designer mike durante

Lauren Boyce and Mike Durante of Basil Bangs

Given that Australia is (usually) the land of sun and surf it's a little surprising that it took as long as it did for a good-quality sun umbrella to appear on the market. However, it did and it came to us via Basil Bangs, a company founded by three friends who live in and around Bondi Beach. Mike Durante is the designer behind the triumvirate, which includes Lauren Boyce and Nicholas Chapman. The umbrellas are based on vintage designs, but the hinge mechanism is purely modern. The fabrics, which they design themselves, are marine grade and have even been given the thumbs up by Missoni, who agreed to collaborate with Basil Bangs.

Which five words best describe you? Love sand between my toes.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I studied industrial design at UNSW and did a year in Europe, studying in Milan and Stockholm. They were immersive inspirational experiences and opened me up to very different modes of design thinking – I recommend it for anyone studying design. After uni I held various roles but being a very passionate surfer, when a job came up at Surf Hardware to design FCS fins and Gorilla Grip I jumped at it! I’ve been there now for nine years and worked my way to my current role of design manager. I work with a great team of ruffians; it’s a great job. Basil Bangs started out of this love for the beach and beautifully designed functional products. It also happens to suit my lifestyle - I can stay out in the surf a bit longer because my wife’s protected under the brolly. So you could say that it’s a win-win!
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don’t be afraid of hard work. I firmly believe that putting in the hard yards will pay off down the line. It’s all about patience rather than instant reward, which although nice, seldom happens that way. And that a bit of chutzpah and initiative goes a long way sometimes.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Seeing my first products, a range of backpacks, in production.
What’s been your best decision? To marry Hubes.
Who inspires you? After a bad day: President Bartlet. The rest of the time: my dad.
What are you passionate about? The beach, design, food (I’ve got Italian heritage so it’s inescapable), learning new things, my family and friends.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Chevy Chase.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? There are so many: taking Basil Bangs international, growing tomatoes in a backyard veggie patch with chooks, learning to bake sourdough, more exploring and adventuring overseas.
What are you reading? We always have lots of books on the go in our house and I have a bad habit of starting them and not finishing them. I love non-fiction, and have recently been getting into audio books & podcasts (loving This American Life) - they’re so good for my commute! Some books on the bedside table are Cradle to Cradle, Small Giants, and Glimmer. Inspiring reference books are also important to me, with Slim Aarons’ photography books and print and textiles references at the desk. My wife’s obsessed with jam making at the moment so we’ve got a few of those books lying around too. We really need a built-in bookshelf. There are just too many books in too many piles!

images courtesy of basil bangs; portrait concrete playground

artist dane lovett

Dane Lovett only graduated from his fine art degree in 2004 but he has already racked up a series of scholarships and shows. In 2008 he was the recipient of the Clayton Utz Travelling Scholarship. The following year Dane was a finalist in the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize. His work has hung in several exhibitions, including at Chalk Horse in Sydney, and in 2010 he was the recipient of the 2010 RBS Emerging Artist Award. Last year he exhibited at fashion store Colette in Paris and completed a residency in Japan. On March 27 he will open his next exhibition at Sullivan+Strumpf in Sydney.

Which five words best describe you? Hungry, indecisive, daydreaming tall man.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? My dad gave me my first paint brush and a tube of orange paint - which I ate. My family are rather arty and have always been very supportive. I started out studying design but fairly quickly shifted to painting. I got a lot out of moving to Melbourne a few years back to do some more study, I met some good people and my work really developed out of this.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? You can’t be good at everything. Some things you just have to accept mediocrity no matter how hard you try. Like playing music or being a handyman - I’m rubbish at both but I really appreciate that others can do them so well.
What’s your proudest career achievement? I felt pretty proud showing my work at Colette last year. It was my first time showing overseas and something I want to do a lot more of. They even had blue, smoking, vodka numbers at the opening. It was ace - I froze my throat.
What’s been your best decision? To let the dog sleep in the bed. She’s like a furry hot water bottle.
Who inspires you? My friends, my girlfriend, people that make cool stuff, people that can write well.
What are you passionate about? Well art is number one... I'm into it the same way I was obsessed with Playstation and BMX as a kid. Basically it's what I spend the most time reading about online and in magazines, and the first thing I do whenever I go somewhere new is to check out the galleries. Lately though I've been loving New Scientist magazine, I wouldn't say science is a passion of mine but more a vague non-specialist love.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? It’s a tough one but I think I’d like to have a chat to David Hockney; I like the way he works.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? There are plenty of dreams but right now I’d like to pack my bags and visit a few places. A trip to The Kimberly and a Scandinavian adventure are right up there on my list.
What are you reading? I’m listening to Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle in the studio. I just got the latest issue of Turps-Banana too (such a terrific painting mag).

images courtesy of dane lovett

dunlin lighting giveaway!

