Polli: handmade in Australia

When a label starts out by making baskets and ends up being a successful jewellery retailer, you want to know the story behind it.

Maja Rose and Tess Lloyd are the creative pair behind Polli. The two met in 1999 while studying Industrial Design at the University of Technology, Sydney. After graduating into professional roles, the designers sought the fulfilment of creating their own products. Soon they were selling their fun, lightweight polypropylene baskets at local markets. Polli was born.

Tess and Maja have saved all the off-cuts and cut-outs from their baskets from the start, hoping to rescue them. They have combined their love for recycling and fashion and used the off-cuts to twist, knot and loop together to make a range of brightly coloured earrings to sell alongside the baskets. The earrings began to sell out the baskets and so the pair decided to use other materials and designed a larger collection of jewellery. Examples of their woven earrings include these peacock earrings and these origami arrow earrings. The use of colour is amazing and they look quite bohemian.

As demand has grown for Polli, the team and studio has expanded too. The Polli team is a group of creative women who work primarily from the Stanmore studio in Sydney. But the team members are also spread across Australia and New York.

Polli’s stainless steel pieces are just as beautiful as the woven pieces. The eyes+hand earrings, knot earrings and tea party earrings are all eye catching.

What is the inspiration behind the Polli creations? Tess responded by saying: “Polli’s designs are inspired by botanical beauty, vintage treasures, modern architecture and global travels.” This is clearly evident in these woven jasmine earrings and these cycle earrings.

Whether you’re looking for jewellery with lots of colour or a plain silver design, one thing is for sure; Polli has what you’re looking for. Head to Polli’s website for loads more fantastic designs here.

Jenny Rodgers