For more than two decades, Marina Mikulic has been helping people discover colour, confidence and their own personal style from her boutique in the heart of Camden.

Located in Argyle Street, Symphony’s is much more than a fashion store. It is a colourful and welcoming space filled with clothing, shoes, jewellery, hats and accessories, carefully brought together to create a complete shopping experience.

Marina says the name Symphony’s was chosen to reflect the variety found within the store.

“A symphony has all the different parts of an orchestra, so we thought we would have a symphony within a store,” she said.

Marina has operated businesses in Camden for 23 years, initially opening House of Georgia before eventually establishing Symphony’s. For a period, the two stores operated alongside each other before Marina decided to focus entirely on the Symphony’s brand.

While her professional background began in finance and business, Marina had always loved fashion. She recalls spending lunch breaks in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall with her colleagues, planning outfits and looking for pieces to coordinate with what they already owned.

That love of putting clothing together remains central to the Symphony’s experience.

Fashion for Every Generation

Symphony’s caters to a broad range of ages, with customers spanning several generations. Marina has welcomed teenagers, mothers, grandmothers and even great-grandmothers into the store.

“We say from the 30s to the 60s, but we have young girls shopping here and we have had a 100-year-old lady shopping here,” Marina said.

Rather than stocking only what she would personally wear, Marina selects pieces that will appeal to different ages, lifestyles and personalities.

The boutique is particularly known for its colour. While many mainstream fashion stores rely heavily on black or neutral shades, Symphony’s is filled with pinks, blues and seasonal colour palettes.

Garments are arranged in colour-blocked sections throughout the store, helping customers see how different pieces can be coordinated into a complete outfit.

“It’s appealing, it’s colourful and it’s like a person’s happy place when they come in here,” Marina said.

For first-time visitors, there can be a lot to take in.

Marina regularly hears customers walk through the door and say, “Oh wow. Where do I start? I don’t know where to look.”

That sense of discovery is part of the experience. Customers can browse independently or receive personalised assistance from Marina and her team, whether they are looking for a casual outfit, coordinating separates or finding something special for a wedding or event.

Customers Who Become Friends

For Marina, retail has always been about people rather than simply selling clothing.

She encourages customers to visit even when they are not planning to buy anything, often telling them to come in just to say hello.

Over the years, many customers have become friends, and some have been shopping with Marina for more than 20 years.

“It’s all about building a relationship for me because I am very much a people person,” she said.

For long-term customers, Marina often knows their tastes well enough to immediately show them the newest pieces that may suit them. Others prefer to explore the store at their own pace before asking for assistance.

Marina believes that personal service, friendship and a little bit of fun are what set an independent boutique apart from mainstream retail.

“It is a bit of an experience, a bit of friendship building, a bit of fun and a bit of dress-ups,” she said.

Finding a Home in Camden

Marina’s connection with Camden began before she opened her first store.

While operating childcare centres in Moss Vale and Campbelltown, she regularly travelled through Camden to do her banking. She quickly developed an affection for the town and told her husband that one day she would have a business there, although she did not yet know what kind.

“I don’t know why, but I just loved this town,” Marina said. “I always loved it and I still love it.”

That instinct eventually led her to establish her business in Camden, where she says going to work has never felt like a chore.

Although the township has grown and evolved during the past 23 years, Marina believes Camden’s people and community spirit have remained constant.

“Camden hasn’t changed. Camden will always be the beautiful Camden it is,” she said.

She describes the town as a place visitors should take the time to explore, discovering the businesses, cafés and experiences found within its “nooks and crannies”.

Visitors regularly arrive at Symphony’s from Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the South Coast and other areas, often as part of a day spent walking through Camden, enjoying a meal or coffee and exploring the surrounding district.

Supporting the Community

Marina’s involvement with Camden extends well beyond the walls of her boutique.

Over the years, Symphony's has supported numerous community organisations, charities and fundraising events, including Disability Macarthur, Youth Solutions, VIEW Clubs, the Cancer Council and Corporate Clash.

The store regularly contributes prizes and donations, with Marina estimating that it supports a local cause in some way almost every week.

This generosity reflects the relationships she has built throughout Camden and the wider Macarthur community.

For Marina, Symphony's is not simply located in Camden. It is part of Camden.

Visitors can find Symphony’s in Argyle Street, close to Camden’s cafés, pubs and other independent businesses. The boutique is also active across Facebook, Instagram and its website.

Just look for the distinctive black and white stripes—and prepare to discover a symphony of colour inside.