Sep
29
2018

Sep 29 | 2018

Celebrating our residence at Co.Co

Behind The Scenes, Words by Emma Kate

When I signed up to Life InStyle three years ago – my very first trade show – I had no idea what might come from it. I hoped for orders and stockists that could enable me to start my business (it did), but I never could have imagined that at this trade show, I’d also meet two loves of my life… Charles – my now partner – and also – Lisa, Sue and Josh of Co.Co – one of the very first stockists on our books, and a few years on, some of my dearest friends.

It was 2016, and I was newly moved to Melbourne, a little out of place with not that many friends I could call on for wine. Lisa suggested: come to Co.Co after hours, let’s have wine! I drove over to Port Melbourne and arrived to a bottle of my favourite white, a cheese platter of dreams, and a bouquet of fresh flowers (kindred flower lovers – this girl just gets me). Right there and then, I knew I’d made my first new Melbourne friend. And all I’ve known since, is joy, laughter, wine, travel, flowers, dream chasing and a very dear friendship with Lisa.

Fast forward another year, and after a good while of renting desk and warehouse space at Orbitkey HQ (Charles and Rex, I will forever be grateful for your generosity to house us as long as you did), our two businesses were growing too fast and the office was bursting at the seams. And over a(nother) wine, Lisa suggested: why don’t you move in with us?

A handful of weeks later, two removalists, a lot of Bunnings shelves and some help flown in from Adelaide (thank you Dad), there we were: in residence.

It takes everything to chase (and grow) a dream, but it means more than everything to be able to show up every day, and do in the company of the Co.Co family. Sue, Josh and Lisa are the most generous, welcoming and supportive souls I know – and being surrounded by their good energy is the most beautiful blessing.

Last month, we celebrated with an intimate gathering at Co.Co with our nearest & dearest – with bespoke cocktails courtesy of our friends at Capi, and wine provided by 6ft6 Wine.

Needless to say, we have so much creativity and collaborations we’re dreaming up, beyond warehousing our stock and having our studio desks in residence at Co.Co. It’s just the beginning. Watch this space!

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Sep
29
2018

Sep 29 | 2018

Meet our stockist: Co.Co

Meet our Stockists, Words by Emma Kate

Something that’s been on our dream list for quite a while now is to invest a little more time going back to the heart of how this very brand started. That is, right here on our blog, telling real stories.

And with the launch of our brand new, beautiful website, it feels the right time to launch a brand new monthly series here on the blog, introducing you to some very, very special humans.

You see, to get our products out into the world beyond our own online shop, we join forces with a host of extraordinary small (and not-so-small) businesses spanning across Australia, The United Kingdom, North America, Canada and Asia. The people we get to work with everyday are absolutely incredible. Our stockists are our brand ambassadors. And they’re all generous, hard-working, delightful, talented, generous, loving and kindred good humans, all with their own stories. And it’s these long-term relationships fostered that are one of our greatest joys of all, in doing this business.

Today, we begin our Meet our Stockist series. Starting with one of our favourites: Co.Co!

We always say the “Co.” in Emma Kate Co. holds many meanings beyond an abbreviation for “Company” – to us, Co. also stands for Co.llaboration. Co.mmunity. Co.urage. Co.nnection. And when we met Co.Co it was like a beautiful twist of destiny.

Co.Co was one of our first stockists, and owners Lisa, Sue and Josh quickly became our dearest friends. Three years on, we even moved in (read the full story here.)

It’s hard to describe Co.Co with just words. Co.Co is… your lifestyle confetti! Co.Co is more than a store filled with beautiful products (although, everything in the store is exceptionally beautiful). With a passion for beautiful design, a little touch of luxe and a whole lot of love, Co.Co is a coveted destination for inspired living.

Step inside the Port Melbourne store, and you’re guaranteed to be showered in love, and discover the most beautiful homewares, stationery, furniture, books and collection of pieces to bring a little touch of magic to your home.

Without further ado, let’s meet Lisa: Creative Heart of Co.Co.

