique and unusual, although never lacking in creativity or aesthetics.<\/p>\n “It’s eclectic, we’re pretty colourful and we’re not into trends as much, luckily our tastes have aligned with trends, but I think our style as the name suggests is things that are a little different and things that are hard to find,” McLaren said.<\/p>\n The store itself is bright with a modern aesthetic, filled with equally colourful and unique gifts, with an emphasis on unique.<\/p>\n “Since moving into our current store, our shopfront now is twice as big, bright and colourful and a real mixed bag,” McLaren said.<\/p>\n “It’s layered, you really need to do a few laps of the store to see everything.”<\/p>\n At Quirk Collective, every item has been made by small run, limited edition or one-offs, often handmade, all by locals or unique small-scale artists with aligning philosophy.<\/p>\n Everything stocked in the store is small run, limited edition, or one-offs dreamed up and often handmade by locals, or artists who have a unique ethos.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Homewares from vases to mugs to incense holders and a kid’s section of toys, apparel and bedding all fit the cheerful and modern aesthetic.<\/p>\n Australian-made watches and jewellery and fragrances line the shelves and are available online.<\/p>\n Online, the store even has a ‘Geelong Design + Made’ section, all of which is available in store too, and stocks everything from candles, tea and stationery to artwork, clothes, and jewellery.<\/p>\n McLaren said each thing that is sold in the store is carefully chosen, with their vision in mind.<\/p>\n “It’s based on their story, whether they are something that’s unique and locally made, and difficult to source elsewhere.”<\/p>\n In many ways McLaren said the store still felt like a creative labour of love, and one that perfectly balanced her work as a full-time English and literature teacher.<\/p>\n “I used to sow and create handbags, and that was how the idea for quirk began, to sell my own process.<\/p>\n “It’s a big part of my identity, I talk about it as if it’s a second child, because it is a labour of love. I’m really lucky to be able to balance the work alongside my work as a secondary school teacher.<\/p>\n “[Teaching] is such an emotional profession so it’s been lovely to have something creative to spill off to outside of that.<\/p>\n “It’s a bit of creative release for me, really.<\/p>\n “I do find it hard, especially at this time of year to be juggling both, but I’ve been really lucky that I’ve got a very fantastic group of staff members that have been with me a really long time.”<\/p>\n To find out more or shop the collection online, head to quirkcollective.com.au.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Quirk Collective opened its doors 10 years ago as an outlet for secondary school teacher Kate McLaren, who has a creative streak and a love of all things locally made, colourful and unique. Today, Quirk Collective is the local go-to if you are looking for anything by little makers or indie designs in Geelong West. […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/weirdly-sized-image-81-600x380.png?_t=1671503218\")
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