Tara Bennett, the owner and founder of Provider Store, a Surry Hills design hub, is concerned with finding well-made, long-lasting and sustainable designs.

Scandinavian and Japanese design is the focus of the Provider Store. Bennett started the company in 2014 but until mid-2018 only used the small heritage building to create her own pieces.

When she visited Japan Bennett was blown away by people’s respect for design. And how things are made to last.

Bennett makes many of Provider’s objects herself – such as the candles, which are in ceramic Japanese teacups. After they burn out the cup can be re-used. The rest of the products are from markets or found on trips to Japan and Thailand. A local Thai ceramicist has also been commissioned to produce pieces for her.

At the back of the new retail space is the studio where Bennett makes her products, which punters can visit. She shares the studio with hat maker Troy O’Shea and hosts candle-making workshops there, too.