Tag: artisans

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Design Homewares

Modern heirloom homewares: Meet Atley.co

Inspired by craftsmanship, raw materials, timeless interiors and rewarding partnerships with local designers and artisans, Atley.co was born from a desire to handcraft modern heirlooms, similar to those held dear by previous generations. Partners in life and business, Lisa and Terry Whittle create a range of beautiful items including homewares, art, baby goods and ceramics.

Their business came about after a trip to Europe in 2017 sparked a fire within the couple. “While travelling, we had the privilege of meeting passionate artisans in different towns who were using centuries-old techniques to create unique handmade pieces. We were immediately taken back to stories of our grandfathers and their fathers.”

Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay | Image: Carolyn Price

The idea of harnessing this beautiful concept at home in Australia inspired the pair to take a leap of faith and create something special with local artisans. Their products are many and varied from magazine racks to art prints, decor objects to plant hangers, leather tissue box covers and personalised ceramic egg cups!

Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay | Image: Carolyn Price

The Atley.co team believe there is magic in everyday objects and their functionality. Each of their pieces holds a unique history, soul and heart, and the duo love being a part of the entire process, from designing to creating to manufacturing.

Lisa says: “We have been fortunate enough in our first 12 months, to develop incredible relationships in the industry and gain experience working with insanely talented interior designers, photographers, leading Australian stylists and editors. As well as the opportunity to work with incredible brands and, more importantly, the creatives behind them.”

The desire to create products that add heart, character and happiness to everyday life, is reflected in every piece. “Today more than ever, it’s important to stick to why we are here in the first place; to consciously create beautiful, functional, locally made artisan pieces that can be enjoyed not only now, in a world of ever-changing trends, but pieces that will be treasured beyond a season, enhancing and adding joy to our lives now and in many years to come.”

Styling: Villa Styling | Image: Louise Roche

Their favourite piece is their magazine rack side table. Made from a combination of leather and oak, it is truly a functional and timeless piece. Lisa also recommends the popular ceramic connection rings that were designed and made in collaboration with local ceramicist Kaz Morton. “They’re so simple and beautiful, a celebration of the true value of human connection.”

Image: Zoe Conroy | Zoe Interiors

Atley.co continue to design and further develop their collection, establishing new connections within the local creative community. They believe supporting local businesses and Australian made products plays an essential role in the growth of Australian manufacturing and the design industry. “We have so much incredible talent right at our doorstep that the dream is to continue collaborating and creating economic opportunities for our local designers and makers,” Lisa adds.

Shop Atley.co online

Styling: Alexandra Austin | Image: Jorge Rivera

Australian ceramicists: 6 you need to know!

I have a thing for ceramics. There’s something about art which you can hold in your hands, knowing that the artist who lovingly made it, also did so with theirs.…

Timber shelves: A stylish new Australian made brand

It’s no secret that we’re massive fans of a stylish shelfie around here which is why the launch of PLANK wall-hung shelving has caught our eye. The creation of Melbourne visual…

Kids wall art: Australian made options for all ages

By Angela Reynolds When it comes to styling bedrooms, the furniture, the floor coverings, the window furnishings, the lighting, the linen, the décor, and the storage solutions, are all key…
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Designers Homewares Interviews

The bohemian, handmade treasures of Sage and Clare

When we first talked to Phoebe Bell of Sage and Clare her business was just one week old! Solely online and offering a collection of homewares she both designed and sourced from across the globe, we knew we had stumbled upon something special.

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Jump forward two years and Sage and Clare is a much bigger beast. With their homewares available through a range of stores across Australia and New Zealand, including their own showroom in Northcote (which you can visit on appointment), Phoebe no longer sources, designing every piece herself. “With Sage and Clare expanding, I’ve moved away from sourcing to now designing every homeware here in Melbourne. I absolutely adore the travel side of things but it was become increasingly difficult to spend three months at a time away from home, the business and my family.”

Sage and Clare showroom
Sage and Clare showroom

Still the bohemian brand it always was, it’s now a little more polished and cohesive, thanks to there being just one designer. With a strong ethos that all their products be ethically handmade using ancient artisanal techniques, Sage and Clare has evolved naturally while maintaining a strong identity of colourful, layered, artisanal and bohemian.

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[contextly_sidebar id=”kxuKV3CScYII2c1WCidIrmhrXkeVlk4V”]Its latest offering, the Caravan Collection, sings true to this. Inspired by vintage textiles from around the world, it takes references from traditional African mud cloth, vintage Moroccan Berber blankets and Aztec patterns from South America. This melting pot of cultures culminated in a range that was made by the clever hands of Sage and Clare artisans in India, using traditional time-honoured practices of block printing, screen printing, embroidery and weaving.

