OEKE

Have you ever noticed that most umbrella are well... kinda boring?  Sure, you can find a few that are spectacular in design but the companies making these umbrella's typically offer little variety in pattern or color in their creations.  As well, these umbrellas are often at the very highest end of the market-place and while they have the unusual design element the colours are still patternless.  One should not have to choose between innovative design and alluring color and pattern offerings.  Unfortunately, this is the nature of the umbrella market today.

I do know a few companies that will allow you to provide your own fabric and they will make an umbrella for you.  Unfortunately, the time and cost of all this custom work can be huge.

So answer this question:

What if there was a company that made fabulous market umbrellas with patterns and sold them ready made?

I think that is a fantastic idea!  An idea that Linda Di-Giusto thought up one evening while driving down the freeway.  It sounds like Linda had an "AHA!" moment and then spent the next six months researching the market place.  In her research she could find no other company that was doing what she wanted to do.  This is what I like to call the "entrepreneurial fire."






OEKE was born out of a desire to provide something unique and fun to the market place.  OEKE is not a mysterious flower nor a secret cove that Linda visits with her husband in Australia.  It is the combination of the last two letters of her sons names!  A brilliant tribute to her beautiful boys from an innovative working mom with a creative mind.

Launched in 2009 at the Melbourne Design and Trade Fair, the custom made umbrellas are on anodized aluminum frames which give them longevity and a sleek look.

The designs are spectacular fun and so "summer!"  OEKE is available in two sizes at present : Seven foot and nine foot in imperial measure.

Change the theme by simply changing the canopy.  Dinner with the grown-ups?  Black Leaf would be an elegant choice. Party for the kids?  Go with something fun like the the Happy Days.

 

Linda, has tapped into a market that needed to see new colour and pattern. Umbrellas should never be an afterthought.  They provide such an important element to the bigger picture of your design scape.  If you want to add some additional colour to complement the design elements in your fabulous new umbrella, contact Linda about the matching pillows and table runners!  Also, check out Linda's design blog  OEKE DESIGN BLOG.

Two small children and a company to run and she has time to blog!  My goodness I am already tired just thinking about her days :)

I hope you have enjoyed our visit with OEKE, down under.

Linda has truly created something unique in her fabulous hand-crafted umbrellas.  Look for her to someday set these beautiful umbrellas at a beautiful beach front as she confided in me that she would like to see her designs at a five-star resort.  I couldn't agree more and if the resort is half as gorgeous as her fabrics, I will be there lounging under an umbrella with a pillow and a nice big cocktail! (Sigh...)

Such a lovely thought!

Thanks to Linda and her team at OEKE for sharing with us this week!

Have a terrific weekend and I will be back on Monday with more of A Room Without Walls

Jane