Our Journey

Space2b is all about Stripes and “Get Striped” is a multicultural initiative celebrating acceptance and respect. Multi coloured stripes represent a multi-cultural Australia. 

Our first initiative was ‘100 Stripey Monkeys’ – Buy a Monkey, Build a Life was a campaign where community groups and business partners worked together to make 100 Stripey Monkey soft toys from Sacred Heart recycled materials. Profits from this initiative go to supporting our workplace mentoring and training program, with every fifth monkey gifted to a child in detention.

Our second initiative was a City of Port Phillip exhibition of new migrants and refugee stories, curated by Iranian artist, Leila Ashtiani’s. On Celebration Day this also involved Masai beading and basket weaving demonstrations, henna painting and handcrafted Space2b jewellery coupled with delicious food.

Our third initiative is the Get Striped Festival taking place on Saturday 25 March 2017 at St Kilda Primary School. This multi-cultural event is celebrating Acceptance and Respect, and . will include Space2b’s designer market with clothes, jewellery, and homewares crafted by refugee, newly arrived and establish artists and designers. There will also be dance, beading and weaving workshops. Come along investigate, contemplate and fascinate.

Building a Home for Space2B – Crowd Funding Campaign

Profits from the Get Striped Festival will kick-start our up and coming crowd-funding campaign to establish our laneways café and upgrade our facilities. The Laneways café will provide opportunity for two refugees to be mentored for work, along with helping to create a community hub where people can come and go, make connections, volunteer and mentor, and participate in talks and workshops.

Permament Home

In 2017, Space2b now has a permanent home at 144 Chapel Street Balaclava behind St Kilda Primary School. Our vibrant and eclectic  shop sells pieces by a wide range of designers, crafts people and artists as well as paintings by Leila Ashtiani..

Janine and Mariam agree, Space2b is all about people first.  A place where people can come together, share their stories, build their skills, show their work and build community. We all want the same. To be safe, to belong.

Please visit Space2b, buy our products, and donate to our campaign.