Hello fellow travellers! How often do you pause and listen to the voice of the city you’re visiting?
This thought has been lingering in my mind after watching this video from Renew Adelaide, an initiative showcasing the warm hospitality, the old school service and creative sparks which apparently are in abundance around this Southern state of Australia.
What strikes me is the saying that nothing beats a visit to your favorite local boutiques, chat to those like-minded people whom you cross your path with, share passion and excitement for your most recent buy. Are you the type of shoppers who always loves a good chat with the girl at the register at your local grocery, getting so carried away that you forget the mission you’re there for? If you’re nodding your head, I guarantee you’ll feel at home shopping in these local boutiques in Adelaide…
Work Shop
151 Hindley St Adelaide
If you want to mingle with local design talents, head straight to this creative fashion hub called Work Shop where the four in-house designers, Julie White, Alice Rawlinson, Gemma Stocks and Lachy Lang showcase their fashion creation from the first sketch to the last stitch. If you’re a massive vintage junkies like myself, a visit to Work Shop guarantees some delightful time stepping into the closet of the grand ladies of Adelaide from your granny’s generations.
T Bar Tea Shop
44 Gouger St Adelaide
T Bar blossomed from a humble origins – a causal afternoon cup of tea around the kitchen table at the home of Peggy who now runs three T Bar Tea Shop in the city. Peggy’s fondness of tea was nurtured at a very young age through her widowed mother, who loved to invite other local women to drop by her place for a cup of spiced black tea after the death of their husband. It was her mother’s warmheartedness who’s given T Bar a beautiful soul that melts the heart of her loyal tea drinkers – a sip of tea brings back the fond memories of causal tea chat around the kitchen table. Don’t go home without buying their chai latte syrup – a magical of Daintree black tea, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. Drizzle it over vanilla ice cream and – viola! You’re in tea lover’s heaven.
Wild Child Style Lab
167/171 King William Road, Hyde Park
This fashion boutique is indeed the ‘wild child’ of the local fashion icon Carol Foord, who firmly believes that old school service is not to be forgotten in the digital age, albeit also running an online store. Possessing great passion for fashion as well as home design and furniture, she has created Stylelab – The Warhouse on Chapel Street Norwood, a creative space where people gather for a cup of coffee, lounge in their warehouse and have a chat with one of their stylists about a home makeover or a wardrobe overhaul, looking for style inspirations on the big screen. Rather than a wild child, I can totally see Carol being the smart child by integrating their physical presence with digital and online.
Jam Factory
19 Morphett St Adelaide
Jam Factory – sounds delicious! Doesn’t it? Those seeking a feast to tame the sugar cravings will be disappointed, but certainly not for those seeking to feed their creative soul. This not-for-profit organization has been the creative hub of Adelaide for over 40 years, a beautiful place for nurturing local art and craft talents with traineeship programs and workshop, as well as a galley type store showing their masterpiece to the local communities and tourists.
Haigh’s Chocolate
154, Greenhill Road, Parkside (Chocolate Factory – various retail stores across SA)
I’m a dreamer, literally. I dream a lot, whether it is at my work desk or during my bedtime! This is one of the craziest, and most delicious dream I’ve had for a couple of times when I was a small girl: I was being locked up on my own in a enormous chocolate factory, wandering and lost, yet I was in heaven. When I stumbled upon Haigh’s Chocolate Factory in Parkside Adelaide, it was a de-ja vu. With its European heritage, South Australians love their chocolate indulging moments, and one family knows how to capture the state with this addictive aroma of cocoa beans and took Haigh’s chocolate from a family run store to the chocolate empire in nearly 100 years’ time. Today, this iconic South Australian brand still insists on giving hand finishing and hand packing some of their gourmet produce. It’s quite true to say each bite of Haigh’s brings you the taste of the heart and soul of Adelaide and its rich history.
There is something these Adelaide boutiques seem to have in common, a commitment to good old-fashioned service, that personal touch and a colourful, heartwarming story behind how they grew their businesses yet preserving their local soul.
So tell me Dear Readers, have you come across any boutiques while on your journey that you feel it embraces the soul of the city? I’d love to listen to your travel tales!
x
Juliet
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post but opinions are my own.
Image credit: South Australian Tourism Commission