“The range offers a variety of textures, signature prints and playful embellishments for the modern bohemian home,” explains Phoebe. “Offering everything from bed linen, coverlets, throws, cushions, jewellery and hand-painted enamelware, our products have a strong textile focus and all of our pieces really champion the skill of our artisans and the nuances of handmade.”

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Predominantly a one-woman show here in Melbourne, Phoebe’s two years in business have seen a myriad of successes and challenges. Undoubtedly a highlight has been seeing Sage and Clare featured in most of Australia’s interiors magazines, as well as many of Phoebe’s favourite stores… but on the flip side, the trials and tribulations of running a small business have been plenty. “Sage and Clare has grown so much since the beginning but it’s meant my workload has grown a lot too. While I get casual help on the side from friends and family when I need it, it is still a brand that is predominantly run by one person (me!) and sometimes it can feel incredibly overwhelming. At the same time though, it’s exciting to be growing and I can’t wait until we’re able to employ someone next year.”

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As the business continues to grow, so does the homewares offering, with a new collection in the works for next year. “Without giving too much away, my new range is inspired by Moroccan Riads and their traditional tiling known as Zillij. A strong ’70s vibe has been worked into the range too — the rest, you’ll just have to wait and see!”

Shop online.

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Designers Homewares

The Sydney pop-up stocking gorgeous, ethically handmade wares

I wouldn’t blame you if you associated fairtrade with chocolate and toys made out of Coke cans. Admittedly, there was a time when I thought the exact same. Sure I knew the products were doing fabulous things for people in developing countries, but stylish and on-trend? Well, that was a different story.

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Yet as I’ve been introduced to more and more brands, particularly homewares, I’ve come to realise that good design and social justice can work hand in hand. Beautiful designer brands like One Another, SHELF/LIFE, The Dharma Door and Once Was Lost all offer wares that are gorgeous, ethically handmade and support communities of artisans living in some of the most challenging regions of the world. Seems like a win win win to me!

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All their homewares are available online, but this month they’re making it even easier to shop ethically, opening a pop-up store, Designed For Good, in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. “For a while I had been dreaming about having a store that was focused purely on stocking ethical products,” explains Rick Carter from One Another. “Nothing would be mass-produced and as a consumer you would know that every purchase you made was going to impact someone on the other side of the world. This dream has now come into reality and it’s all about good design, designed for good!”

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With the pop-up offering a collection of goods from the four like-minded brands, it also has a range of amazing in store workshops hosted by Lisa Tilse, Samorn Sanixay, Julia Denes and Mrs Munro. “We thought it would be inspiring for people to come and create their own beautiful bowl or scarf while being surrounded by products that have all been handmade by talented artisans from every corner of the world,” says Rick.

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Running until 22 November, Rick and his fellow shop-owners have the one simple aim, to get consumers to start asking questions. “There are some really sad and horrifying stories surrounding the exploitation of cheap labour and the violation of human rights. So we want people to start questioning where and how things are made. With our wares we want to share the story behind each product; where it was made, who made it, the materials chosen and the process of production.”

Photography by Lena Barridge

For more information.

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Designers Homewares Interviews

Beautiful homewares that support their African artisans

Living on opposite sides of the globe (one in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve and the other on an outback station in Western Australia), sisters and stay at home mums, Kate Boston and Rachael Steadman, decided it was time to get back into business. Both feeling the need to engage their brains, on a rare night together in Australia (over a bottle of wine or two!) they came up with their concept: Tinkered by.

Kate and Rachael
Kate and Rachael

A social impact brand, Tinkered by source handmade jewellery, homewares, toys and beautiful hand-woven woollen rugs from artisans in East Africa. Working in partnership with the makers — who share their dream of creating meaningful opportunity in vulnerable communities — they are developing each artisans’ business through connecting them to the global market. “Tinkered by is using business for good,” explains Kate. “We are not aid or hand-outs. We are building sustainable businesses and creating the opportunity for positive market place transactions between our artisans and the world. No guilt, no hiding, no pity, just unbelievably well crafted, unique and gorgeous handmade products.”

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[contextly_sidebar id=”zSHMPZg0QIOKYMH09PtXVnXZ0xOE4KLz”]Engaging 18 businesses and approximately 90 individuals, all the artisans use traditional skills and whatever materials are on hand. “Each artisan group specialises in a particular medium and traditional skill. For example casting with recycled metals and shaping cow horns and bones for jewellery and homewares; using recycled glass, ostrich egg shells and tyre tubes to create beads for jewellery making; spinning raw wool and hand weaving on the loom for our rugs; and the list goes on!”

