Media Resources - bip bop boo
BIO (short)
Working from a bush studio south of Darwin, Boo designs original fabrics inspired by Australian birds and botanicals, then turns them into homewares and fashion accessories. She also hand-stitches colourful felt brooches. Most pieces are limited edition or one of a kind. Big tropical colour, designed and made in Australia.
BIO (long)
From a bush studio an hour south of Darwin, Boo turns the birds and plants of the tropical Top End into original fabric designs. Enamoured with the tropical world around her, she often pairs iconic birds with the trees they live among. Recently, Boo has been spreading her wings and designing fabrics celebrating birds from other parts of Australia.
Boo's fabrics are almost all printed in Sydney. She turns these fabrics into homewares — cushions, lampshades, tea towels, tablecloths and more — and fashion accessories including bags, purses and scarves. Designs can also be printed onto furnishing fabrics for upholstery and curtains and onto wallpaper for bespoke décor projects.
Most bip bop boo items are printed and made in Australia, most by Boo herself. The designing and sewing happen at Susurrus Studio, a post-Cyclone Tracy transportable, moved onto her acreage in 2014 as the business outgrew her tiny 'sewing pod', Nigel (that's another story!).
Boo hand-stitches colourful felt brooches as her 'creative medicine'. These take the form of feathered roosters, birds, flowers, houses, sugar skulls – whatever feels fresh and fun.
Most bip bop boo creations are limited edition or one of a kind. The designs champion big tropical colour. Not for beige people.
IMAGES
Find high resolution images of the artist and her work here:
https://spaces.hightail.com/space/oaI9rao0sE
These images are free to use for editorial coverage of bip bop boo, with credit. Please credit photographer Carly Peck where noted.
A list of image descriptions is included in the folder.
KEY FACTS
- bip bop boo founded 2011, Darwin/Top End NT
- Designer and maker: Boo (Robyn McLean) has 40 years' experience working with textiles and design
- Original fabric designs — mostly Australian birds and botanicals
- Hand made in small runs and one-of-a-kind pieces
- Products: cushions, lampshades, bags, purses, scarves, tea towels, brooches, earrings, cards, coasters, umbrellas (seasonally)
- Most products registered with the Australian Made Campaign
- Selected as one of 100 Australian designers in the book Pattern Pulse (Rachael King 2020) — featured across two double-page spreads
- Stockist: The Local, Parap NT (co-owner, represents approximately 50 Top End makers)
- Online: bipbopboo.com
- Socials: Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook
STORY ANGLES
The maker: fifteen years turning the birds outside her bush-studio door into fabric
The pivot: hand-printing to digital. How heat and washing problems shaped the whole business
The community: a mother-and-son shop championing Top End makers
Australian made: original design and small-scale local manufacture, registered with the Australian Made Campaign
The brooches: 'creative medicine' that became a star seller.
SELECTED PRESS & RECOGNITION
Forthcoming feature: PackQueen
Pattern Pulse book (Rachael King 2020)
Art/Edit — 'From outback to Interiors'
NT News — featured artist in 'Chance to explore artists' craft'
The Sun — featured artist in 'Craft fair showcases flavour of the Territory'
Artist in the Park – Territory Wildlife Park 2015-2016
CONTACT
0408895129