Running from 3 – 5 August in Melbourne’s Kensington, Rogue Lifestyle is a three-day trade event showcasing over 40 Australian lifestyle and kids brands. With exhibitors including Pony Rider, Ahoy Trader, Bobo Choses and Sack Me, the boutique event will also feature local food and coffee vendors as well as live music.
It’s been brought to life by Emma Patterson, designer of kid’s homewares brand Homely Creatures, who wanted to showcase her wares in a way that didn’t cost the earth.
“We are a small industry and we love to connect with each other – not just brands to buyers, but brands to brands as well,” says Emma. “We’re going back to why we all started going to trade shows in the first place: to connect, get inspired, make quality collaborations happen, and get real value.
“Australia has so many great brands, but many of them have taken to showing in their own studios or hotels, making it really hard for buyers to visit everyone they want to see. It’s also stressful for them to all have to become event coordinators and deal with the time and monetary costs associated with creating your own mini show, which may not pull the crowds.”
This year, Rogue Lifestyle has teamed up with students from Jenna Densten’s (of The Block’s Josh and Jenna) Design School. They’ll be co-ordinating live flatlay installations and interior shoots using the products from the event’s own line-up.
