Powerhouse Australian brand Country Road has joined forces with renowned furniture company Tait. Established in 1992 by husband-and-wife duo Gordon and Susan Tait, the eponymous brand has been a pioneer in producing well-designed, high-quality outdoor furniture that echoes Australia’s great ardour for outdoor living.
The award-winning pieces are shaped to withstand the unforgiving elements of subtropical weather and the Australian environment by cultivating a strong affinity for material quality and durability. The amalgamation of Gordon’s background, steeped in sheet metal craftsmanship, and Susan’s expertise in textile design marries (in more ways than one) traditional handmade techniques with modern automation, producing pieces that will last a lifetime.
Saltbush symbolises a year-long collaboration between Tait and Country Road’s Homewares design team. Drawing inspiration from the 1970s – when Country Road was founded – the collection offers a modern interpretation of nostalgic Australian design, with a nod to the Australian poolside experience. The name itself references the hardy Australian native Saltbush plant, found across the country, from coastline beaches to inland bush.
“To celebrate our 50 years, we wanted to bring two iconic Australian design-led brands together and collaborate on the perfect poolside setting for the Australian lifestyle. When you think of contemporary Australian outdoor furniture, you think of Tait. It made total sense to align with an incredible brand that shares similar values and design philosophies as Country Road,” says Toby Nowland, Homewares Designer at Country Road.
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Manufactured in Melbourne, each piece is manually assembled and hand-checked for inconsistencies and idiosyncrasies. The solar-assisted Melbourne factory employs 25 craftspeople across a range of disciplines, including welding, grinding, sanding, sandblasting and finishing.
“We are delighted to be part of Country Road’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Like Country Road, Tait has a proud history of designing pieces for the Australian lifestyle. With a shared commitment to sustainability and longevity, it has been wonderful to collaborate with the Country Road team on this limited-edition Saltbush collection,” says Susan Tait, co-founder of Tait.
The limited-edition Saltbush collection will be available in select Country Road stores and online from 3 December 2024.
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