The Eastern Riverina Arts creative business project, RENEW WAGGA, is continuing to breathe new life into the Wagga Wagga CBD with two new artists taking up residence in Tompson Street in July, one of which is Middlemost, featuring the Shy Fox Pop-Up.
The creative and economic benefits of RENEW WAGGA can be seen in the increased foot traffic in the areas, the reactivation of the CBD and a boost to local creative practitioners. Janine Middlemost is the creator of the eclectic fashion label Middlemost, filing her shop with recycled fabrics and unique designs while also providing workshops to the community. She considers each garment to be a piece of wearable art. The environmental impact of fast fashion and clothing/textile waste is taken into account with Ms Middlemost’s considered approach to every piece.
Appearing as a pop-up within Middlemost, is Millie Hocking’s The Shy Fox. Exhibiting a love of Australian flora, Millie’s textile designs highlight the importance of upcycling to reduce clothing and textile waste. Ms Hocking encourages sewing and upcycling through her kits and workshops and hopes to use her passion to continue exploring and loving Australian flora.
Ms Claire Harris, Creative Business Officer for Eastern Riverina Arts is excited to see the next phase of RENEW WAGGA taking shape. “The launch of our first two creative businesses F.Stop Workshop and The Little Yellow House Gallery and Studio were a great success. Since opening, both businesses have enjoyed impressive retail sales and well-attended workshops, not to mention the general increase of foot traffic in an area that had really slowed down in recent years.”
“It’s exciting to know there are two more years to this project ahead, we are on the path for really invigorating the Wagga Wagga CBD and unleashing our creative spirit and developing some great foundations for local creative businesses,” said Ms Harris.