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Starting in late 2013, Tinkered by have already been able to shine the light on their artisans and give their wares a global audience. However, for the sisters, what’s been even more important is being able to clear up some very common misconceptions about poverty. “Living in Kenya revealed a very different take on the idea of poverty for me,” says Kate. “I had a set of preconceived ideas about what poverty ‘looked like,’ that people’s lives were wrought with devastation, sadness and suffering. That they were helpless souls. But I had it all upside down! Our artisans’ stories are about strong, smart, hard-working entrepreneurial people who are waking up each morning and working hard to make their families’ lives a little better. These are seriously proud people and they have every right to be.”

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Homewares

Watertiger opens its doors to the public in Waterloo

Trader and stylist Kathrin Bruce has been supplying unique pieces and collections of homewares from Asia to the top interior designers and retail stores in Australia for the past 10 years. She has now opened her doors to the public with the opening of Watertiger in Waterloo. “All our pieces make a statement of beauty and individuality, provoking anticipation and inquiry as to their source, history and story. It is an experience not to be missed,” she promises!

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Watertiger honours the artisans who are still found throughout Asia, who still labour with their hands and work in traditional methods that are unique to their culture and have been passed down through generations.

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Kathrin lived and worked in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka sourcing products for western companies around the world for over 20 years. Now her passion lies in sourcing pieces for you to enjoy in your home — pieces of beauty that hold an energy; a story of simplicity told by the artisan.

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Watertiger showroom, 62/370 George Street, Waterloo, NSW 2017

Open Tuesday – Friday 10am-to-3pm, Open Saturday 10am-to-2pm.

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Homewares

Barefoot Gypsy: “A destination for beautiful global objects with a conscience.”

As a fanatic global traveller, Maxine Smith, like many of us interiors addict, always loved collecting home furnishings, textiles and accessories from around the world. Yet after a point, her collection grew so big that a business was born: Barefoot Gypsy.

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Maxine describes the online boutique as: “A destination for beautiful global objects with a conscience.” She’s committed to supporting local craftspeople and artisans, sourcing old and new pieces from Uzbekistan to Bolivia to Morocco. Moreover, she wants to give customers an insight into the rich tapestry of world cultures, with eclectic pieces telling their own individual tales.

“We have a dynamic mix of products, all unique and beautiful in their own right,” says Maxine. “I do not limit my collecting to any one region or country; I just keep searching for more spectacular pieces to add to the collection, wherever they are.”

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Maxine says she sources everything responsibly: “I really love when I can support something bigger than the piece itself. For example, with the Moroccan wedding blankets and wool pom pom blankets, I have started to work with a co-op in a village outside Marrakesh to support the community. It means a lot to be part of something more.”

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With her travel bug by no means sated, she is determined to keep sourcing new stock from around the world. And while that requires a lot of research, it is the fortuitous discovery of a new place, shop or artist that makes Maxine incredibly grateful that she has managed to make a career out of what she loves.

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Homewares

One in Six: the new label by Queensland boutique Kova Lifestyle

Running the successful Queensland boutique Kova Lifestyle, saw director Bianca De Luca be inspired to start her own range, One in Six.

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Described as a little bit vintage mid/century modern with an eclectic twist, Bianca began the design process after struggling to find pieces for her store that fit her aesthetic completely.

“One in six was founded out of a desire to source exclusive products for Kova,” says Bianca. “I also found myself wanting to tweak the pieces that I could find so I decided to bite the bullet and finally do a range.”

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Offering an assortment of products ranging from bone and hone inlay furniture, hand-sewn throws and quilts and pressed metal pieces, they are all handcrafted by artisans in India. Currently stocked at her store (both online and bricks and mortar), Bianca is in the process of building a One in Six website.

Founded in 2013, Bianca is keen to keep the label growing, having truly fallen in love with the design process: “I design most of the collection which is the part I enjoy the most. Seeing one of my drawings come to life is always a thrill.”

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Interiors Addict

Loveshack by eb&ive

“We had a dream of creating our own brand and 10 years later, here we are!” says Nicky Morgan, owner of eb&ive and the new homewares line under it, LOVESHACK.

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While starting a label is a dream many might have, Nicky and her friend Jules Mckie-Walker actually did it.

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While it’s just Nicky in the business these days, Jules having become a full-time mum, creating the brand was a joint effort between friends and was a “natural progression,” says Nicky. Having shared a love of all things fashion and homewares since they were young, and ending up in the fashion industry in sales and marketing roles, the desire to express their own style only grew. It was 2008 when they made it happen – beginning with a small handmade jewellery collection. A few years later, the label expanded into handbags, clutches, shoes, fashion and small leather goods and really took off. They haven’t looked back since, with LOVESHACK being the most recent addition.

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