The common thread between a vintage clothing store, the pop group Sheppard and the television series Mystery Road
In the heart of a mining town in Western Australia’s outback sits a vintage store with a secret weapon.
Sue Pugl, owner of Sassy Sues in Kalgoorlie, recognizes that it can be difficult to find unique retro clothing in the regions.
Lucky for her, Sue’s nieces and nephew make up the Sheppard pop trio.
Loading
The Brisbane-based group, whose song Geronimo hit 400 million streams on Spotify this month, are helping deliver vintage clothing to the store from their travels around the world.
A framed photo of the siblings can be found on Sue’s desk next to the cash register, where the ARIA award in their hands is only visible on closer inspection.
“I love bright colors and pink,” says Amy Sheppard, discussing op shopping secrets like a pro.
While the last two years of lockdown have confined Sheppard’s touring schedule to Australia, their aunt’s shop is decorated with pieces from Germany to New York, thanks to the group’s previous world tours.
A very family business
Sue says that while there are a lot of vintage items in the store, her mother Zora is the most valuable.
Zora Pugl, known as “Baba,” helps Sue around the store and sheds more than a tear as she talks about her daughter and grandchildren.
The 83-year-old is no stranger to fashion either, recently wearing a designer dress to singer Amy’s wedding this year.
Kalgoorlie’s clothes on the big screen
Sheppard isn’t the only connection between show business and the outback vintage store.
The crime drama Mystery Road: Origin, set in the ’90s, has just wrapped up filming in Kalgoorlie for its final season.
The production team used vintage clothing to dress the actors.
Sue says she’s glad the TV crew found her.
“We’ve worked a lot together, they just say ‘oh we need this’ and I’m trying to find it.”
Ms Lamera said she would usually have to look for a buyer in Sydney to send clothes for a period production.
“The biggest problem with regional funding and filming in the regions is that they don’t have a lot of stores, especially that stuff,” Ms. Lamera said.
“I hope this never goes away.”
