I discover a lot of brands via Instagram, which is completely divine. But then there are others I come across in the flesh. I tend to think that meeting the people behind brands in-person is the best experience ever, because you really get a feel for who they are and why they love their products.
I first met the ladies behind Urbaani Homewares and Life Instyle Sydney last year, and then caught up with them at the Melbourne event earlier this year. And because you probably won’t get the chance to meet them yourself, I’ll introduce you to them in today’s post (and give you a glimpse at some of their product range).
Launched in June 2014, Urbaani is the joint effort of long-time friends Simone and Kylie. Buddies for 15 years, they took the smarts they applied in their everyday jobs as accountants and merged it with their obsession with all things Scandi.
The result; a homewares brand that’s always ahead of the style game.
The stuff you can expect to find in their collection is a wonderful mix of retro and modern, all with a Scandi edge and some pieces with a bit of whimsy and fun.
I am personally head over heels for the wooden Kokeshi dolls (great for kids and big kids at heart), and they also stock some amazing kids bedding and decor as well.
“We look for beautiful products that offer not only a design element but are also ethically produced,” the ladies tell me. “We are inspired by unique products that are not only functional but also can tell a story about you and your family in your own special space”.
Of course, starting your own business can be daunting. The ladies tell me that finally taking the plunge was probably the hardest part of their journey.
“Often people talk about following your passion, which is what we wanted to do. But sometimes life gets in the way … so taking a leap of faith was the real hurdle. Once that happened getting up and running was much easier than we thought”.
Running a small business with children to look after as well definitely presents its challenges, but Kylie and Simone tell me that they approach the situation with enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
“To say we ‘juggle’ the work/life balance is an understatement. We realise that there are many people in this industry that do the same thing. They love it, and so do we!”.
And when it comes to the best advice they’ve been given, and the mantra under which they operate Urbaani Homewares, the ladies tell me, “Be true to who you are, always, and be authentic in everything you do”.
Want to get a piece of the Urbaani Homewares range?
Click here to check it out in TLC Interiors Shop.
