The Gold Coasts favorite designer, vintage and jumble fashion market, The Village Markets, will kick-off winter in style on June 5^th with over 50 fashion stalls as well as live performances by a host of local musicians.

The Village Markets (TVM), are excited to be announcing they will now run fortnightly on the first and third Sunday of each month, starting in June, thanks to overwhelming support from the local community, designers, stallholders and TVM fans.

Market organizers Marissa Bowden and Sarah Schoeller are relieved to have received official approval by the Gold Coast City Council to run the event fortnightly as part of their successful year-long application for a Material Change of Use Permit.

‘We have wanted to run TVM fortnightly for sometime due to the heavy demand from both our designers and fans, so we are really excited to be able to announce that this will be happening as of this month on Sunday June 5^th and 19^th’, says Bowden.

‘Our dedicated shoppers no longer have to wait a whole month to get their fashion fix and our stallholders are thrilled to be able to showcase their collections each fortnight, a win for everyone’.

Not only do shoppers converge on TVM in the hope of scoring the perfect, fashionable market buys or vintage treasures, they may also be snapped for the TVM Style Snaps.

Stylish TVM shoppers photographed are posted on the TVM blog, which is now ranked 132 in the world for Street Style Blogs, proving Gold Coasters are no longer lagging behind when it comes to the style stakes.

 Stalls this Sunday 5^th June will include Blossom, Fifty Women Fainted, Fox Meets Owl, Box Vintage, Deadwood Vintage, LoKoa, BU Designs, Daughter, Penelope Jane, The Laughing Cat, Indiegovintage, Sisterhood Sewing, Jemma Peisker Fine Art, Four Years of Friday, Kama 7 Designs, Go Lightly, Red Vintage, m+j, Rezzurection, Two Trees, Jewellery by Kim, Drowning in Decadence, Long Way Home, Vintage Carnivale, Penni Lane Vintage, Hattie Petite Handmade Hats, LOLY Fitness Wear, chase.dakota, Faith Design, Candy Store, Love Street and a handful of second hand designer jumble stalls for those on tight budget.

The Gold Coasts favourite fashion markets, The Village Markets are on this Sunday April 3^rd and they’re set to feature 60 stalls including emerging fashion labels, one-off designer jumble stalls, art and vintage.

TVM are held on the first Sunday of each month and have fast become a must do event on the Gold Coast cultural calendar, attracting over 2,000 market goers through the gates.

Stalls this Sunday include TyNi Couture, Box Vintage, LoKoa Line, BU Designs, Daughter, Peaches & Cream Vintage Couture, Creations by Clair, Indiegovintage, Sisterhood Sewing, Lil Gem & Emily Kate, Zamm Zamm, Kama 7 Designs, Red Vintage, Magic Bean, Rezzurrection, Two Trees, Jewellery by Kim, Hello Friend, The Best Little Vintage Van in Vegas, Bird & Rose, Long Way Home Vintage Carnivale, Hattie Petite Handmade Hats, Lehcar Designs, Chase Dakota, Faith Design, Candy Store, Luxe Boutique and more.

Local musicians Campfire Atmosphere will be serenading shoppers, plus there’ll be a coffee cart and BBQ.

The Village Markets are held from 8am – 1pm on the first Sunday of each month at Burleigh Heads State School Oval, Lower Gold Coast Highway Burleigh Heads QLD.

At the March TVM, shoppers had some fun showing how much they love their monthly TVM fashion fix:

SPOTTED on the streets of the Gold Coast - trendsetters at the January TVM (The Village Markets).

Loving the laid back style of these market-goers! They have all mixed vintage and thrifted finds with chain store pieces for an effortlessly cool finish. What do you think, I’d love to hear your thoughts?

Sarah & Kate

 Sarah & Kate were both sporting all vintage finds.

Sarah

  Sarah – Tainted shirt, One Teaspoon jeans & Ray Ban sunnies.

Gareth, Bodhi & Loren

Gareth, Bodhi & Loren were wearing pieces from Sydney boutique Tuchuzy and accessories collected on a recent trip to South America.

Katie & Raquel

Katie is sporting a vintage playsuit from Byron Bay, a Country Road hat and a studded bucket bag.
Raquel wears a Cheap Monday singlet and thrifted floral maxi skirt.

To celebrate the end of the year in style, I have selected a gallery of the most stylish shoppers from The Village Markets for 2010!

On the first Sunday of every month, thousands of fashionistas flock to Burleigh Heads State School to score the latest in local emerging designer fashion and vintage wares. Not only are they looking for the coolest and most on-trend buys, they are also donning their best market attire just waiting to be snapped by TVM style scouts.

Here are my favourite stylers for 2010. Who is your pick? Don’t forget to cast your comments below.

    
            November 2010:                                   November 2010:                                  November 2010:
       Yoko, Yumeno & Moeko                             Nana & Kiarni                                             Britney

    
             October 2010:                                           August 2010:                                             July 2010:
              Ashley & Sam                                                  Zarah                                                            Elle

   
                June 2010:                                               June 2010:                                                June 2010:
                   Bridget                                                         Jocelyn                                                        Leila

   
             April 2010:                                                      April 2010:                                               March 2010:
       Britney & Jessie                                                      Thomas                                                   Anna & Andy

   
           February 2010:                                          February 2010:                                          January 2010:
             Prisca & Julia                                                Sophie & Roxy                                                  Holly

You know that feeling you got when you were 15 when you were dating the cutest guy at school and you found out he really just wanted to be your friend (and then he started dating your best friend), well that’s how I felt last week when I found out that the Gold Coast City Council had served a “Show Cause” notice on the founders of The Village Markets. I was gutted! What ? Who ? Why ? How? After being in business 18 months?

Gorgeous Marisa and Sarah started the markets back in 2008 and like any savvy business women saw an opportunity to give aspiring designers, vintage and second hand lovers the chance to share Sunday morning together and inspire others about their love of everything fashion. They went and saw the Council back then, who advised them they did not need to lodge a Development Application as the markets were deemed to be on crown land – being owned by the Govt together with the fact it was an irregular event ie 12 times a year (if not rained out).

Shame on Council, not only for giving negligent advice in the first place but also for not having the ability to work with The Village Markets and provide options to resolve the situation. Serving a Show Cause Notice on a community event is really as low as it gets. Don’t get me wrong I know the Council is incredibly supportive of events such as the Next Big thing in Fashion and the GC Fashion Incubator, but guys these markets were driving the local economy, supporting our local talent, providing them with the opportunity to run a small business and encouraging them to pursue their dreams (for some) of starting and running their own label.

Sass and Bide were first discovered at Portabella Road Markets in London. Hello?? Not only do we have more magnificent weather, we have the luxury of living one of the most beautiful coastal lifestyles in the world. So I am urging whoever in Council has the power, and I know you are out there, to please come forth and do the right thing. Support the markets – not only the Village Markets but Palm Beach/ Currumbin markets that support our beloved farmers too (rumor has it they too have received such a notice!)

Life is too short to continuously fight battles, is it really too hard to find the grey area in the law and work together to make things better or exceptions for things that genuinely benefit the local community?

To sign The Village Markets petition TODAY go to

http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/35438.html