Overview
Women of Melbourne (and those that identify as such), rejoice. Inclusive local girl gang and creative collective Ladies of Leisure has officially opened its own peach-coloured studio space in Fitzroy for ongoing workshops, talks and empowering get-togethers.
LOL Space will be a permanent home for the collective's beloved workshops. Upcoming events from the monthly This Is How We Do It series include a deep-dive into how Emma Cutri and Alice McIntosh of cult-status fashion brand Sister Studios took their label from the kitchen floor to a global business, as well as a Friendship Speed Dating networking event, which involves attendees participating in a "rapid-fire new friend making session".
The zine creators, merch makers and all-round creative powerhouses are no strangers to celebrating incredible women and female-identifying people in the creative industry. In fact, it's what they're all about. When LOL Founder and Creative Director Savannah Anand-Sobti first met Editor-in-Chief Sally Tabart in 2013, all she wanted to do was find a way to showcase the inspiring people that she found herself surrounded by daily – so together they created LOL.
Savannah Anand-Sobti and Sally Tabart
The pair started out with a small zine — LOL's first incarnation. Since then, they've published three issues of the publication, produced four sold-out workshop series with various industry leaders, made a film, created a collection of merchandise, and produced panels and events for the Emerging Writers Festival, the NGV and the ACCA.
Over the last six years, LOL has successfully fostered a community of up-and-coming creatives, so it seems only natural that it would create a home them, too. Teaming up with friend and stylist Pip Newell of Curated Spaces, Anand-Sobti and Tabart have created a space that embodies the LOL philosophies of warmth and inclusivity.
Furnished with secondhand items sourced from Gumtree and eBay, as well as pieces from Reioni Douglas of Upholsrei and florist Hattie Molloy, the vibrant teal, pink and peach tones of the LOL space have been carefully put together to feel immediately welcoming.
"LOL Space perfectly encapsulates everything that Ladies of Leisure is about," say Savannah Anand-Sobti and Sally Tabart. "Through our publications and previous workshop series we've strived to create a safe space where people feel comfortable making friends, asking questions, learning from others and being vulnerable. The LOL Space physically embodies that philosophy."
If you want to check it out for yourself, head to the LOL website for a full list of upcoming workshops covering art, network, business, fashion, mental health and more.
LOL Space is located at 451 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. It's open for workshops and events, which you can find here.
Images: Amelia Stanwix.