Proud Wiradjuri woman Kristy Dickinson has always had an entrepreneurial streak.
Even as a young girl, she always found a way to make things sell. Whether it was playing shops with her sister, hosting garage sales, or selling guavas from a local tree to her neighbours for 50 cents a pop, there was always a new project on the go.
As an adult, Dickinson, the self-described Queen of Bling, channelled her entrepreneurialism into her love for creativity and art, launching her business Haus of Dizzy.
What started as selling jewellery at Bondi markets has grown into a fully fledged brand of bold, statement-making jewellery that celebrates Indigenous culture and social justice.
Dickinson says her love for jewellery-making started out as a form of art therapy in the wake of her mother’s death.
“It really started out as art therapy, and then later, I would go to the club or the pub with my friends, and I’d be wearing my earrings. Everyone loved them so I started taking a few extra pairs in my handbag,” she tells Women’s Agenda.
“When people asked where they could get them, I was like, ‘well, you can buy some from me’.”
Haus of Dizzy now calls Fitzroy, Melbourne home, with a flagship retail and studio space. The brand is now stocked in over 30 retail stores, including THE ICONIC, the NGV Design store and Museum of Contemporary Art store.
The Museum of Contemporary Art was her first official account, which came after buyers from the museum stopped by her stall at Bondi markets and loved her products.
“They were my first account, and that’s when I felt like it wasn’t a hobby. It was like, now it’s a business,” she said
More recently, Dickinson has launched Haus of Ziggy Lee, a premium children’s clothing label named after her son. The label has struck a chord with parents and kids looking to celebrate Aboriginal culture and pride.
This NAIDOC week, Dickinson says teaching children to be thoughtful and inclusive is key.
“The kids are the future. It’s the next generation.It’s all about teaching them to be inclusive and be kind. Have strength, look out for one another and also honour our elders,” Dickinson said. “They’ve led the way to make sure that we learn about our First Nations culture, and they’ve fought for it.”
“Ziggy and I always go and attend all the marches, and I think that’s really important for not only First Nation people, but also allies to show their support for us.”
In a tough retail environment, Dickinson says Haus of Dizzy creates an experience for people that exists outside of simply buying her products.
“I found people just want experiences. They want to go somewhere. They want to have an experience that they can put on social media. That’s why I’ve been running so many workshops of late, because people want to be somewhere,” she says.
“They want to just go and create something, have a good time, and then have something to take away, while learning new skills.”
Dickinson has also just launched a ‘charm bar’ in her Fitzroy store, so people can see their jewellery being made on the spot.
“It’s all about an experience, and that’s what I want my shop to be as well. I’ve just started setting up a charm bar, so you can come and come into the shop and I can make it on the spot.”
‘Be true to yourself’
As a way to give back, Dickinson is involved in mentoring sessions in schools and juvenile justice centres.
“When they ask me how do I create a brand? I’m always like: it’s you, it’s your story. You need to be true to whatever you believe in. And if people don’t like that, then they don’t like but it’s always going to be true to what you’re putting out there, because it’s you,” Dickinson says.
Supporting her customers to feel pride and inner strength is also a key part of Dickinson’s work.
“When my customers tell me that when they put the flags on, they feel their backs straighten and their shoulders go back, and they can just take on the world,” she says. “That’s what it’s about”.
“The Aboriginal flag earrings are my favorite earrings to make and wear, and I just feel the same. So I’m so happy that I can make somebody feel their pride by putting a pair of earrings in.”