A former Congregational Church hall and caretaker's residence in Peel Street Collingwood will transform into a First Nations fashion hub, thanks to support from Yarra City Council and the Victorian Government's Creative Neighbourhoods Partnerships Program.
KIN Fashion is the first tenant in the building, which will showcase the work of nine, up and coming First Nations designers, and aims to become a centre for innovation, collaboration and ethical manufacturing in the Australian fashion industry.
KIN Fashion will launch their designs in Federation Square at the Melbourne Fashion Festival next month.
The Creative Neighbourhoods Partnerships Program supports local councils to reinvigorate vacant heritage sites to help revitalise neighbourhoods into creative precincts.
Yarra has the highest percentage of residents who work in the creative arts industry, and features iconic live music venues, more than 60 galleries and artist run spaces, rehearsal spaces, peak arts organisations, radio stations, film production houses, and recording studios.
Yarra's Room to Create Program aims to keep the arts in Yarra by supporting eligible artists and arts organisations and fostering more affordable and sustainable creative spaces.
The Peel Street site is currently leased under a temporary lease arrangement until 30 June 2023.
KIN Fashion secured the lease as part of a competitive EOI process.
An EOI for the long-term tenancy for the building and submissions are currently open. Submit an EOI for the site online.
Creative organisations and artist collectives are encouraged to apply, with the view the space will be used for the purposes of artist studios and/or as an administration centre of an arts organisation.
