The Design Files Daily

Papillionaire Bicycles

The gorgeous ‘Sommer’ ladies’ bike by Papillionaire Bicyclesavailable in three picture-perfect colours.

Papillionaire’s ‘Classic’ style

You know how you go overseas somewhere cool like Paris or Tokyo or Amsterdam, and you see all the cool locals riding around on awesome-looking bikes, and you think ‘man, why don’t I look that cute when I ride around on my bike at home?’… and then you go through all the possible options of how you could buy one of these cool international-flavoured bikes and ship it home? …and then in the end you realise it is going to cost, like, $500 to ship it and will take 3 months or something, and so you reluctantly give up on the whole idea and go home to your rusty old Malvern Star? Yes, I know you know what I am talking about.

Well, local start-up Papillionaire Bicycles have the perfect solution to this common dilemma! Melbourne bike-enthusiast Alan Caras has spent a year perfecting his fab little range of locally-made Dutch-style bicycles – launched just last week! You can now get your hands on the cutest European-style bike, built right here in Melbourne, for around $500.

Customise and purchase your Papillionaire bike on their website here. You can also pop in to Papillionaire’s South Yarra workshop for a test-ride.

Oh My. This is enough to get me seriously re-thinking my mode of transport. Summer is coming, people!

Papillionaire takes to the streets in the CBD

See, they really are from Melbourne :)
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17 Comments

  1. diariodeunacouturier said
    June 27, 2010. 8:04 pm

    love all those bikes


  2. Myriam @ Detours said
    June 27, 2010. 9:56 pm

    So chic…. Loving the thought of being able to coordinate my bike with my outfit du jour ;-)


  3. christina said
    June 27, 2010. 10:41 pm

    Oh you are a wonderful person for posting this! The first part of this is me all over for the past two years at least*L*


  4. Kate James said
    June 27, 2010. 10:43 pm

    Perfect timing Lucy. I was just about to buy a new bike. Gorgeous!! xx


  5. handmaderomance said
    June 27, 2010. 10:56 pm

    gorgeous! i would need some serious gloves on mornings like today so my fingers wouldn't snap off!! and im a bit of a chicken riding a bike in melbourne : ) but i think these cuties are pretty darn good incentive to beat the chicken inside!! hehe


  6. Penny said
    June 27, 2010. 11:32 pm

    Those bikes are so very lovely!!!


  7. Lee said
    June 28, 2010. 12:14 am

    Love that shot of the bicycles in front of Pellegrinis!


  8. uberjoi said
    June 28, 2010. 1:44 am

    oh my!


  9. Merz Design said
    June 28, 2010. 2:07 am

    Very impressive!
    Thanks for your presentation and I appreciate that!
    Keep up your good work. I will come here regularly for news.


  10. Bibadibbi said
    June 28, 2010. 2:48 am

    I love these bikes, especially the white tires. I've been looking at Dutch bikes here in Brisbane but didn't know any are made here is Aus.


  11. Yen said
    June 28, 2010. 2:49 am

    Just remembered seeing a group of very-chic gals on their bikes in their cute outfits, going for a sunday ride around fitzroy… then it occured to me how wrong it all was – none of them wore helmets! C'mon people, a damaged head ain't cool! Are there any good looking helmets out there?


  12. Lucy said
    June 28, 2010. 1:09 pm

    Oh WOW such a lot of bike-love! Thanks for all your sweet comments!

    I know – Let's all get one and then we can ride around Melbourne in one big super-cute bicycle posse?! :) x


  13. dell said
    June 28, 2010. 1:09 pm

    need! want!


  14. jessie@truthbetold said
    June 28, 2010. 1:19 pm

    these are gorgeous! if i hadn't literally just purchased my little schwinn cream i would be snapping up one of these babies


  15. little bean. said
    July 2, 2010. 3:12 am

    so beautiful! will start saving asap!


  16. Ge said
    July 5, 2010. 9:07 am

    Now I need to find a way to go from Melbourne to Sydney with it… Would it fit in the plane?


  17. Peta said
    July 9, 2010. 2:45 pm

    Oh dear! You've planted a seed for a new obsession! I am in love (and rapidly saving my pennies)…

    http://www.petarudd.com/blog


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