Quirky online store Hello Polly has developed a signature homewares collection, Hello Polly Home.
The new range is a colourful and fun collection of art prints, linen cushions and knitted merino cushions and throws. Like the rest of the products Hello Polly sells, Hello Polly Home is focused on unique, affordable and quality design.
New Zealander Sarah Kelk began Hello Polly after moving from Edinburgh to Melbourne with her husband in 2011. In Scotland she had established The Red Door Gallery, championing local artists and designers, and Kelk wanted to continue running a creative business in Australia.
Since opening, Kelk has grown Hello Polly into a one stop shop for independent design across art, accessories, stationery, homewares, kids and gift. Her sister Helen Adam has also come on board, and the pair decided to create their own homewares line combining Kelk’s background in painting and Adam’s experience in the textile industry.
“We have worked together on every element along the way,” says Kelk. “Both of us have a huge passion for independent design and love being able to not only support independent designers, but being able to share their product with design loving customers too.
“Our love for independent design also helped spark our Hello Polly Home collection. We have tried to create a line that perfectly complements and continues Hello Polly’s existing collection.”
The sisters design all the products themselves, and Kelk says the process is quite intuitive, beginning with an inspiration afternoon. “Inspiration for designs can strike at any moment, and I love that we can be walking through the city and stumble across something that might be the basis for a new piece,” she says.
“We really try to not get caught up in the fast fashion style approach to designing and releasing new collections… we would basically rather work on quality rather than quantity and making sure our customers get a product that they will still love in years to come.”
To ensure this quality, Hello Polly Home products are manufactured in Melbourne, and Kelk says the sisters are proud to work with local suppliers, particularly those within the Australian wool industry.
With a young family and a business to take care of, juggling the workload makes for crazy yet fun times. “The best thing is the fact that no two days are the same. We are always working on something in the background, whether it be designing new products or rebranding something.
“We are always trying to move forward and I am really proud of how much we have achieved since we started Hello Polly.”
Kelk says Hello Polly Home currently has some incredibly supportive stockists, and says the range would suit retailers that appreciate good quality design made in Australia. “We would love to hear from anyone who has a likeminded homewares business,” she says.
The pair is currently working on some new additions to the Hello Polly Home range, and Kelk is preparing for a solo show of original paintings. Called All Things Now, the show will open on 23 July at Modern Times, Melbourne.
