Shannon’s new breaths in Freo
Shannon Fox hasn’t let a double-lung transplant stop her from checking off entries on her bucket list.
An accomplished DJ with a penchant for outlandish fashion, the 29-year-old has fulfilled her lifelong goal of opening a clothing store in Fremantle — just five months after undergoing the lifesaving operation.
Already the proprietor of Eclectic Ladyland boutique in Albany and an online shopping destination of the same name, Fox began making plans for her new pop up space at Many 6160 shortly after her lung transplant.
“I’ve started my bucket list and I want to do everything on it; starting a Freo store was one of those things I had always wanted to do,” she toldAAA . “It sounds cliched but you get this second chance and you want to make the most of it. I think this happens with a lot of lung transplant recipients — straight away, as soon as they can, they get back into everything.”
Combining Fox’s passions for music and fashion, Eclectic Ladyland appeals to women who aim to dress like rock stars, taking cues from famous musicians and groupies of the 1970s who weren’t afraid to take risks with their sartorial selections.
“Instead of having models be an influence for me it’s all about groupies or rock stars,” Fox said.
“Pamela Des Barres is my fashion icon. She would wear vintage slips with feather boas and top hats. She was outrageous in the way she mixed and matched.”
While not all of Albany’s locals have embraced Eclectic Ladyland’s unique style, Fox was pleased to discover Fremantle residents seem to be more open to her array of offbeat labels, which include cult designer Jenny Kee and Emma Mulholland.
“Up here, we’ve only been open for three weeks but people are definitely more open to dressing a bit funny,” she said with a laugh.
“In Albany in particular people are still afraid to wear a lot of it because it’s a small town and everyone knows everyone. I get people looking at me in the street but I can’t change what they think of me so I’m just going to dress however I want.”