One of my favourite finds from this past year has been Dunlin Home. (Read Alexandra Bond's Daily Imprint interview here.) It is a company set up by two architects who lived and worked in New York for several years, and came back to Sydney intent on sharing their contact book filled as it is with great brands that previously haven't been available in Australia.

One example is BTC, an English company that makes lights out of its original Oxford factory. Dunlin Home have collaborated with them to create the Titan pendant lamp, which is based on an original 1940s British design and handmade.

Dunlin Home is offering one Daily Imprint reader the chance to win

1 x Original BTC Titan pendant lamp, valued at $498

For your chance to win, visit the Dunlin Home website and leave a comment below, specifying which of the four available colours for the Titan pendant lamp you would like to own.

Note: The prize can only be delivered to an Australian address as the lamp is wired and specifically approved to comply with the Australian National Electrical Code and regulations.

Also, one entry per person please. I have to approve comments so they may be a slight delay in your comment appearing on the site.

A winner will be selected at random after comments close at midnight on Thursday 22 March. Don't forget to check back to see if you are the winner. (If the winner does not respond within two weeks of their name being announced on Daily Imprint, the prize will be redrawn.)

images courtesy of dunlin home

photographer hugh stewart

Hugh Stewart is a New Zealand-born photographer who has travelled the world with his trade. He has made a name for himself in the UK and US, and is now based in Australia. Some of the iconic images of our times have been created through his camera, such as the shot of Nicole Kidman for Chanel No. 5 with the necklace dangling down her back. Hugh is the man that Baz Luhrmann goes to for film stills and portraits that will grace movie posters and collateral. His images have featured in Vanity Fair, Vogue (British and Australian editions), Conde Nast Traveller, Elle Decoration and Martha Stewart. Advertising clients have included Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, David Jones and Country Road. Hugh has also just launched an online gallery of limited edition fine art prints. But perhaps best of all, Hugh is one of the few people left in the world who likes to speak his mind.

(I had the honour to work with Hugh when he brought some of my ideas to life with this shoot for real living magazine.)

Which five words best describe you? Pretends not to be difficult.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I did an old fashioned printing apprentice after I left school. I hated every moment of it so I went to London. I assisted some very fine photographers and was young and egotistical enough to think I could do this myself, not only do this but much better than you! This is why it’s so great being young because you absolutely can do anything you like. I grew up on a farm. I left school when I was 16. They only exam I passed was my license and yet I was so gung ho that when I found something I loved I just went and did it. If I tried that now at 50 I would be so analytical and concerned about failing and my lack of training I would not even try. I hate that about getting older and it’s a constant fight to not lose that youthful enthusiasm and energy. There is no reason to, but you start using some nagging part of your bloody brain that queries everything and really it just holds you back. Just do it, I say, but my shout is not as loud as it once was.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way?
That I’m not always right and should be open to the opinions and advice of others. And that you must always make the most of your opportunities. Sometimes things come up, and in my experience they don’t come up twice. I’ve never regretted asking someone if I can photograph them or stopping the car and photographing a landscape that’s flashed past. I have a long list in my head of missed opportunities that exists only because I didn’t ask, didn’t stop the car or thought I will get that another time. It never happens.

What’s your proudest career achievement? I don’t know, but I remember a defining moment. I had shot my first big story for British Vogue on the Baftas with Fiona Golfar. And I had to meet Alexandra Shulman, the editor, at the Wolseley to show her the proof sheets. I was so nervous I almost had a panic attack. I was shaking and had to tell her I had food poisoning so might have to leave at any minute. Lucky she is used to dealing with weird Englishmen so a nervous shaking New Zealander did not faze her. She loved the images and ran them over 20 pages. David Bailey called the art director and said, "Who the fuck is this Hugh Fucking Stewart and why the fuck did he get to do that fucking shoot. I’m not fucking dead you fucking know." In that issue I had a contributors page alongside Bailey and Snowdon. Snowdon was the first photographer I’d ever heard of.

What’s been your best decision? Putting a sign on our front door that reads: Is this visit really necessary?

Who inspires you? I’m inspired by people that quietly go about their business without attracting attention to themselves, without making a noise and without pushing some sort of ideology down your throat. I contributed to a book on the Wayside Chapel. I think if I were ever considering a religion I would head straight there. If there is anyone that deserves the title of Saint it’s Graham Long and the people that work with him.

