With a name that means “putting love and soul into something you do”, a small Sunshine Coast clothing store is growing from strength to strength as is celebrates its latest milestone.
Beginning as a dream to run a “boutique like no other”, Mooloolaba shop Meraki Thread Co has established itself as a small business with big heart.
Offering a range of Australian labels, unique vintage pieces and sustainable brands, its owners are passionate about supporting slow fashion and small designers.
Jess and Nathan Bos began the store in 2017 with no staff and a hope the brands they wanted to work with would see their vision.
As the store celebrates its fifth anniversary, Meraki now has its own children’s label and will soon introduce a new market section to its store, plus a fundraising initiative.
“When I first opened Meraki five years ago, I had just returned from travelling overseas with my husband,” Mrs Bos said.
“We were living out of the back of a van teaching English in Europe and Asia with a dream to return home to the Sunshine Coast and create a boutique like no other – a business that supports slow fashion, small creatives and designers.
“I am just so proud that we started with nothing and no staff, both my husband and I working seven days a week.
“Now sticking to our vision and five years on (we are) managing an amazing team of staff and becoming a highly sought-after store with a beautiful brand portfolio and loyal customer following.
“We are so focused on supporting small designers and local creatives who are unique and offer products that deserve exposure in a store like ours.”
In 2019, the Bos family welcomed their son, Sunny, the inspiration behind the curated collection of babywear and in-house-designed brand Golden Sun.
The store also stocks local curators and Australian-owned brands such as Coolum hat brand Shayd, Wylde Magnolia, Sunshine Coast photographer Kuki Prints, Byron Bay sustainable women’s labels like Pastel and Brisbane-based LJC linen and The Lullaby Club.
Mrs Bos said Meraki Thread Co was just getting started and she had so many plans for growth well beyond 2023.
“Next month we are launching a market collective, assigning a large portion of our store to featuring a beautiful market style collection – think artesian market, locally made pottery, jewellery all displayed and able to be shopped in one place and not just on a Sunday market day,” she said.
“It’s also important to us to give back and so this year we have exciting initiatives like our in-house kids’ wear label Golden Sun is launching a sea change collection of tees where from every tee sold $5 will be donated to Take 3 for the Sea.”
Visit merakithreadco.com.au.
SUBSCRIBE here now for our FREE news feed, direct to your inbox daily!