The Argyle Octavia by MUSSON on board Mischief super yacht
Musson has hosted an exclusive event on Sydney Harbour, aboard the luxury yacht Mischief, to reveal one of the world’s most rare and desirable pieces of jewellery, Argyle Octavia by Musson.
Select guests had an extraordinary opportunity to view and, under strict supervision, touch the beautiful ring.
It was revealed on a sparkling harbour cruise, where guests were served Moet Imperia champagne and exotic seafood canapes as they enjoy the view, and experience Argyle Octavia by Musson.
Musson Creative Director, and co-designer of the ring, Olivar Musson, talked to its incredible rarity and special position in the world of diamond jewellery.
Guests were gifted with product from luxury fragrance and candle brand, Lumira, and also had the privilege of being gifted with a beautiful, bespoke book, telling the story of Argyle Octavia, from gem to jewellery.
GUESTS INCLUDED:
Sophie Monk
James Tobin
Francesca Hung
Jude and Lynette Bolton
Laura Dundovic
Natalie Roser
Shannon Lawson
Darren McMullen
Tom Tilley
Source: Musson
Tom Skeehan awarded PATRÓN Tequila’s $25,000 craftsmanship grant
PATRÓN Tequila has announced the recipient of their $25,000 PATRÓN 60 Hands – Pay It Forward craftsmanship grant is furniture and product designer Tom Skeehan. With this grant, PATRÓN wanted to ‘pay it forward’ to grassroots and community craftspeople in the Australian creative community and help them grow their craft.
The initiative received hundreds of applications from across Australia, and with an extremely high calibre of craftspeople in the running for the grant, it is a brilliant achievement for Tom to be recognised as a stand-out craftsperson.
Tom is a Canberra-based craftsman and the designer behind design studio SKEEHAN. Trained as a furniture maker, Tom then studied industrial design, and it is this cross section of skills that makes his SKEEHAN designs so unique. With an approach to design that is honest and collaborative, Tom strives to create meaningful projects that add value to the community – something that resonates strongly with PATRÓN, as sustainability and giving back to the community are at the core of the premium tequila.
PATRÓN 60 Hands was a national call out to those in the handmade fields of design, fashion and hospitality industries, and was about honouring and nurturing talented craftspeople, and helping them hone their abilities. If anyone knows of the craftsmanship that goes into creating an authentic handmade item, it is PATRÓN Tequila, and PATRÓN 60 Hands spoke to the fact that the spirit is handmade, with 60 hands needed to craft it into what we know as PATRÓN Tequila.
It is not only Tom’s skill as a craftsman that spoke to both the grant judges and PATRÓN, but also his plans for the grant. Tom intends to put the $25,000 grant towards further project development and support manufacturers and other craft practitioners in his industry. Tom and his team at SKEEHAN are currently exploring ways to keep hand-blown glass manufacturing facilities and craft processes alive and viable in Australia, and hope to support this sector by developing projects that further evolve this craft and its legacy.
PATRÓN 60 Hands judge, design and architecture connoisseur and comedian, Tim Ross, said, “It’s been wonderful to engage with the work and ethos of all the applicants, and I think it is great that Tom wants to share the grant in an area beyond his expertise.”
With so many high calibre applicants, the runners up for the grant are also respected craftspeople. Kenny Son (NSW), an object maker and designer specialising in metal craft, and Ben Devlin (NSW), the chef and owner of Pottsville restaurant, Pipit, were both very deserving applicants, who showcased a great craftsmanship in their respective fields. Finalists included Keiko Matsui (VIC), Raffaele Persichetti (QLD), Zachary Hanna (NSW), Adrian Kaleel (NSW), Shari Lowndes (VIC) and Kate Caicedo (NSW).
“PATRÓN itself is a refined handcrafted spirit, so there is a great synergy between the craftsmanship of our tequila and these makers. We’re thrilled have Tom as the grant recipient and look forward to seeing him use this opportunity to also pay it forward to handcrafted industries,” said Stephanie Sarantakos, PATRÓN Tequila Australia’s Brand Manager.
“We saw entries from a wide range of crafts from makers across Australia, and we’re delighted by the positive response we’ve received from the creative community for this initiative. The judges spent a lot of time deliberating over the applications, and we’re grateful for their commitment to this initiative,” continued Stephanie.