It's like last time I saw Nick Cave and he was doing what he does and I looked around the audience of people my age and some had tears rolling down there cheeks because it was so brilliant seeing someone our age up there with more energy originality and vitality than some Arctic monkey. That’s inspiring

I was shooting some Irish singer once and I made her sing my favorite song of all time, "Danny Boy". It was haunting and beautiful and made you think how talented people are. This little girl whose name I cannot remember who could sing unaccompanied and make 10 people in a studio in South London choke. That’s inspiring too.

What are you passionate about? Firstly, my family. My patient wife, my eldest daughter Lily’s HSC mark and my noisy fighting out of control younger children. But I suppose in my own lazy halfhearted way its reading books, watching films and looking at paintings.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I've met some of them: Johnny Cash, Judi Dench, Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman were terrific. I loved meeting Alan Bennett and John Updike. Some people I’ve actually forgotten I’ve met then will look through old images and remember I photographed them.

I took Snowdon's portrait about a year ago and the deal was I had to take him out to lunch afterwards. I drove with him in a car past Buckingham Palace while he told me stories about “when I was married to Princess Margaret”. We then spent the best part of a day at Le Caprice while he drank seven double Bullshots! Half vodka and half beef stock and as many ports. As ”I” was paying the bill he was still ordering just one more port! He calls people fucking c..ts and tells amazing stories.

Bob Hawke told me this joke. How can you tell if your wife’s dead? The sex is still the same but the washing's piling up. (Ask Mark Mordue if that’s true or not!)

There are two people right here in Australia that I’ve met and worked with in a small way for over 20 years. Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. These two are inspiring. They are dedicated passionate and totally committed. They take huge risks and have changed our cultural landscape. Look at Romeo and Juliet. To illustrate that language in that way was absolutely inspired, and I think they are doing it again with The Great Gatsby. I’ve just finished a series of portraits of the cast so had the chance to creep around the set and watch while I was waiting. They are living and breathing that film. I hope for and they deserve all the Oscars it should get.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would have loved to have photographed Lucian Freud. It's too late now but that really would have been a dream fulfilled. I want to get the book I’ve been working on for years finished, photograph the Queen, and go back to The Wayside Chapel and do something useful for them. I want to take the family to Paris and live there for a bit and buy another old motorbike and tool around on that.

I’m quite into taking still lifes of flowers at the moment and I still want to take Judi Dench up on her offer to go to her house and do her portrait properly. (Not in character.)

I also want to learn the three chords on a guitar that you supposedly need to play all the decent songs ever written and have a band with other past it people and play music. (This will never happen!) That reminds me, I’m going to see The Pogues in a month.

What are you reading? The answer to this always sounds like a big wank. Let's show everyone what a literary appetite I have and how interesting I must be to be devouring so and so. Therefore, I will tell the truth. I’m reading Boy by Roald Dahl because my brother-in-law just read it and said I should.

images courtesy of hugh stewart

shopkeeper sarah o'neil

"Pare down to the essence, but don't remove the poetry. Keep things clean and unencumbered, but don't sterilise." It's a quote from Leonard Koren, an artist, architect and author, and it can be found on the website of Small Spaces, a recently opened shop in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Redfern. The sentiment of the quote applies equally to the store as the actual goods found inside. Sarah O'Neil brought this philosophy to life after she decided to simplify her life. The result is Small Spaces.

Which five words best describe you? Warm, loyal, passionate, curious and (just occasionally) stubborn.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? Always had a passion and respect for design. Spent 16 years in fashion culminating in role as sales manager for Collette Dinnigan. The frenetic pace and disposability of fashion design led to a growing interest in the more lasting character of interior design and architecture. My mother had a company, Arkitex, which collaborated with some of the world's leading modern textile designers. She sold the business in 2004 and I've stayed in the industry since.

What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? Oh, so many lessons: listen to my intuition, take risks, the value of gratitude, acceptance and resilience.

What's your proudest career achievement? Opening Small Spaces. Putting everything on the line to follow my intuition and do something that matters to me.

What's been your best decision? To buy a small apartment. I realised it meant I could live comfortably and have the financial freedom to follow my heart. I ended up having to design my own furniture to make it work after discovering no one was catering to this growing market and so, Small Spaces was born.

Who inspires you? Innovators. The Japanese. My family and friends. My mother's grace and resilience in the face of adversity

What are you passionate about? Small space living, wabi-sabi, nature, my family, Japan, good design in any manifestation, human rights, animal welfare... in no particular order.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Terence Conran, Stephen Fry, David Suzuki, Leonard Koren.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? To see Small Spaces grow to become a destination for good quality, considered design solutions for modern small space living. To enable others to enjoy the freedom and richness of this simpler, lighter way of life. Oh, and a barn of my own.

