Following 18 months of research Laura O’Keeffe and her partner Paul Jager pooled together their skills in business and marketing and their love of design to create beautiful, minimalist wares under their business, Millie Archer.
All with a vintage, scandi edge, the products are aspirational in style yet affordable, with pricing kept to under $100. “Every design is and will only be produced in limited production runs and all our pieces are modestly priced,” explains Laura. “A combination of uniquely designed feature pieces as well as tailored catalogue items form each collection. We hope the introduction of a single Millie Archer design will assist in changing the look and feel of every home or office.”
Designing cushions, throws, baskets, wall prints, drinkware (mugs and glasses), jugs, vases, terrariums, hanging planters and coasters, you can expect to find a new collection on the website with the turn of each season. Launching their first range just a few short months ago, it includes four distinct styles, Laura’s favourite being the Bear + Flamingo design, which involved a collaboration with Swedish artist Linda Otton. “After discovering Linda on Instagram in 2014 I immediately fell in love with her style and the ethereal aesthetic that came through her watercolours and composition. The Bear + Flamingo illustrations within the pieces in this collection were created exclusively for Millie Archer. Applied across cushions, mugs, coasters and on fine art wall prints, their simple nature and soft, feminine style add a scandi touch to the room.”
Also with a Geometric, Metallic and Arrow range, their debut collection is extremely expansive, but that doesn’t mean there’s not more designs in the works. “We’ll be releasing new pieces or a new range every four months or so and have our designs in place for the next few drops,” explains Laura. “This summer you’ll see citrus really come to the forefront of Millie Archer. We love lemons and lemon colouring, it just makes you feel all summery! We’re also investigating some pretty special glassware but that’s in the very early research and development phase.”
With the name Millie Archer signifying the coming together of the couple’s two favourite names, for them, it was very much like naming a child — proving just how much love they’ve put into the business. “Each design is given as much care and attention as we could possibly dedicate,” says Laura. “We hope you fall in love with them as much as we have.”
