Launched last year, Copper and Cross offers handmade products that founder Laksmi Wilson hopes will make people feel good, rather than just pretty up their homes.
“There is something so addictive about the quality and practice of products actualised from human hands,” says Wilson of her choice to handcraft the products in her Byron Bay studio.
“Love, life essence, story—whatever you call that quality that you get from handmade products—that’s the emotion that will guide you towards creating a home that makes people feel good, not just looks good.”
Wilson, who always imagined she would be a creative writer, founded her brand somewhat by accident after setting out to make a plant hanger. “On a whim I got out some Paddle Pop sticks and made a ‘God’s Eye’,” she says.
“I’ve always been attracted to Mexican homewares, especially the handmade, full-of-character kind. You can feel the stories in them, the superstition. The cross shape and the modern take grew around it, as did everything else.”
Copper and Cross currently offers woven wall crosses in a range of colours and patterns with the occasional pompom; decorative copper embossed arrows; and soy candles that come in a tin can. Made from 100 per cent soy, the unique candles have a ring pull lid that customers can peel off at home.
“I’m attracted to things that have a story, a point of difference, the thing that you see and no matter the price you can’t walk away from it,” says Wilson. “It’s that resonance, evoking an emotion of familiarity or excitement, whatever it is that says something to you about your story, your world.”
After being approached to exhibit at Life Instyle Sydney next month, Wilson is looking forward to connecting with stockists who are excited by the Copper and Cross brand.
“To have people love what you love to do is an expanding, humbling experience. It’s an honour every time somebody chooses our products.
“Since the start it’s always seemed like a no-brainer to say yes to anything that furthered the business and kept this creative journey going and growing. Why stop now?”
By Ruth Cooper
