After travelling and living abroad for the better part of my twenties, I am really enjoying settling down and making a home back in Australia. Whilst we still have plenty of travel plans, both Dan and I find we are also craving some normality and a place to call home. Last year we saved a lot and purchased the beautiful furniture I’d always wanted and it’s so nice to come home from work and appreciate what you work so hard for. Obviously you need more than furniture to make a home and so we’ve been loving scouting out our favourite Australian companies and brands to style our home. I have recently fallen in love with Waverley Mills and their gorgeous, sophisticated blankets, scarves and throws. Waverley Mills is Australia’s oldest working textile mill and they have recently teamed up with award-winning Australian designers to create an amazing new look and feel for their products (and trust me, it has worked)!
WAVERLEY MILLS
Waverley Mills was established in 1874 and is Australia’s oldest working textile mill and for almost 150 years they have been producing Australia’s highest quality wool textiles. As a leader in the industry, Waverley Mills produces luxurious, designer wool products that are guaranteed to last, are always of the highest quality and are ethically produced. Located on the idyllic banks of Distillery Creek in Launceston, Tasmania, they are proudly Australian owned with their motto being “we simply do the best, to give you the best”.
THE PRODUCTS
It is coming into winter and there’s honestly nothing better than snuggling up on the lounge watching a movie during these cold months. The only thing that makes this scenario any better is if you are wrapped up in one of Waverley Mills luxurious blankets or throws! Their luxurious, lightweight 100% Tasmanian Merino Wool and Cotton Blankets are wonderfully soft, beautifully made and so gorgeous! They are also lightweight enough to be used all year round. Their beautiful new range of contemporary woollen and cotton throws are designed and made in Australia and are truly of the highest quality. I absolutely love the gorgeous colours and patterns of the throws and blankets and would happily drape them over my lounge or bed, which would instantly make our décor incredibly stylish and sophisticated.
DESIGNERS
Internationally acclaimed award-winning Australian design pair, Rina Bernabei and Kelly Freeman of bernabeifreeman, designed this gorgeous new, contemporary collection. The bf for Waverley collection includes a Recycled, Essentials and City range of extra generous sized throws in a range of colour combinations to suit every taste. This collaboration is an exciting moment for Australia’s oldest mill as it blends its artisan craftsmanship and sustainable production techniques to create a bold and playful contemporary collection that still shares the trademark quality and luxury they pride themselves in.
BABY COLLECTION
Whilst Dan and I aren’t quite ready to set up a nursery, I am sure we will be in the next few years and I’m loving Waverley Mills debut Nursery Collection, Baby, also designed by bernabeifreeman. The pastel colours and patterns are gorgeous and sophisticated and are made from the finest Australian Merino wool and Pima cotton making it super soft, lightweight and oh so cosy! Waverley Mills for Baby, is the ultimate in keeping your little ones cosy in style. Oh, and they totally know what they are doing because the Australian Government commissioned Waverley Mills to create a gorgeous baby blanket for Princess Charlotte as an iconic Australian product and gift!
SUSTAINABILITY ETHOS
I love supporting brands and companies which aren’t just sustainable but are also proud of their sustainable production, and I was very happy to discover that Waverley Mills is one of these companies. They also source all their merino wool locally from farms in Tasmania and ensure their products are all made locally, by locals which has a great impact on the community and the environment, and in turn reduces their carbon footprint.
I also really enjoy hearing about companies that use their success to support those who are less fortunate. Waverley Mills have been producing ‘Welfare Blankets’ for St Vincent De Paul over the last two decades which have been designed to be given to the homeless to keep them warm whilst they are sleeping rough. The Welfare Blankets are woven using offcuts from Mill Production that combines practical functionality and sustainable production methods which vastly reduces (and a lot of time eliminates) waste as well as providing a much needed product to homeless Australians.
It’s amazing that out of the total fibres used in production at the Mill, only 0.05% of all fibres are unable to be reincorporated back into the production process!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I love Waverley Mills style, quality, ethos and commitment to sustainability and Australia. Dan and I will certainly purchase more of their products in the future for both ourselves and as gifts to loved ones. Their newest collection of contemporary blankets, scarves and throws by bernabeifreeman will certainly continue to feature in our household for a long time to come and we adore their new look and feel!
We’d love to hear of your favourites and recommendations.
Our opinions are as always, our own.
