Milly Sleeping, the eclectic boutique located on Carlton’s Elgin Street, has dotingly watched over local designers for almost six years now. Janette and Leah Muddle, the mother/daughter super team and proud parents of Milly Sleeping, have raised Milly on decent ethics, choosing to exclusively stock the wares of independent Australian and New Zealand designers. The Muddle duo encourages Milly to embrace the pioneer, playing host to a range of innovative women’s wear, unisex garments, jewellery, accessories, cards and gifts.

Every product is carefully sourced and tenderly handled. The labels themselves range from small emerging brands to household names, including Romance Was Born, Ess. Laboratory, Lonely Hearts, Alexi Freeman and Limedrop.

Milly Sleeping reaches above and beyond the role of the humble boutique, creating a harmonious balance between designer and outlet; a feat that, in the midst of a second financial crisis, has become increasingly rare in the world of retail. The Muddle duo are active members of the design community, participating in collaborations as well as hosting regular pop up exhibitions. Additionally, Milly Sleeping nurtures those fashion seedlings still to sprout, independently seeking out young designers that, up until they meet Milly, are yet to infiltrate the market.

The beauty of the store lies in the knowledge that when you shop there, you embrace the innovator and when you embrace the innovator, you become one yourself.