What are you reading? Blogs and The flower shop: charm, grace, beauty and tenderness in a commercial context by Leonard Koren.

images courtesy of small spaces and matt palmer

artist mika utzon popov

On a recent house shoot I came across the art of Mika Utzon Popov. He is an artist who was born in Denmark but who has also moved between Spain and Australia. Mika studied at the National Art School in Sydney and is currently residing here. He has held solo exhibitions in London, Denmark, Spain, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Bruxelles. Last year he had an exhibition at the Australian Galleries in Paddington. While in Spain, he lectured in artistic drawing at the University of Architecture in Barcelona. If his name is familiar, it's because he's the grandson of Jørn Utzon, who designed the Sydney Opera House.

Which five words best describe you? Not sure I know yet.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? It started when someone put a pencil in my hand and I just kept following the line.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Be honest, you are the only thing unique in your work.
What’s your proudest career achievement? My first solo exhibition. I knew that if only one person understood it I was happy.
What’s been your best decision? Marrying my wife.
Who inspires you? People.
What are you passionate about? Love.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Picasso.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? To be able to breathe under water.
What are you reading? At the moment, my old sketchbooks, my grandmother's bible and my son's dinosaur dictionary.

images courtesy of mika utzon popov; portrait kirsten fazio

jewellery designer rachel wightman

On a recent visit to shelf/life I came across the jewellery of Rachel Wightman. After working on interior magazines for 10 years she decided to focus on being a mum and "maker of stuff", such as clothes, cards and cushions. When she couldn't find the right colours or source the beads that she really loved to make jewellery, she decided to create her own. The result is Not Tuesday, jewellery made from polymer clay beads and coloured with Rachel's great eye for tones and combinations.

Which five words best describe you? Nocturnal, instinctive, visual, short and a bit silly.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? As a teenager I dreamed of working in interiors magazines and wanted to be the person who made things look pretty in the pictures. I didn’t know then that this was known as “styling”. After 3 failed attempts at university education, I was over the moon to get a job answering the phone and distributing the mail, amongst other glamorous duties at Cleo magazine. I got the opportunity to go along on a few shoots and after a while I was styling a homewares page each month. From here I moved to the 10th floor to House and Garden magazine as a stylist. Many years of photo shoots, and a few other bits and pieces, later, I have a three-year-old girl, and find myself creating necklaces from the dining table.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Money is irrelevant.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Seeing my work on the pages of a magazine for the first time was pretty fabulous, as was seeing a stranger wearing one of my necklaces for the first time. Apologies to that stranger who I accosted in Cotton On Kids to tell her I made the necklace she was wearing. I was a little bit excited.
What’s been your best decision? To be my own boss and have the freedom to work in a way that suits me. Rules and structure are my enemy.
Who inspires you? My little family! My partner Pauly gets more enthused about Not Tuesday than I do a lot of the time, and my daughter Elke is just so funny. She likes to help out by passing me colours and telling me what colour to mix next. They went on a morning walk through Surry Hills recently to check out my necklaces in different shops.
What are you passionate about? Colour. And laughing.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? So hard! Maybe Miranda July. I would like her to be my friend.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would love to live in New York for a few years. Not to conquer it with my amazing design skills, but just to explore it all.
What are you reading? The Cat in the Hat, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, Winnie the Pooh, Mr. Tickle, the list goes on. What I should be reading is Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom for book club. Luckily book club is only slightly about the book.

images courtesy of not tuesday

artist james ettelson

James Ettelson is only 26 and has already had a couple of solo shows, most recently at Sydney's Arthouse Gallery. His premier exhibition was at China Heights, a gallery that showcases emerging art. His style combines traditional Aboriginal painting techniques with pop art.

Which five words best describe you? Fun, cruisey, ocean, party and naughty.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? My career started from my first solo show "Magic eyes" at China Heights. From there I have a got a two-year contract with the Arthouse Gallery where I have just had my second solo show, "Laugh".

What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? That everyone is the same and that anyone one can do it.
What's your proudest career achievement? Solo show "Laugh" at the Arthouse Gallery.
What's been your best decision? Quitting photography assisting in fashion. It makes me yawn.
Who inspires you? Jean-Michel Basquiat and my friends' humour.
What are you passionate about? Surfing, skating, painting and living.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Kurt Cobain
What dream do you still want to fulfill? To have a solo show in New York.
What are you reading? Wonderland Avenue by Danny Sugerman

images courtesy of james ettelson and arthouse gallery

photographer tobias rowles

Tobias Rowles is a Sydney-based photographer who is managing to have a successful career in both the art and commercial world. One of his photographic portraits has made him a finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2011. And last year he also rated an honourable mention in the International Photography Awards. Yet Tobias has worked extensively for commercial clients including Nike and fashion brand One Teaspoon. You may recognise the road image, above, which has been used in collaboration with Pony Rider as part of its wallwares range.

