A Conversation with Lydia Pearson
Community
May 21, 2019
In Conversation
James St(JS), Lydia Pearson (LP) – Fashion designer, Lecturer and Former Co-owner of Easter Pearson
James St Guide Book Edition Three is now available at participating retailers – get your hands on a complimentary copy before it’s too late!
Featuring, a carefully curated summary of the boutiques, dining destinations, eateries and laneways of James St, the guide, is created for locals and visitors alike.
Divided into six dedicated categories including New Stories; Stay; Fashion; Food + Drink; Lifestyle + Design and Health + Beauty, the guide book is editorial in style. Every store sits alongside original images which invite you to view James St with a fresh perspective.
There are three New Stories – one of which features a conversation with fashion designer, lecturer and former co-owner of Easton Pearson, Lydia Pearson. View the full conversation below:
JS: What do you like about the James Street Precinct?
LP: I love the way it’s been laid out. All those beautiful hanging gardens and trees makes it part of the landscape instead of a blot on the landscape. The hanging gardens are so cooling and soothing…
JS: How does the physical layout affect visitors?
LP: For people who like to shop, you can be on the street or a lane and not in a centre – always in the air with a feeling of a garden and community. It’s not a shopping precinct but a village.
JS: What appeals to you about the aesthetic?
LP: The vision of [the architects] has defined the aesthetic of the whole precinct, and they have done such an incredible job. I love sitting in Lobby Bar for coffee and people- watching, it feels very continental, like being in a film. The laneways have added character… and there is a feeling of established identity… The shade of the trees makes for such a comfortable summer outing, and in winter the sun and sky are so visible.
JS: What special opportunities can James Street provide that you don’t find in others?
LP: A sense of place and community, where the majority of the stores and businesses are authentic and local. It is a comfortable size, but with a well-curated group of tenants. The chance to walk and window shop, browse and buy, and even bring your dog, is part of the way life should be lived. I feel very lucky to call it my locale.
