Did someone say Block Party? Absolutely! What is commonly done in the US has now gained traction here down under and what a glorious day it was for the Peel Street Park Block Party – a day for celebrating community spirit through art, fashion and music.
Collingwood is one of Melbourne’s biggest art hubs and at the centre of this community based initiative is The Social Studio. The Social Studio is an organisation that was established in 2009 aiming to provide a place of creativity and purpose to many refugees.
Director of The Social Studio Susan Yengi says that by orchestrating a Block Party allows people from all walks of life to come together and witness the efforts of the incredible designers and artists.
“We want everyone to have a good time and really, the idea is to bring everyone together and make friends but also so they can see all the amazing clothes and emerging locals artists and love it,” she said.
The Party was filled with fashion stalls, art, food and musicians who created the soundtrack to what really marked a special day.
The music on the main stage was a combination of live rappers spitting rhymes as well as DJ sets from the ever talented DJ MzRizk. The vibe of the day was funky, chill and feel-good.
One of the great things about the Block Party was the sense of camaraderie between all cultures and how the experiences of one individual expressed through rap or rhyme resonated with every single person present. An honourable mention must go to one of the most profounds poets I have recently heard. His honesty and vulnerability were a true testament to his character and even though it was a hot sunny day, I still got goosebumps.
This sense of one cultural identity is at the core of The Social Studio’s ethos because through fashion and music they believe change and growth can be made.
“It’s all about community, bringing people together and creating opportunities for people. We use art and fashion as a vehicle to create opportunities for people through employment and education,” Yengi said.
As for the fashion show, well it was entertaining and full of colourful fresh fashion. Five emerging fashion designers displayed their works and as the crowd got hyped, so too did the models as they danced down the catwalk. It was all about prints, ease of wear and street styling for both men and women as well as versatility between day and evening wear.
Any net profits gained from the Block Party go straight to The Social Studio in order to fund education and training costs for their students. The Block Party was a fashionistas hub and a family-friendly, pet-friendly environment which I hope other communities around Melbourne adopt.
The Block Party played as part of Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program 2015.
