Long before Gwen Stefani, the Harajuki girls and Love. Angel. Music. Baby. was Hudson.  Owned by Nikki, a former travel writer, Hudson on Carlisle Street is something special and a little bit more. A slice of Toyko in East St Kilda, Nikki travels 7 times a year searching for weird and wonderful clothes and items from Toyko, Hong Kong, America and Sweden, ’I could write a travel book on Japan’ she tells me.

I am ashamed to admit I have never been to this shop before - which opened on Carlisle street ten years ago - I got a tip off from a devoted Melbourne fashionista who has shopped here regularly since it first opened.  Stocking men, women and kid’s clothing, knick knacks, toys and local art it is likely Hudson will melt the heart of even the tightest penny pinching individual. It is my firm belief the secret to Hudson’s success can be attributed to Nikki’s experience as a former Lonely Planet writer. Ultimately when she travels she knows exactly where to go to find the most covertable items for Melbourne shoppers.

‘Someone said to me that they weren’t sure whether the shop was kid’s store or not’  Nikki confided me ‘ I don’t think they meant it as a compliment, but I take it as one. I don’t believe in being defined by what people think a typical shop should be or look like. I want people to have fun here and to bring weird and wonderful ideas from overseas and Australia and display it in the store.’

The window not only houses clothing from the store and toys, but an ever changing display of local craft and art. Nikki supports local community artwork and craft selling their work without commission ensuring there is always something new and interesting to be found at Hudson.

Hudson, 229 Carlisle Street, East St Kilda.613 9525 8066