This Sydney Icon is Opening its Doors After Dark for an Exclusive Evening of Cocktails, Canapés & Shopping

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

More than ever, as shoppers, we’re craving a connection to the products we purchase. With passion, detail and craftsmanship prized and Australian-made pieces championed, it’s an approach to shopping that is growing in popularity and it’s one we love to see. 

Sydney icon, Strand Arcade, is a leader in this bespoke and localised approach and this August, they’ll be hosting a string of events to celebrate the curated designers housed within their revered walls. The month-long festivities will kick off with the grand opening Evening With Our Designers event on Thursday 10th August from 5 pm. 

Evening With Our Designers 

The evening soirée will toast the best of the Australian fashion industry over cocktails and canapés... and how did they know that was our love language? Featuring performances by Australian RnB soul artist Forest Claudette and the unveiling of bespoke work curated by Arts-Matter, set throughout Strand Arcade. 

The Arts-Matter activation joins leading artists with fashion trailblazers in a unique fusion of the two artistic disciplines. Work will include creations from emerging and well-known artists such as Orson Heinrich, who will team up with Camilla and Marc to make a one-off artwork to be displayed in their store.

"We look forward to housing Orson Heidrich’s Arts-Matter installation within our Strand Arcade boutique to celebrate ‘Evening With our Designers’", Marc Freeman, CEO of Camilla and Marc tells Sitchu.  "A long-standing friend of the brand, Orson has captured our attention with his contemporary works for years and we are excited to see his latest sculptural installation come to life."

Other exciting collaborations will include a visual alignment between Dion Lee and a 3D designer to illuminate the store’s futuristic interiors.

Contemporary artist Amelia Lynch will showcase her work inside the Bassike shop while Stephen Ormandy, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Dinosaur Designs, will also lend his artistic eye to the event. 

Guests can look forward to interacting with the designers, founders, and artists throughout the month including Andrew McDonald Shoemaker, Bul, Camilla and Marc, Courtesy of the Artist, Dinosaur Designs, Jac+ Jack, Hunter Candles, Rox Gems Jewellery, Sarah & Sebastian, and Zappacosta Jewels. 

And there'll be drinks and other creative revelry to enjoy, too. For gin lovers, there'll be a bespoke cocktail made by premium Italian gin makers, Malfy Gin, that will transport you to the heart of the Amalfi Coast with just one sip.  To really warm your soul, The Glenlivet will be hosting whiskey tastings, or if you're more of a literary fan, fashion enthusiast, writer, and prolific reader, Jordan Turner (aka @mrturner), will be hosting a book club. 

Where Past & Present Intertwine 

For anyone who has had the pleasure of a visit, you’d know a trip to Strand Arcade is so much more than just another shopping centre. Steeped in history, the iconic space invites you to take a step towards a more mindful, luxurious and altogether satisfying shopping experience. One where you can discover modern design, Australian brands and unique, specially crafted fashion.

Ensconced in a heritage-listed building that is itself a homage to design and innovation, the Strand Arcade is one of Sydney's most hallowed locations. Dating back to its opening in 1892, the Victorian-style building was one of Sydney's first shopping arcades and to this day, it still exudes its old-world charm with grand cedar staircases, stunning tiled flooring and of course, its protruding trademark galleries. 

Bridging the past with the present, Strand Arcade is the proud home to some of the best Australian and international artisans that are at the top of their craft. The likes of Camilla and Marc, Dion Lee, Manning Cartell, Rebecca Vallance and Sarah & Sebastian can all be found here, each with their own uniquely carved-out spaces for experiential shopping.

Indeed, wandering through the awe-inspiring location is a master class in the leading Australian labels and caters to your every fashion need.

If you're after a special occasion outfit that you can wear time and time again, look no further than Rebecca Vallance. The much-loved Aussie designer has built her fashion empire on her glamorous and sophisticated designs that are both contemporary and timeless. Vallance draws inspiration from her travels around the world, and her collections often feature a mix of classic and modern silhouettes, bold prints, and feminine detailing.

Or if you're after some everyday wardrobe investment pieces, like a crisp white tee or perfectly tailored pants, Sydney-based designer Bassike’s cool and casual threads are far from ordinary. Where sustainability and wearability meet, co-founders Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan are big on everyday pieces that won’t just sit at the back of your wardrobe.  A one-stop shop of everything from swimwear to outerwear, Bassike’s innovative interpterion of classic pieces will keep you turning heads from the beach to the coffee shop.

A Bespoke Shopping Experience 

The simplicity of being able to try on a tailored blazer in person, falling in love with a piece of fabric at first touch, and even sitting down for a coffee to consider which shop to visit next are all experiences the Strand Arcade seeks to encourage. 

After a time in which in-person shopping experiences were not accessible, the inherent value of the tactile, quality craftsmanship and connection offered by bespoke retail has never been more apparent. And it's something we'll never take for granted ever again. 

Much more than a shopping destination, Strand Arcade is an institution that challenges the standards of modern design excellence and one we’re proud to have sitting pretty in the heart of our city.

So if you’re well overdue to be reacquainted with this beautiful space, there’s never been a better time. The Evening With Our Designers event is the kind of celebration that truly lets this icon shine, so be sure to make an evening of it on Thursday, August 10th and visit strandarcade.com.au for more details.