Braddon’s POP Canberra unveiled a collab range with local makers—including a gin
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POP Canberra might stock wares from 225+ local makers, but they’ve just launched their very own collaboration line in time for Christmas—and we’re a little bit in love.
POP Punch tea, porcelain vessels and candles in tins, these are a few of our favourite things…from POP Canberra’s new POP Made collaboration range, that is.
Launched this December, just in time for Christmas shopping, Braddon’s local emporium POP Canberra has unveiled a range of collaborations with local makers and artists.
Embodying the retro pastel colour scheme of POP’s branding, the range features POP X Lucian candles, POP X Thor’s Hammer serving boards, POP X Base soaps and even a soon-to-be-released gin in collaboration with Underground Spirits.
For POP Canberra’s Founder, Gabe Trew, it’s all about celebrating the talent Canberra has to offer.
“We love how much creativity and skill that the local community has and we wanted to share our imagination with these inspirational artists,” he says. “We strive to create a sustainable local shopping ecosystem—by supporting local makers to create products that are designed, developed, produced, photographed and sold by locals we are putting our money where our mouth is.”
POP Made’s Sweet Sun Soaked Gin, created with Underground Spirits.
As for how each POP Made collaboration was imagined, Gabe says his team approached it with “an idea and an open mind”.
“We ponder trends, products, new ideas and reflect on themes of nostalgia, fun, wonder and desire. We have overactive imaginations here at POP and we really cherish this. What would we want in our lives? What will excite, engage and inspire customers and makers?”
From this pondering, a few themes have emerged—the first of which is POP’s own unique scent and taste (yes, you read that correctly).
POP Punch is available in a tea (from Tea Garden Co), a candle, and even a reed diffuser, so you can experience its burst of freshly squeezed orange, pineapple, passionfruit and hibiscus flower across all five senses. The tea will also feature heavily in suggested recipes for summer cocktails and iced tea.
POP Made’s POP Punch Tea, created with Tea Garden Co.
Some collaborations even feature multiple makers, like the POP X Lucian candles—available in scents POP Punch, Sun Soaked and Field of Daisies—that come in Lucian’s signature 50ml and 100ml tins, as well as slip-cast porcelain cups by ceramicist Anna Gianakis and large hand-blown vessels by glass artist Annette Blair.
(L-R) POP Made Field of Daisies candle (large) created with Annette Blair and Lucian Candles, POP Made Field of Daisies candle (small) created with Lucian Candles, POP Made Field of Daisies reed diffuser, created with Lucian Candles and POP Made Field of Daisies candle (medium) created with Anna Gianakis and Lucian Candles.
Sustainability is also a key theme of POP Made, with each vessel able to be used after the candles are gone. A theme of reuse can also be seen in the soon-to-be-released arched serving boards made from salvaged timber, a collaboration with Thor’s Hammer.
“These are a part of our ‘Up Range’, which focuses on upcycling materials to be re-imagined into soul-stirring creations,” explains Gabe. But POP isn’t stopping there.
“We’re rolling out these collaborations, well, forever!” laughs Gabe. “We have many in-store at the moment, and have more coming each month. We want our wonderful customers to have new, exciting products to explore and engage with all year round.”
POP Made tea towel, created with KE Textiles.
And if you’re a Canberra maker, creative or artist looking to collaborate, Gabe encourages you to reach out.
“We are always expanding, thinking, growing and creating. We are looking to support more local makers, movers and shakers in 2022 and encourage everyone to drop us a line if they have something that the public would love. We have many exciting growth plans in 2022 and you will see POP Canberra sharing the best of Canberra, far beyond our borders.”
Naturally, POP has extended their in-store opening hours to accommodate late night (and last minute) festive gifting and are open until “late every evening” until Christmas Day—with a few in-store surprises.
“We have a few surprise events on the horizon… so keep an eye out!” says Gabe. “Think shopping with complimentary gin and tonic in hand.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: POP Made, POP Canberra’s new collaboration range
Where: Available in-store at POP Canberra, Shop G12/27 Lonsdale Street, Braddon or online at popcanberra.com.au/collections/designed-by-pop
Instagram: @popcanberra
Feature image: POP Made POP Punch reed diffuser, created with Lucian Candles, POP Made POP Punch candle (large) created with Annette Blair and Lucian Candles, POP Made POP Punch candle (small) created with Lucian Candles and POP Made POP Punch candle (medium) created with Anna Gianakis and Lucian Candles.
Photography: Ashley St George / Pew Pew Studio
