The History of Pendragon year by year – 1993

1993 was a huge year for Pendragon.  It started with an enquiry for 1000 boots from a Japanese retailer who visited our stall at Cairns markets in North Queensland. This was way beyond our means….and still is!  But it made us take it all a bit more seriously. We applied for government assistance and were accepted into the SEVS/NEIS scheme. Self Employment Venture Scheme( a loan to be paid back in 3 years) and the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (a year of support from the government like the unemployment benefit with a business course included).

Because of this financial incentive, we opened a shop above Elizabeth Arcade in Brisbane City.  Initially sharing the huge studio with Two Blue Fish (Iconic Brisbane clothes brand). This sparked an amazing collaboration in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.

Dalliance was an outdoor fashion parade extravaganza in May 1993 , featuring an ensemble of designers: Two Blue fish, Talamasca leather and, yours truly, Pendragon Boot Company. The parade’s stage was at a freshly opened Ric’s, on the new Brunswick Street mall. We created a range of historically influenced shoes and boots to accompany Two Blue Fish’s luscious clothes and Talamasca’s edgy steampunk leather wear. It was an amazing night and attracted hundreds of people to Ric’s bar and the surrounding businesses.

The gorgeous artwork here is the poster for the event, designed by amazing poster designer Steven Lee.

Later that year we were successful in receiving an arts grant from Arts Qld to develop a range of art shoes. More on that next week….