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Jul
20
2018

No sooner had I touched down from New York, another adventure beckoned. After a 12-hour pitstop home to wash clothes, repack and eat some avocado, it was back to the airport I wandered. I had been invited to experience 48 hours in Manila, with my favourite hotel brand Shangri-La.

I have previously had the great pleasure of staying in a number of Shangri-La properties across the world (see London, Hong Kong) – and this time around I was very excited to experience a hotel very familiar, within a brand new destination for me – The Philippines. Here’s a wrap up of my 48 hours spent in town.

Photo of me by The Straits Times journalist Jose Hong

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Jun
28
2018

[emma ]

New York City is is a city like no place else. It’s a concrete metropolis full of life and energy – a place of frenetic chaos, and nourishing calm, where possibility always lingers in the air, palpable.

Partnering with NYC Go and Cathay Pacific, my long-time friend Ellen and I were so excited to experience the city this year in the spring. Although we were officially in town for almost two weeks, most of it was spent taking on the National Stationery Show – fulfilling a long-held dream of mine, in life and business (full report on that, soon!)

After the show wrapped, we had 48 hours FREE in New York to eat, drink, sleep and wander. From torrential rain, to blistering sun, we had it all! By day, we checked out the obvious (and necessary) touristy must do’s, and then wandered far beyond the guidebook. By night, we clinked cheers into pink sunsets from soaring rooftop bars, then dined alongside New York locals at chic Italian establishments in the heart of Greenwich Village.

We walked most places, hopped on the subway like we were locals, and hailed yellow cabs everywhere else… west to east, downtown to uptown, we photographed, twirled, and explored the city inside out. Awed and exhausted, challenged and inspired, we squeezed ALL the joy from every single minute. New York, you were magical.

[ellen]

After living in London together and travelling all over this beautiful little globe of ours together (and apart), Em and I have experienced our fair share of travel highs (and lows). We’ve learnt a few little things along the way.

Our top tip? With just 48 hours, the best way to really sink yourself into a city – dive into all the really good bits – is to WALK. Go, get out, walk (hail a yellow cab if you get weary feet), ask a stranger, talk to a shopkeeper, natter with your barista over your morning brew…These people know the city best.

It’s also good to have a little hit-list, to get you started. Write it on a cafe napkin (we did), keep it in your notes, or even keep snapshots in your phone of that dream breakfast spread, that bridge view, those cobbled streets, and tick a few off as you go.

Here’s a few of our favourites to get you started…where we ate, drank, stayed and played – and where you should too, on your next trip to the city that never sleeps.

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Mar
22
2018

Today, I’m thrilled to share the back story on a very special and much-loved piece in our latest collection: Little Dreamer. The words I write and put onto products have always (so far in) come from my own personal journey – travel inspired, love inspired – words I needed to hear, and share. But, the words of Little Dreamer are the result of a beautiful collaboration with one of my dearest friends Jody.

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Mar
09
2018

Well, this is a post I never imagined I would write (ever).

I am completely humbled – and extremely honoured to have an editorial feature in the current issue (25) of Fête/Life Magazine – the cover story, no less.

In late January, just before I hopped on a plane to Hong Kong, I spent a day with the lovely team, as we captured a ‘day in my life’ on camera, for the print feature – and on video, which I am so excited to share today!

There is nothing quite like the Fête aesthetic: timeless, understated, exquisite, inimitable, and I have long been inspired by Jane and Annabelle. I vividly remember the day I came across the very first issue, fresh out of design school, wide-eyed and eager, fervently emailing Jane to asking about any possible internship opportunities. Who knew this was to come! Thank you so much for sharing the behind the scenes of my life, and the inner workings of my mind, dream and brand.

The issue is twelve pages (twelve!) and yet, still my lengthy interview responses flowed far beyond those pages. So below, I have shared the extra content not shared in the magazine.

You can see issue 25 for the full interview.

