Dress-Ups and Deep Conversations at Newcastle’s Hide and Seeker Vintage
Nestled in Newcastle’s creative hub of Islington, Hide and Seeker Vintage is a collaboration between a clever husband-and-wife duo – Geordie creates bespoke leatherwork while Eartha sources secondhand treasures. We chatted with Eartha about where and when her passion for thrifting started and why their sunny little shop is the perfect spot to strike up a chat with strangers.
images HIDE AND SEEKER VINTAGE
Tell us a little bit about the Hide and Seeker story…
We were living in a beautiful old warehouse in Islington. I’d been selling vintage for years at markets and online, and Geordie was really getting into his leatherwork and making some lovely stuff when a really cute shop across the road became available. We’d often discussed the idea of having an actual shopfront, and we thought the combination of my vintage and his leather would work well together, and hopefully be something that people were into. Islington was the perfect location, so we took the plunge.
What is your relationship to vintage fashion and how did this passion come about?
I grew up in op shops with my mum. That’s where she got all our clothes and we had this amazing dress-up box, filled with beautiful vintage pieces. She would also take us to Sydney to go to markets and the vintage shops in Newtown, so for me, it was just natural that those were the kind of places that you would source your clothes from. I went through a brief stage in high school of wanting to look exactly the same as everyone else, but after I got over that, I really got into the fun of fashion; finding individual pieces and putting together outfits that were never going to be exactly the same as the person next to you.
Why were you inspired to open a store and what continues to inspire you as a business owner?
Opening a shop meant that we were able to create our own little world and it was fun to think about what that would be. We wanted it to be like a continuation of our home so that when people came in they would feel like it was a nice place to be. We’ve moved shops in Islington three times now, so we’ve been able to keep re-imagining that world as we grow, which keeps it fresh.
And Islington itself is inspiring. It’s such a hub of really creative small businesses. We’ve been here 10 years now, and over that time we’ve been lucky to have so many interesting neighbours doing lots of cool stuff. And where it’s got to now is really exciting to see. You can easily spend the whole day in Islington, going to all of the different shops, eating the food, and buying some plants. And word is spreading. We have people coming from all over the place now, saying they’ve been told they have to check out Islington. It’s nice.
There is so much stuff out there already, and a whole world of people who are sourcing, curating, washing and mending that stuff, giving it new life. Vintage and secondhand are so accessible now.
What does sustainable fashion mean to you?
For me personally, it means trying to avoid buying new stuff as much as possible. There is so much stuff out there already, and a whole world of people who are sourcing, curating, washing and mending that stuff, giving it new life. Vintage and secondhand are so accessible now. And if you do buy new, where you can, buy from the people making it. From materials that will last. And can be passed on from person to person.
Who are your customers? What do people love about visiting Hide and Seeker?
We never know who our customers will be, and that keeps it interesting. We have all our regulars and the locals, but every day we get new people in and end up having chats with all sorts of people. We often end up in some pretty deep conversations with strangers, and I think that comes back to the feel of the shop. I think people feel comfortable when they walk in, kind of like they’re in our lounge room. We’ll often be talking to each other about something, and customers will join in. My favourite thing is when a bunch of people join in, and you have a group of strangers all having a chat. I think that’s a pretty nice shopping experience to have.
What are your favourite pieces to wear?
Jumpsuits. I don’t know what it is about them, but if I come across an amazing jumpsuit – especially if it’s a 70s one – for me, it’s like finding a little nugget of gold. I have a 1970s red velour hooded jumpsuit that manages to make me feel stylish and hot, whilst providing maximum comfort, and that’s about as good as it gets for me.
Who are a few of your favourite local designers?
Number one is obviously my husband, Geordie Malone. I get to watch him designing up close, and it still fascinates me how he holds a bag in his mind for ages, working out the design mentally, and then is somehow just able to create it with his hands. Like his gorgeous woven tote. Watching that come together blew my mind. Some other locals I find really impressive are the High Tea with Mrs Woo sisters. Their commitment to their art is so impressive and what they create is of such high quality that you know it will be around for a long time.
What changes are you embracing in the Australian fashion landscape?
I’m just impressed by how consciously people are trying to move away from fast fashion now. I really notice it with the conversations people are having in the shop when they’re browsing. Shopping with intention. Particularly with the younger people. The idea of circular fashion really seems to be taking hold and hopefully will continue to spread across the industry.
