Strand Arcade Kicks Off a Month of Celebrations with Their 20th Annual Evening With Our Designers Event

We’ve partnered with Strand Arcade to bring you their Evening With Our Designers event, highlighting the events we're most looking forward to. 

Sydney Icon Strand Arcade opened its doors after dark on Thursday, 10th August, for the official kick-off of their 20th annual Evening With Our Designers series that will continue throughout August. True to form, the event was a celebration of Australian design and bespoke experiences. Creed hosted a signature scent masterclass whilst guests were able to enjoy suit styling sessions with Mister Mister and complimentary shoe shines from The Prince Consort’s Shoe Shine. 

Creative Director and Designer Rebecca Vallance-Gasan was on hand to chat through her latest collection in-store as well as Sarah Munro and Robert Sebastian of Sarah & Sebastian and Creative Director Camilla Freeman-Topper of Camilla & Marc. Shoppers were also able to sip on Malfy Gin cocktails whilst taking in the grand heritage building that houses some of Australia’s most renowned designers and artisan stores.

The Celebrations Continue 

But if you missed out on the opening night, all is not lost! The festivities will continue throughout the month with fashion, culture and art activations bound to inspire. 

Book lovers are invited to enjoy the Book Club and Espresso Martinis series led by all-around creative and Sydney local Jordan Turner. Each Thursday at Romolo Espresso e Cucina will see a different literary guest pop-up.‘Books To Get You Back Into Reading’, with special guest Jane Turner of Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore will cover the books she loves to sell and share, guaranteed to hook you in. ‘Books on Modern Love’ with guests Charlotte Ree, Author and Publisher, and Lucy Pearson, Book Blogger, will delve into the search for love in the modern era. As for ‘Books That Inspire Creativity’, guests Yasmin Suteja, Creative Director, and Ali White, Content Creator, will chat through the books that have led them through to their own creative breakthroughs. You can secure a place for all events here. 

For fashion fanatics, Australian stylist Nicole Bonython will be sharing the latest trends and insider tips and tricks to help you elevate your wardrobe throughout the last week of August. Sessions will be running on Thursday 24th and Thursday 31st of August and can be booked here. 

Strand Arcade will also be home to a series of activations created in collaboration with Arts-Matter and fashion trailblazers housed within Strand Arcade. Visitors to Strand Arcade will have the chance to view works by emerging and well-respected artist Orson Heinrich who collaborated with Camilla & Marc artfully placing his work within the store. Other partnerships include a visual alignment between Dion Lee and 3D designer Justin Ridler to accentuate the store’s futuristic interiors and contemporary artist Amelia Lynch showcasing her work within the Bassike store. Geometric artist and Dinosaur Designs Creative Director Stephen Ormandy will present his work within the Strand Arcade store along with Melbourne-based artist James Gordon who brings his art to the Double Monk store. Acclaimed Australian sculptor Dion Horstmans is also showcasing his dynamic pieces within the walls of the Jac + Jack store. As part of the artist and designer collaborations, Arts-Matter have also engaged Daimon Downey, Christelle Scifo and Tan Aldridge to create artwork pieces of sculpture and the fashion form along Ground Floor of Strand Arcade.

Further, each store that calls Strand Arcade home will be honouring the celebrations in their own way throughout the month of August so do pop by to peek plenty more surprises including Koko Black’s limited edition Acid Flowers collaboration. 

A Shopping Experience to Remember 

If you’re as smitten with this Sydney institution as we are, we recommend making the most of the month-long celebrations.

Stop by the Malfy Gin pop-up, serving complimentary 1891 cocktails featuring the Malfy Con Amarena Gin, to elevate your shopping experience. If Gin isn't your tipple of choice, The Glenlivet Whisky Bar will also be serving up their Caribbean Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky

And don’t forget to pop by Hunter Candles on your way out if you’d like to take a piece of Strand Arcade home with you. Their Strand Candle was designed with the wooden walls in mind as well as the sticky sweetness of The Nut Shop which has stood in Strand Arcade for 80 years. The elegant, luxurious, warm and gritty candle is a testament to the nostalgia and luxury-led experiences that make Strand Arcade an irresistible and enduring feature of the city we love. 

So, swing by this August and soak up the Victorian-era architecture, cedar staircases and, of course, a curation of Australia and the world’s finest designers. 

The Evening With Our Designers Event will be running throughout August with events taking place weekly. Head over to strandarcade.com.au for more details on how you can get involved.