Video: by the beautiful + talented Madeleine Gill

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Mar
07
2018

Hong Kong is a sensory overload – chaotic and energising, it’s a buzzing metropolis where East meets West. If you’ve been to Hong Kong before, you’ll know the immediate intensity of this city – the sticky summers and foggy, fresh winters; the bright colours, sounds and people colliding from every which-way, in a beautiful kind of symphony.

Although I had been to Hong Kong twice prior, it has always been in transit to – or from – Shenzhen, when meeting with our manufacturing partners. It’s a city I have longed to properly explore, but not yet had the right opportunity to. This year, in late January, the stars aligned. Travelling with my beautiful Mum, we planned for 3 nights in Hong Kong to stay and play.

For a city so fast-paced – where it is often said, “it’s already tomorrow in Hong Kong” – what really surprised me about our time exploring a city is the sense of peace that coexists among the soaring skyscrapers. Resting just beneath the surface level commotion – the clashing colours and unrelenting hubbub – is a gentle foundation of peaceful calm, underpinning it all.

You only need to explore a little deeper to find it.

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Mar
07
2018

When I think of all the places in the world where I feel the happiest, there would be a few. Propped at the windowsill of a light-flooded Melbourne cafe, soy coffee in hand. Happily lost on a backstreet in Europe. Held tightly in my partner’s arms. And, 35000 feet up in the air, barefoot and cross-legged on a plane, bound somewhere (anywhere) for adventure.

And, I don’t just feel happiest on a plane because of where an aircraft is taking me (to a new destination, or returning home) – I actually love the experience of flying itself. The roar of the engine and heart flutters during taking off; the first glimmer of a burnt orange sky from a window seat. The uninterrupted sequence of hours to think and be; the feeling of palpable transition – literally between ‘here’ and ‘there’ – and, the perspective that I gently seem to feel, when I fly above my everyday life.

Cathay Pacific are a travel carrier that fully embrace this idea – believing that travelling well is an important part of living well. As an airline, their work is to enhance the overall travel experience – and let me say, with every detail imaginable, they do this exquisitely. Four weeks into 2018 I found myself Hong Kong bound with my beautiful Mum by my side, and excitingly – a chance to fly up front in the Cathay Pacific Business Cabin.

So, what was it like? Amazing, from end to end. Here’s a rundown of my full experience.

“To most people, the sky is the limit. To those who love flying, the sky is home.”

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Feb
02
2018

For many Australian travellers bound for Europe, London is an obvious spot to fly in to, or out from – with a few days tacked onto the itinerary, for exploring London itself. Hailing from our country that stretches so far it requires a flight (or days in a car) to see the other side of Australia, often we completely overlook beyond London. We forget that in the United Kingdom, a whole new experience can easily be reached by car or train, and just a handful of hours.

The Cornwall Peninsula is home to hundreds of beaches and storybook harbour villages, the kind we read about in classic English novels. The pace moves more slowly than the hustle of London, so feel free to be a little lighter on the accelerator, and slow down a notch, or three. Drive West from London [and a little South], as far as you can, and you’ll soon be encircled by almost 300km of rugged, stunning coastline than tumbles into the Atlantic Ocean. Cornwall also enjoys the mildest and sunniest climate in the United Kingdom, with over 1541 hours of sunshine per year, and winters are amongst the warmest in the country.

For the second part of my trip with VisitBritain, I was so excited to explore the South West for the very first time. After checking out of the beautiful The Great Northern hotel, I hopped across the road to collect my hire car from Hertz St Pancras, loaded my playlist, plugged in my GPS and hit the road for Cornwall.

It’s an easy drive (via freeway the entire way), but a lengthy drive to take solo – so I took my time, and also made a quick diversion to Bristol for lunch and leg stretch. The drive itself takes around 5 hours, depending on traffic – a perfect opportunity to listen to some of my favourite podcasts and just be with my thoughts and the open road.

There’s so many beautiful parts of Cornwall – and much that I still want to see. But here’s how I spent three nights in Cornwall (and you should too).

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