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Remedy

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Writer
Lucy Feagins
11th of September 2013
WA retail store Remedy, run by  designer Melanie Clark and her partner Joe Ottone. Photo - Angelita Bonetti.  Styling - Anna Flanders.
Bath and body products at WA store Remedy.  Photo - Angelita Bonetti.  Styling - Anna Flanders.
Soft furnishings by UIMI, Bonnie and Neil and many more, at WA store Remedy.  Photo - Angelita Bonetti.  Styling - Anna Flanders.
Designer Melanie Clark in her retail store Remedy.  Photo - Angelita Bonetti.  Styling - Anna Flanders.
Another brilliant little find all the way from WA today!  Remedy is a much loved local store which now has two locations in Perth, in Fremantle and Leederville.  Stocking a vibrant edit of homewares, accessories, kids' things and body and bath products, Remedy is run by husband and wife team Melanie Clark (designer and chief 'hunter / gatherer'), and Joe Ottone (frontman and CEO!). Aside from running two busy shops together, and designing a number of exclusive products for their stores, the pair also have six year old twins! Melanie and Joe opened their first store in 2002, after returning to Perth following a three year stint in Melbourne.  With no retail experience (previously both Melanie and Joe had been in corporate senior management roles), getting their business off the ground took a leap of faith!  After selling their car to fund their start-up, Melanie and Joe initially opened in what they call a small ‘locals’ area.  'Fremantle was our first store, it celebrated its 10th birthday last year' says Melanie.  The pair moved into the West End of Fremantle a few years later - the Leederville store is four years old. The concept for Remedy has always been to promote Australian makers and Fairtrade products.  'In the early days we worked hard to find Australian makers and to have our customers understand the benefits of organic and Fairtrade products' explains Melanie.  'The market over 11 years has changed significantly now. We are approached by makers almost daily, and global awareness of Fairtrade is stronger than ever.' For two relatively small stores, Remedy stocks an incredible variety of product, including many of our favourite local designers!  Soft furnishings and homewares by Bonnie and Neil, Nancybird, Third Drawer Down, Kip and Co and Uimi are all represented.  Visitors will also find Armadillo rugs in store, alongside jewels by Melbourne girls Emily Green, Victoria Mason and Abby Seymour.  Bath and body products are by Ute, Page Thirty Three and of course the amazing Aesop.  In fact, after meeting Aesop founders Dennis Paphitis and Suzanne Santos through mutual friends more than 10 years ago, Remedy became one of  the first stockists of Aesop in WA! Alongside their carefully selected product range, Melanie also designs and makes a number of items exclusively for her stores.  'Ever since I can remember I’ve made all sorts of things, from clothes and quilts to baby wraps' she says Melanie.  After her twins were born there was a bit of a pause in the production line (!!), but she's now back in the studio, and more industrious than ever!  In addition to her textile products, Melanie has added a series of timber breadboards to her product range.  'I also now have my studio - it was my birthday present, built by my hubby Joe and our good friend and builder Ken Norrish, whose house you featured recently on TDF!' says Melanie.  Aside from boosting her own creative output, the new studio has also proven a great place for gatherings with other local makers - most recently Melanie hosted a weekend workshop with Lara from Harvest Textile in Melbourne. 'It’s been a long and truly fantastic road' says Melanie of the growth and success of Remedy over the past 10 years.  'We love what we do. Our team are amazing people in their own rights. We also have long standing friendships with our customers and makers, who bring us so much joy, and sometimes leave us breathless with their talent!' Remedy Store Locations - 95 High Street,  Fremantle, WA 131 Oxford Street,  Leederville, WA 
Remedy designer Melanie Clark's impressive home studio!  Photo - Angelita Bonetti.  Styling - Anna Flanders.
Melanie's amazing studio!  Photo - Angelita Bonetti.  Styling - Anna Flanders.
Details from Melanie's studio.  Photo - Angelita Bonetti.  Styling - Anna Flanders.
View from the studio.  Photo - Angelita Bonetti.  Styling - Anna Flanders.

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