Merging some key Life pieces and their whole array of lockers, Mustard Made's new shoot is a fun and colourful dream!
Showing how their lockers can be integrated into each and every room in your home, the founding sisters, Becca and Jess, highlight the perfect balance of style and functionality that they set out to achieve.
We chat to Becca on how Mustard Made's colourful lockers came to be and how best to style them...
How did the obsession/ love of lockers begin?
Jess and I had spoken for years about starting a business together. It was one of those long-term dreams that had always been something we wanted to do ‘someday’. Then Jess was in Australia to meet my newborn son, Ellis, in 2016 and on one long walk along the beach we started to really brainstorm what a business might look like.
I had recently read an article about ‘whisper ideas’, the kind of idea that is so timely that you have to whisper it in case anyone hears and beats you to it. But what the article said is that these ideas aren’t usually the businesses that are most successful. What is more likely to succeed is when you find an idea that is something only you could do. Which brought us to my love of vintage lockers.
I had a few old lockers in my home and studio that I had found in antique shops and flea markets over the years. I thought they were so beautiful, but they were never very functional. We could see the potential to reimagine them into something that was both beautiful and practical. Six months later we were in China, with baby Ellis along for the ride, and six months after that we launched our first products at a trade show.
What was the main goal when starting Mustard Made together?
We like to joke that Mustard is all just an elaborate plan to make sure we get to hang out more often! Which actually isn’t a joke; getting to spend time together is a huge part of why Jess and I started this business and what we love most about Mustard! But it’s also so much more than that.
Family is so important to us, and now it’s absolutely central to our business. Not only have we co-founded the business, both our partners now also work within Mustard. We have built an incredible team across London, England and Newcastle, Australia, that has become our ‘work family’, including 14 Mustard babies!
Something else that we’re both passionate about, that is a core part of Mustard as a business, is being a force for positive impact in the world. Whether that’s bringing joy to a customer through a beautiful product in their home or a really positive customer service experience. Whether it’s enabling the mums in our team to return to work in a way that works best for them and their family, or the work we do with Beam, an incredible not-for-profit that supports people experiencing homelessness. Being a force for positive change in each way we can is a guiding principle for Mustard and us both.
How would you describe the Mustard Made aesthetic?
Our look is clean, colourful and fun. Our products have an industrial feel, being made from metal, but our beautiful powdercoating gives them a softer finish. Our lockers are inspired by the vintage metal lockers I had in my home and studio, so they definitely have a retro-vibe, but the clean lines and on-trend colour palette also bring a very modern feel resulting in products that are stylish and timeless.
Your lockers come in so many beautiful colours, if you both had to choose, what would your favourite be?
The Skinny in Olive has always been my favourite. It’s our iconic piece with that old school locker vibe and the Olive colour is even more beautiful in real life! Jess has three Lowdowns in Blush in her home so that’s definitely become her top pick! The Lowdown was actually made to fit perfectly in the alcoves in her living room!
For those new to the brand, do you have any tips as the creators on how to style your products?
One of my favourite ways to style our lockers is with more lockers! A row of lockers either all in one colour, or in multiple complementary colours is something that just brings me so much joy! One of our all-time most popular looks is a line-up of our pink-toned Midis, in Berry, Blush and White, or a whole wall of Skinnys in the full Mustard rainbow.
When it comes to styling the outside of the lockers, the tops are a beautiful spot for a pile of books, a candle and a plant to bring some life. But styling on the inside is just as much fun! Add matching baskets and hangers for that tied-together look and take the time to give everything its own special spot.
Shop the full Mustard Made x Life Interiors collection below!
Love, Life x
