Beginningย as a passion projectย to re-imagine the humble beach umbrella,ย Basil Bangs was started by surfer and industrial designer Mike Durante and one of his oldest and dearest friends.
Both loving vintage beach umbrellas, but wanting to bring them into the now withย advanced fabrics and quality fixtures and finishes, they began designing. And, as the clichรฉ goes, the rest is history!
Five years on, Basil Bangs have now grown to include a range of high quality outdoor umbrellas, outdoor cushions and picnic rugs, whilst also servicing the commercial sector with aย range of Go Large umbrellas for cafes, bars and hotels.
Now run byย Mike and his wife Krista Huebner, the duoย are on a mission to update all the must-have items forย the outdoors. “The outdoor focus came about because we started with beach umbrellas and the rest of the range evolved from there,” explains Krista. “I think too that Australians also have such an inherent love for being outside — whether itโs by the pool, in the garden or at the beach — so why not have some gorgeous and practical products to encourage it happening more?”
Featuringย fabrics full of colour and pattern, their just released Summer 15/16 collection was inspired by artists and designers theyย love, such as Rothko, Sottsass, Klee and Jeffrey Smart (among others) and design periods that spoke to them: “Aย bit of art deco-meets-Memphis-modernism, pop art and patterning.”
The collectionย alsoย features a range of designer collaborations, with Kip & Co,ย Lucas Grogan and Gray Malin to name a few. “While we design everything ourselves, from our fabrics down to all of our fixtures and fittings, we do love partnering with artists and designers on special prints,” says Krista. “We figure why not work with the people who we admire and can do it better than we ever could (and itโs also a lot of fun!).”
The collaborations have also givenย way to some of Krista’s favourite pieces, with special mentions going to the Lucas Grogan Dome rug and the Kip & Co Bananas rug. “Choosing a favourite isย like asking me to choose between my children, but Iย haveย been rocking the Dome and Bananas rugs latelyย so they would be in front this week.ย Hands down I use one of our Love Rugs (picnic rugs) everyday, either inside on the floor as a play mat, outside at the park on wet grass, or on the beach as our beach mat. Iโve also personally tested them and they’re red wine proof, so good for any adult party animal and/or cheese fiend!”
Embodyingย what we all love in life: laughing with friends and family, spending lazy summer days outside and beautiful design, Basil Bangs is quintessentially Australian and we love it!
