Tree of Life

I don’t mind Tree of Life, at all really. If you’re lucky, you can find some really good bargains in here. I’ve wandered in a number of times and found some really awesome dresses, for a really decent price, and it seems like it’s really good quality. There are also some really cute accessories here such as scarves etc, and the best part is you feel good when you buy things from places such as this because it’s all fair trade.
I’m by far from a hippy, but I do love hippy stores.

Mmm take a whiff of that incense, marvel the candles and embrace the colours! Tree of Life is an earthy, cultured shop filled with unique clothing, jewellery, candles, and other trinkets.
Not only does this place great to look around, but it’s a good break from the busy city atmosphere. You almost feel like you’ve walked into some kind of serene jungle setting, with relaxing music and sweet scents.
This place has a real hippy vibe; lots of natural earthy products. It’s definitely a great spot to pick up a quick gift, I know I’ve bought stuff for Mum from here before and she loved it.

25/​12/​2011 5 photos
Now, I walked around the whole shop twice with no attention paid to me whatsoever. I was the one that had to approach someone. When I asked the first shop assistant for help, she told me, «I’m busy. Go ask one of the girls at the counter. One of ‘em will help you.» How rude! I immediately got a bad first impression of this store. The second shop assistant lady was much more helpful but when she told me, «All the clothes here are made in India because of fair trade,» I didn’t know how to respond. What the heck do you mean? What are you trying to say here? Was she on some «Third World makes these-​First World wears these» power trip? I dunno.
…If only I could work out the meaning behind her words.
In actual fact, when she starts our conversation by saying «All the clothes here are made in India because of fair trade,» in my head, I was thinking: «…is the fair trade bit of your sentence really relevant to what I need right now? I’m not here to learn about International Politics. Damn it, I just need a nice blue dress with matching blue jewellery for my female friend for Xmas!»
Worst, she pulled out several dresses and jewellery pieces that weren’t even blue. I specifically asked for blue, young lady. Thus any women’s clothing store where I am not being listened to, and pieces are pulled out in such a haphazard manner and not really matching what I want, I knew it’s gonna be a looooong day inside this shop.
From the outside, this store is so unnoticeable because of it’s black sign, but once you walk around inside, there are plenty of Indian «Bollywood-​like» clothing and jewellery designs. Most of the customers here are…(yep, you guessed it) Australian women. Nevertheless, the second shop assistant did not abandon me and although she took a long time, she did not lead me astray! We finally found a nice blue dress for $ 40 and matching blue necklace = a very affordable winner. If you want to feel like a Bollywood Actress in Adelaide, this is the store to go to for conversion.

This store is hippy cool, I feel like by walking into this store I automatically am caring for the environment. I don’t think that this is what the store is actually about it just gives that impression.
The clothing style is very 70’s. Can’t wear a dress without an orange headband guys and if you need a new pair of fisherman pants, i daresay this is the place to find them. it’s not just clothing that is available within Tree of Life, there are some really nice jewelery pieces and gifts such as candles for your smelling pleasure.
The staff are ultra friendly and happy, so duck in for your next pair of happy pants next time you’re dancing down the mall.

Tree of Life is a relatively new store in the mall. I believe it’s a chain which has stores in various other Australian capitals.
But basically this is hippy central in the mall.
Not saying that the only people who shop at this store are of the hippy inclination, but it is the style of the products.
I like the colourful baggy pants you can get from here, better than any trackies I can get from anywhere else.
They also have some cool 60s/​70s style clothing.
I buy candles and other things for gifts for people from here also.
It’s great for that.
Fashion wise it’s probably more female focussed, but I do find some cool products in there when I pop in.

I first fell in love with Tree of Life stores in Sydney and then Brisbane, and ever since have been hanging out for one to hit Adelaide. My desires were satisfied last year when this treasure trove of trinkets and colourful fashions and accessories sunk its roots into Adelaide’s Rundle Mall.
Whilst the window suggests it makes a largely hippy clientele happy, most who step beneath the boughs of the Tree of Life leave just as contented as any wood nymph. One of the sections you really can’t appreciate until you’re in the store is the fine jewellery located on the western side of the store. There are beautiful pieces of jewellery here, designed to give as gifts for those special occasions or a delightful self-​treat.
The reduced section is to the back left of the store, and always has unbelievable bargains. I got a Jimmy Hendrix-​like orange velvet jacket from this section for $ 20. The staff are also really nice, helpful and vibrant. When friends had bought gifts from here that didn’t really suit, returning the items with receipt was easy, and I snaffled home a beautiful marcasite set of earrings and ring instead.