Welcome to melbournestyle, a new store and design studio that specialises in Beautiful Things Melburnian.

We have created a unique range of gifts designed in Melbourne, inspired by Melbourne, and made in Melbourne.
We are passionate about the city of style, and aim to preserve and celebrate Melbourne's individual dignity, cultural distinction and local eccentricity.
This is our credo. In a world that is increasingly global, homogeneous and predictable, we strive to offer a unique alternative.

At melbournestyle you'll find books, homewares, soaps, jewellery, artworks, wrapping, cards, tee shirts and lots more goodies in store.
Next time you need a gift for a client or colleague, for a guest or a visitor from out of town, think melbournestyle, because you can take it with you.

WHO WE ARE

melbournestyle is a celebration of Melbourne, founded in 1994 by Maree Coote and Lex Ridgeway. Then in 2003 they added Gingerbread Books, an independent publishing company. Now, through the addition of the new melbournestyle gallery and concept store in South Melbourne, Coote and Ridgeway have an opportunity to collect together the work of other like-minded local historians, artists and artisans.

OUR DESIGNERS

MAREE COOTE is a Melbourne writer and designer, photographer and illustrator who has long held a passion for her home city, and been photographing the city, designing Melbourne Cups and other gift collectibles, and writing on Melbourne's history for over 10 years.
Her recent creative exploits include a series of over 50 artworks reinventing Australia's sexiest bushranger Ned Kelly, and a book of the collection called 50 Neds: Ned Kelly, Icon of Australian Art.

Her first book, The Melbourne Book - A History of Now - is a funky and fabulously comprehensive history of the city,
crammed with over 700 photographs, stories and anecdotes,- a truly personal celebration of the best of Melbourne.
First published in 2003, it is still going strong, and won Commendation - Best Print - 2004 Victorian State Government History Awards.

Maree has also illustrated and written 3 children's picture books, all with Australian themes and a celebration of local icons and natural history.
Artwork from her children's books is now part of the permanent collection of the Dromkeen Children's Literature Collection.

Coote's Melbourne Cup and Saucer design was recently awarded as a finalist in the 2006 Memento Australia Awards. Her interest in homewares and accessories has blossomed into a new collection, called GardenState gifts, inspired by her love of Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, and of Australian flora in particular.



OTHER ARTISTS - melbournestyle has also become an home for other local designers and artists: See our gallery

INTERVIEW with Melbourne filmmaker Stefano Boscutti

We hope you enjoy what you find at melbournestyle.