Which five words best describe you? An all round nice guy.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I completed a fine arts degree after high school. I was trying a few different things out at the time but still remember the day I shot, then processed and printed my own film. I remember being really happy with both the end result and the whole image-making process. Ever since then I knew photography was what I wanted to do. I am still drawn to the magical feeling I get from shooting film. Following my degree I did the hard yards, working in studios and assisting photographers in London and Sydney. The last two years I've focussed solely on my own work and am starting to see it all come together.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? There's only one light in the sky and nothing worthwhile comes easy.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Completing my first solo show last year was rewarding, but nothing has beaten seeing my picture hanging on the wall in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

What’s been your best decision? To keep shooting what I love, and getting married.

Who inspires you? My parents have been pretty inspiring, but I'm also constantly inspired by everyday people. Often it's people who are passionate about what they do but it can also be simply because someone has something interesting to say.

What are you passionate about? My work, documenting the world I see, looking after the environment, animal welfare and the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Henri Cartier-Bresson and Larry Bird.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? The list is long but I'm slowly ticking them off. This year I'm super focussed on completing and publishing a long-term book project.

What are you reading? Factotum by Charles Bukowski.

images courtesy of tobias rowles

jewellery designer andrea haynes

Melbourne-based jewellery designer Andrea Haynes has worked for the likes of Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin, helping them set up stores in Asia. She lived and worked in Hong Kong before returning to Australia and joining Seed Femme. From there, Andrea was asked to head the Australian operations of the London-based jewellery business, Lovisa, which in no time at all has opened 58 stores.

Which five words best describe you? Fashion-obsessed, Melbournian, passionate, loyal, well-travelled.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started out in visual merchandising for a number of brands including Midas, Mollini and Evelyn Miles. I was given the amazing opportunity to take over buying and product development for Mollini. This made me realise developing product and building ranges was my true passion! As well as Mollini, I was also the buyer for designer footwear brand Evelyn Miles – dealing with designer brands Miu Miu, Prada, Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, to name a few. Following this I moved to Hong Kong to work for the footwear and accessory division of luxury department store Lane Crawford – here I continued to work with designer brands, including Christian Louboutin & Jimmy Choo to build stand alone stores for these labels and others in China and South East Asia. I returned to Melbourne with a strong desire to get back into creating product – I missed the excitement of creating something and seeing it through to the end product, to sales in stores. I joined the Seed Femme team in the early stages of the business to develop product categories within the accessories range. I was then given the opportunity to head up the Lovisa buying team and it was an offer I couldn’t refuse!

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Never assume that your taste is what the customers' taste is – need to look at product through the customers' eyes.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Seeing the evolution of the Lovisa brand is definitely the highlight. Being intricately involved in a fast-growth start-up company is one of the most rewarding moments for me to date; I feel very grateful. The success it is today is a total team achievement, of which I am very proud to head up the product team on this journey. When your vision becomes a reality - an iconic and aspirational brand with a rapid growth plan that is successfully represented in 58 sites across Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - those late nights spent in factories and the office all become worth while!
What’s been your best decision? Throwing out my acid wash jeans in the late 80s! Photo history horror! And taking every opportunity presented to me.
Who inspires you? I travel a lot so love seeing the trends on the street. It’s the everyday people in NY, London, Milan and Melbourne. Of course, there are the designers too! I love Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, Miu Miu and accessories from Comme des Garcons. Locally I’m a big fan of Scanlan & Theodore, to the point where no one asks me where my everyday dresses are from anymore!
What are you passionate about? At work I love researching the trends, finding the next big thing and developing our successes.
At home I love all the usual stuff, spending time with friends and family, a Saturday on the couch with the papers and some mags is a treat when you travel as much as we do at Lovisa! And I love eating out, a new restaurant discovery is a memory created.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? I have to say Karl Lagerfeld! He is so intriguing and a personal brand all of his own.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? I’ve been to fashion shows but the ultimate would be a Haute Couture show in Paris. Fewer and fewer brands are investing in fashion at that level, I’d love the chance to experience this art before it’s gone for good.
What are you reading? We have to keep up with the trends, and to be honest, I never get sick of reading magazines! I love Paris Vogue, UK Harper’s and there’s always few trash mags in the mix too. I do have a pile of novels next to my bed I want to read but never get the time.

images courtesy of lovisa