Though PATRÓN Tequila has grown to become one of the most recognised and respected luxury spirits in the world, it is still exclusively produced in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, in the same small batches and with the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
Source: PATRÓN Tequila
Bras N Things launch Christmas campaign with Mahalia Handley, Sophie Hughes, Casey James, Shimma Marie
We’re calling it… It’s the end of the year and you made it! It’s time to kick back, enjoy some well-deserved festive cheer and celebrate the little things that really matter to you.
Mahalia Handley, Sophie Hughes, Casey James, Shimma Marie star in the Bras N Things Christmas campaign which captures the excitement of the festive season and all the little things that make us smile.
Featuring all the classic Christmas cheer – bright reds and greens, sparkle and festive details – this collection is also about comfort. Designed to have all the ‘wow’ without the ‘ow!’ factor this collection prioritises comfort without compromising on style.
The Christmas range includes super soft satin PJs and robes which are perfect for gifts, stunning sets with sparkle and lace, relaxed shaped underwire for a comfy fit, and full cup fashion bras available in a range of sizes to a G cup.
Bras N Things’ Head of Marketing Natalie Chalmers said, “After the year we’ve all had, we knew we wanted to make this year’s Christmas campaign really special. This year changed and challenged many of us, but it was also a chance to take stock and learn to enjoy the little things that bring us joy. So that’s what we want to celebrate with this campaign – The Little Things. It’s time to plan surprises, give to the people we care about and, of course, treat ourselves because we could all use a little sparkle, joy and love for Christmas this year.”
Head of Product at Bras N Things, Jessica Lauppe-Guy said, “This year it was more important than ever for us to design collections that would really speak to our customers’ changing needs and bring a little joy after the year that has been.
“We have really focused on comfort combined with beautiful designs, because no one should ever have to sacrifice fashion to feel comfortable. We also put in extra little design details for a touch of something special and ensured we had the ‘wow’ factor for those times when you just need to feel instantly fabulous.
“This range has all the Christmas favourites – vibrant reds and greens, sparkle and festive accessories – as well as a super fun summer range inspired by the staycations most of us are planning this year. It’s the perfect time to take a road trip around our beautiful country with our versatile sleep pieces that can be worn as casual outerwear with lingerie or at the beach with swimwear – all in bright and happy colours!”
For something a little extra special, you can’t go past the Gia set in fire red. Featuring balconette cup design, adjustable and removable next strap so it can be worn strapless, stunning satin and lace trim, cut outs and gold hardware studding – it’s the ultimate in decadent lingerie with a sassy Christmas twist.
Need to indulge? Who doesn’t! Time to treat yourself to the French inspired Indulge range, designed to have you feeling lush as you head into the festive season. Wear the ‘cut out’ trend in the most comfortable way possible – with beige mesh panels that contrast with luxe satin and lace – to make a statement.
For the perfect gift, you can’t go past Bras N Things super soft satin sleepwear. Available in a range of styles to suit every taste – cami, slip, shorts and button shirt – with matching robe and lingerie sets, there are so many ways to mix and match to create a personalised gift for someone special.
Source: Bras N Things
Darren Robertson launching Gourmet Summer Seafood 'Al Fresco' Packs with Appellation Oysters & Gardet Champagne
Launching on the 3rd December for the first two weeks of Summer only, North Bondi favourite neighbourhood restaurant, Rocker have partnered with New South Wales’ highest quality Appellation oysters; creating a one-off sumptuous treat for picnic lovers in Sydney.
‘Rocker’ offers a menu inspired by the ocean and designed to be shared. Staying true to its laid-back surf-side location, Rocker restaurant are celebrating the start of Summer with an enticing treat, championing local Australian produce next to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
This delectable summer picnic pack is designed for al fresco dining and boasts two of Rocker favourite Lobster Rolls served with chips & pickles and a bottle of Gardet champagne. It also comprises a dozen Appellation oysters from two different NSW estuaries and a copy of ‘The Rock Oyster Guide’ a must-have handbook; from seasonality, sustainability to how to handle and open the mollusc. All of this to be enjoyed in your own Rocker calico tote bag. The perfect melange for summer sundowners!
For the first 12 purchased, customers will receive an additional luxury gift.
