Originally hailing from Norway, Melbourne based Anna Lofts launched her soft furnishings label Linen & Moore (now L&M Home) in 2000. ‘It was my love of textiles that led me to pursue my dream of starting my own wholesale/importing business, developing and bringing beautiful textiles the Australian market,’ she tells. ‘I’m just as passionate about what I do now, as when I started wholesaling from my garage over 16 years ago!’
Three years into running her label, Anna met Tina Richards. Then a part-time RMIT studying interior decoration student, Tina came to work for Anna, where she learned the ropes, and later launched her own lifestyle and wholesale brand, Tribe Home, in 2011.
Between them, the pair have 22 years of experience in the homewares industry, and so were perfectly poised to team up. ‘We respect each other’s talents and are great friends, so it seemed logical to do something together,’ says Anna.
Last month saw another milestone for this dynamic duo, as they opened their first retail store, Fjord & Co, in Armadale, Melbourne. ‘Our focus is on bringing together an irresistible edit of lovingly-made homewares from around the globe, and showing how they work so well with our Australian lifestyle,’ Anna explains.
Alongside Tribe Home rugs, and cushions, napery and bedlinen by L&M Home, the co-owners highlight baskets made by an ethical women’s collective in India, and meticulously crafted bone inlay furniture from Rajasthan as favourites. Sourced closer to home, they’re mad about the Italian linen clothing from Sydney-based Estilo Emporio Linen and art by Melbourne’s Jessie Rigby.
