As I lazily trekked my way around the Melbourne CBD one day, I entered one of my favourite shopping sites: the Cathedral Arcade. In this small hide-out are some of my favourite destinations: Alice Euphemia, Retro Star (the best vintage shop in the city, on the 1st floor) and Genki. Suddenly some brightly-coloured walls with all sorts of funny paintings caught my attention. Another shop has overtaken Genki! To my pleasant surprise, it’s Lenko! I have been a fan of the cute label since its humble beginnings in a student Design studio shop in Melbourne Central. Lenko makes the cutest toys and the funniest T-shirts. They are all very tongue-in-cheek, eccentric and humorous.

I walked in, introduced myself to who I think is actually in fact the founder of Lenko: Dana! Dana is simply gorgeous. She is so down-to-earth and friendly (and wished not to appear in my photos, but I sneaked a side-shot). Dana used to study film studies but she ended up being a fashion designer and now has her own quirky shop! I am so envious, she is living my dream! =)

Don’t you love the funny wall murals? Dana painted them! There are gorgeous garments by fellow designers for both men and women. There are quirky accessories – brooches, badges, necklaces, rings, earrings, bags, shoes, so many fun things! Dana showed me her favorite T-shirt, it was a white T with all these most famous lines from movies on it making it into a non sequitur prose, followed by the very last “P.S. I see dead people.”

One of the cute Lenko T shirts had a telephone and a love heart. It read ‘These days, even phones are getting engaged.’

I bought myself a little souvenir from there- a white Yeti badge. It came wrapped in a silver foil tray, like food!

I haven’t worn it yet but it brings a smile upon my face every time I see it!

Dana actually hand-made this orange monster. This is one of the last toys she’s made. They’re becoming extinct! Lenko supports many local talents as well as other Australian designers who are now based overseas. Pay Dana a visit and check out Lenko!