Collaboration and creativity bloom as Boston Road says hello to Zaya studio

21/10/2024

A stroke of green has landed on Boston Road in Torquay as local pair Mia Van de Laak and Amelia Whitehead open a new women-led collaborative creative space, Zaya Studio.  

Having worked together in the space under previous ownership since November 2023, Wild Divine Tattoos and the new Nalu Aesthetics closed up shop earlier this month to rebirth the quaint clinic as Torquay’s newest feminine creative venture.

Since renting out the spare room of the old salon, Wild Divine has sewn into the very seams of the Greater Geelong and Surf Coast tattoo market, with Van de Laak's following blossoming across social media and the tattoo bed alike.

True to its name, Wild Divine, Van de Laak’s tattoo style embraces intricate fine-line creations that draw inspiration from the Surf Coast’s surrounding natural beauty. Her style favours the delicate, with sharp lines and dot work forming the base of her ornamental artworks.

Alongside her is Nalu Aesthetics, Whitehead’s beauty business, offering a full spectrum of skin and facial services, from lash and brow tinting to lip blush tattooing.

Van de Laak and Whitehead struck up a friendship that flourished in the workplace, so when the opportunity arose for them to take the reigns of the studio, they leapt in with their characteristic laughter and collaborative spirit.

In the short time since their official opening on September 30th, they’ve already welcomed two more heroine creatives into Zaya Studio: Georgia, the owner of Sugar Realm Waxing, and Georgi from GMWPB Tattooing. Creating a welcoming environment for clients seeking a range of services under one roof.

Van de Laak hinted that an opening day event might be on the horizon but for now, they’re enjoying settling into their space and finding their feet in the world of business ownership.

Despite the challenges facing small businesses in Victoria where start-ups have declined by over 13000 since 2021, due to rising inflation and cost of living pressures. Jennifer Cromarty, Chair of Creative Geelong remains optimistic.

Cromarty emphasised the importance of government support in nurturing creative businesses, like Zaya.  “We need to make sure they’ve got the ability to develop their businesses, and the government can lay the pathway for that to a degree” she said.

“We need to value people who are in this sector” Cromarty said.

Like a dandelion pushing through the crack in the concrete, Zaya Studio symbolises the beauty and strength that can emerge in the most unlikely times.

As more local entrepreneurs like them push boundaries, spaces like Zaya serve as reminders that even in tough economic times, creativity and collaboration are the blossoms that brave the pavement and beautify the cultural landscape of our towns and cities.