Judging from her homewares and fashion label, it’s hard to imagine Heleena Trahanas getting in a frenzy about too much at all. Since launching in 2017, the brand she started with friend Alex Heard has specialised in laid-back linen dresses, shirts, shorts and one-off ceramics (plates, espresso cups, vases) inspired by beach holidays in Puglia, Italy. The vibe is luxe, sun-drenched, well-fed, effortless and distinctly Mediterranean. Slow but fun. Casual but elegant.
Now Alex and Trahanas and its co-founder are all abuzz with Stripe Frenzy – the brand’s 11th edition, dropping today. Featuring handpainted ceramics, glassware and table linens, it is – as ever – an homage to Puglia, Trahanas says.
“Our Stripe Frenzy collection has been inspired by the vibrant stripes seen on summer Mediterranean holidays that draw us in with their linear beauty,” she tells Broadsheet. “[The] stripes take us back to the beaches of Puglia, the sunny umbrellas, deckchairs and towels that line the beach clubs and the cobbled streets filled with striped awnings.”
There’s not much that’s uniform and exact in the collection of handpainted pasta bowls, aperitivo bowls and platters, vases, pitchers and wine coolers (all made in Puglia), accompanied by 100 per cent Italian linen tablecloths and napkins, and assorted glassware. These are pieces made by human hands, and ready to be used and enjoyed by human hands. Forms are simple and unfussy, accented with the occasional scallop and curve. Colours are vibrant and timeless: deep greens, sunny yellows, navy blues, classic creams.
This Stripe Frenzy, Trahanas says, is “bold, bright, sun-drenched and nostalgic”, with “effortless colour combinations that stand out against the staggering beauty of the European coastline and whitewashed walls”.
It’s the type of tableware to inspire long, rolling summer lunches and happy bellies. What kind of get-togethers does Trahanas hope it gets used for? “Stripe Frenzy is designed to inspire gatherings of your finest company, abundant and vibrant Mediterranean food, and delicious flowing wine,” she says.
The new edition is also designed to work with the brand’s wider offering of ceramics and home accessories. “It’s an evolution and expansion of our range of homewares,” Trahanas explains. “We’re constantly seeking to build our collection, always conjuring memories of delicious summer holidays along the Mediterranean.
“All our editions are designed to work together, with their joyous colour palettes and handpainted patterns. They’re designed to bring the joy of summer in Italy to the tabletop and home.”
The Alex and Trahanas Stripe Frenzy range launches Thursday April 13, online and in its Sydney store, at 257 Oxford Street, Paddington.
