At 25, Olly Tress opened his first branch of Oliver Bonas on London's Fulham Road. Impressively, there are now 42 stores nationwide. The shop is a haven for those with a keen eye for design – packed with colourful, uplifting home accessories, as well as fashion, jewellery and beauty treats. We couldn't wait to pick Olly’s brains for an idea of what's going on behind the scenes of the brand:
What is your favourite Oliver Bonas product in the latest collection?
Our Malibu drinks trolley ticks all the boxes – it makes any drinks party with friends feel more special and really stands out.
What are your current influences, in terms of places and eras?
At the moment, we’re channelling the David Hockney LA look: Palm Springs, mid-century.
Which designers inspire you?
I love Paul Smith and what he’s done, but I try not to be too infuenced by what’s out there.
What current home trends have you spotted?
We don’t consciously look for trends – our products depend on our mood and what we love. We often draw from different eras and the world around us, rather than just one style in particular. That said, sometimes our products do give a nod to trends in one way or another. For example, we’ve done a copper range and the colour seems to be everywhere just now!
Describe the Oliver Bonas customer…
A 25-40 year old, metropolitan, design-conscious woman with aspirational tastes.
What are your plans for the company?
We’ve been going for 21 years now and have a lot of big plans. Lately, we’ve established more of our own designs, which is really important to us, and we’ve have had a great customer response to these. From a homes perspective, we’d love to expand more into rugs and other textiles. And we’d ultimately love to open Oliver Bonas abroad at some stage – watch this space!
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