Australian artisan rug brand Tribe Home has opened its doors in New Zealand. We spoke to founder Tina Richards about the Auckland showroom and the brand’s philosophy.
What can people expect from your new Eden Terrace showroom?
The space itself offers two levels to explore. I try to think of ways to display our rugs that are not conventional. High ceilings allow the rugs to stand out like the pieces of art they are. We want our customers to be able to touch, feel and immerse themselves in the rug they’re contemplating. In the downstairs gallery you will find a bright open space featuring hand-knotted rugs which form part of our Exclusive Weaves Collection. Each piece is one of a kind; can take many months to weave. Every Exclusive Weave is stunningly beautiful and evokes a feeling of drama. Upstairs, we have three rooms devoted to textured rugs and our Vintage Persian collection. Just as our Melbourne gallery does, we want to inspire the New Zealand design community and their customers with our curation of beautiful handmade rugs. When you touch a rug, it reveals itself to the beholder. You may notice a particular yarn combination or weave style; an individual pattern may capture your eye and hold your attention. That is when you know that rug is for you.
Coastal Luxe is your 2022/2023 collection. Tell us a bit about the collection?
The Coastal Luxe collection has an elegant ease that is both relaxing and inviting whilst creating a family friendly atmosphere which is calming, serene and quintessentially Australasian. Embracing a touch of Nordic inspiration, it’s a marriage of neutrals, charcoals and a hint of colour, making it a perfect backdrop when looking to design an interior space around rejuvenation, restoration and relaxation. The use of jute within this collection adds a palpable sense of craftsmanship, functionality and effortlessness.
Tribe Home began in Melbourne in 2012. How did it come about?
It was through my love of travelling, studying interior decoration and a passion for rugs that led me to create Tribe Home in Melbourne, my adopted hometown. Having grown up in a multi-cultural family in New Zealand and living abroad, being asked “where are you from” was an endearing question that would often be asked. Even though we are all from different tribes, we are one in the same; your heritage allows you to feel a sense of belonging. Tribe Home represents this strong feeling of connectedness with our ancestry, our home, our suppliers, with the extremely talented craftspeople who weave our rugs, our customers and all the other like-minded people we are fortunate enough to meet and work with on our journey.