You can select your al fresco day between the 3rd – 6th December from Midday and the 10th – 13th December from Midday, then visit Rocker in North Bondi to collect your order to enjoy in your desired outdoor location.
Please note, these packs serve 2 and are priced at $99 + booking fee.
To order please click the below link:
Source: Rocker Bondi
Make the Most of Borders Reopening with a life ‘experience’ From BananaLab
It’s no secret that finding that elusive, perfect present for the travel and adventure seekers in your life is more often a chore than a delight. With so much choice out there, it can be hard to know which the right one is. Enter BananaLab, the solution to all your gifting woes this holiday season and beyond – especially as travel and border restrictions within Australia continue to lift.
A French expression meaning ‘smile like a banana’, BananaLab was founded by Eric Amiel and Thomas Dufraisse, both of Franco-Australian origin, in 2017 as Australia’s first range of curated, experience-focused gift boxes. Since then, this innovative, Victorian-based startup has grown to become the second biggest experience gifting platform in Australia.
Born from the realisation that there were few options for experience-based gifting in Australia, Amiel and Dufraisse, as lovers of adventure, travel, sports and the outdoors, launched BananaLab to fill a gap for those looking to gift unique and memorable moments for their loved ones in place of purposeless or unwanted, material gifts. Lately, experience gifts have seen an increase in popularity; a phenomenon that has been attributed to the re-evaluation of lifestyles and priorities during the recent prolonged lockdowns, as well as the desire to ‘get back out there’ after being cooped up for so long.
In fact, a recent Urban List study found that 55% of their audience saw themselves spending more on experiences than products in the future, while an independent BananaLab survey found that 77% of Victorians are eager to get out and undertake an experience as soon as possible.
BananaLab’s concept is simple; one gift box, thousands of hand-picked activities to choose from. Each experience gift box contains a booklet with an entire range of experiences and a pass, which can be redeemed for any one offer. BananaLab’s products are available at four price points, beginning with $99 for the ‘Her Bucket List’ and ‘His Bucket List’ boxes, which contains the broadest number of experiences ranging from indoor skydiving to winery tours, making it a great stocking filler or corporate gift.
On the other end of the spectrum, BananaLab’s ‘Unique Box’, priced at $599, could see you living out once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like soaring through the sky in an open cockpit for a bird’s eye view of The Twelve Apostles, or dog sledding on the summit of Mt. Baw Baw at sunset.
BananaLab differentiates themselves from their competitors by leaving the choice of the experience in the hands of the giftee, ensuring that there’ll never be a need for exchanges or refunds. However, unlike most experience-oriented gifts which are merely offered as paper vouchers, neither the exciting ritual of physically unwrapping a present, nor the idea of a tangible gift as a symbol of love is lost.
Moreover, with BananaLab’s availability in Coles and Woolworths nation-wide, the team have now ensured that BananaLab’s exciting experiences are available both on and offline, making it possible for last-minute shoppers to still offer their loved ones a significant, quality gift.
With over 1100 experiences available, BananaLab has made it easy to select the ideal experience for any travel and adventure lover, no matter the receiver’s age, interests, skills or location – a point that is especially pertinent for Australia’s travel and tourism industry, given the wide range of businesses and communities across the country that have been negatively affected by both the bushfires and COVID-19 lockdowns that have occurred this year.
The team have always made it a point to support local economies by prioritising partnerships with local providers offering one-of-a-kind experiences. However, now more than ever, BananaLab considers themselves as placed in a unique position to help Australians reconnect through meaningful interactions, and embrace all the extraordinary travel and adventure experiences that Australia has to offer. As Sarah Boukobza, BananaLab’s marketing manager, states “Australia has so many wonderful places to discover, and we are so proud to be able to bring these experiences that the whole world dreams of discovering, to everyday Australians”.
With their concept of remarkable experience gifting and the ease of availability in Coles and Woolworths stores nation-wide, BananaLab will both simplify your Christmas shopping and bring intrigue and excitement to those who receive a box. Whether you’re looking for an experience to make up lost time with loved ones, or know of a thrill-seeking, travel enthusiast who’s eager to return to a life of adventure, choose BananaLab and you’ll be the envy of all gift-givers and receivers this Christmas!
BananaLab is available at bananalab.com.au and in Coles and Woolworths nation-wide.
Source: BananaLab