LM WOMAN / TARA BENNETT

LM WOMAN / TARA BENNETT

A decade ago, Tara's journey to Japan profoundly shaped her vision for Provider Store, Provider House, and Maido Coffee. Immersed in Japan's rich heritage and craftsmanship, she was deeply moved by the ethos of slow design and sustainable practices, a shift that marked her journey from her full-time e-commerce job to curating spaces that evoke deep connections and emotional resonance.

Provider Store, Provider House, and Maido Coffee embody Tara's unwavering commitment to collaborating closely with local artisans, weaving together meaningful homewares and experiences. Each space reverberates with her values of sustainability, ethical manufacturing, and a heartfelt celebration of craftsmanship, creating environments where community thrives and every detail resonates with a profound sense of purpose and place.

Tara wears the Harriet SS Shirt and Harriet Midi Skirt.

Tara, your first trip to Japan over 10 years ago had a profound impact on you and the direction of Provider Store. Can you share more about how Japanese heritage and resource preservation inspired you, and how this experience influenced your commitment to sustainability and ethical manufacturing?

The first time I went to Japan was over a decade ago and I can still remember how overwhelmingly inspired I was. I loved that people could make a career out of using their hands and being creative. I also felt a connection to their traditions and how they pass skills down through generations. My grandmother taught my mum to sew, and my mum taught me how to sew - this heavily resonated with me. After returning, I quit my full-time ecommerce job, made a website and started sewing cushions. This still features through what we do 10 years on, as I am a big believer in knowing where the items you purchase come from, how and where they are made. Even though I make less of our products now, we work with small makers and workshops predominately in Japan to create long lasting tools for the home.

Tara wears the Ashton Top and Skirt.

Provider Store champions sustainable and ethically produced homewares, actively opposing consumerism. How do you go about finding and partnering with local artisans, and what criteria do you use to ensure they align with your values?

Over the last 10 years, we have built relationships with local and international craftspeople. It’s been a long process finding and meeting like-minded makers. One of the first people I worked with in Japan was a ceramic supplier. I searched high and low for a pottery factory that would work with me - I found a random email address attached to a lofi site - a guy replied and organised a meeting a few months later. He told me to meet him in a carpark in a little town in Gifu (it was less weird than it sounds). When I arrived to the carpark he was waiting for me and he ended up taking me to a bunch of different pottery workshops. After many years we still work together and funnily enough, we still meet in the same carpark each time I am in Japan.

When I am looking at working with new craftspeople, I like following the ethos of “practical but beautiful”. I think the pieces we buy should serve a purpose but also be aesthetically pleasing. For example, this year I went to Niigata to meet a frypan manufacturer. I got see how each one was made and how much effort goes into a simple, everyday item. It makes you want to look after the things you buy and have them for years to come.

The story behind each piece at Provider Store is a significant part of its appeal. How do your travels and connections with like-minded creatives influence the curation of your collection, and can you share a memorable story about one of your favorite pieces?

I do a lot of solo travel. I think when you are alone in a place you love, it opens your eyes to more opportunities and experiences that you may not have when with other people. There’s been so many cute and touching people I have visited and have ended working with for years.

Before covid, I went to meet a man called Sadaaki Kido who is a master in Shino style pottery. Him and his sister drove to Kyoto station to meet me and he wore a hat embroidered with ‘SYDNEY’ on the front so I could find him. They drove me to their house in Shiga where I spent the day in his workshop and saw the wood fire kilns he built in his backyard. Kido makes his own clay and then each piece goes in said kilns for up to 10 days. The temperature can’t drop so they rotate on 8 hour - even overnight. Some shino pieces retail into the thousands of dollar range. This slow process was so inspiring. He gifted me a couple of pieces (in a plastic bag) and they dropped me at the station. I have never been so careful in my life getting on and off the train.

Your dedication to natural materials is evident in your signature candle range. Can you walk us through the process of trailing and testing ingredients and scents, and how you ensure each candle is crafted to your high standards?

Our candles are our foundation and making candles is part of our DNA and our core practise. It’s how we gained notoriety, established ourselves in the international market and collaborated with some of my favourite stores around the Globe.

Each vessel is hand crafted in Japan by small workshops or individual makers, we then use premium soy wax, and finally work with different Australian scent makers to create our nature-inspired aromas. We pour each one in our Surry Hills studio space to keep a discerning eye over the process.

Tara wears the LM Denim Jacket and Skirt (Coming Soon).

The refillable and repurposable nature of your candles is a unique aspect of Provider Store. How did you come up with the idea of using Japanese ceramic jars, and what has been the customer response to the option of refilling or repurposing them?

"Burn and return” is our motto. We wanted to create a special item that people love but don’t feel it’s too good to use. When someone buys a Provider candle through us or any of our stockists, they can drop it back at the store or studio and refill it and change the scent every time. This has become one of the biggest parts of the business and we have found that a lot of people now own two candles, so they always have one at home while the other is being refilled. Each candle is made in a Japanese teacup so once it’s reached the final burn, you can also repurpose it for your morning coffee.  

Tara wears the Ashton Top and Skirt.

Many of Provider Store’s signature pieces, such as cushions, textiles, and candles, are made by you. What drives your passion for creating these items by hand, and can you share a bit about your creative process and the inspiration behind these handmade products?

I used to hand paint every single cushion, but I don’t have much time to do this anymore. Although, I do still draw every picture on our website and in our newsletters.

The candle process is very hands on. I work closely with workshops to design colours and shapes of the vessels. Then the scent process takes a long time. Scent is super subjective and personal so you can’t appeal to everyone. Usually, I send one of the scent makers a brief with oil samples and references and we go from there. Some come back great but most the time there is a lot of work to tweak it to make it balanced. We don’t like to cut corners during this process so it can be time consuming but is ultimately very rewarding once the scent is finalised and the candles are burning in people’s homes around the world.

Most of my inspiration comes from travel (especially through Japan) and the feeling of returning home to where I nest and feel most comfortable.

Provider Store’s shop, House and Maido are more than just retail spaces; they’re a place for community and connection. How do you foster this environment, and what kind of experiences can visitors expect when they come to browse or chat with you?

I try to create spaces that feel calm, welcoming and lived in. We want people to interact with our products and spaces and feel a sense of warmth. While small and intimate, the shop is a look into the Provider world and gives you a sense of discovery.

The café, Maido is a space of creativity and community. The layout was designed with the intention to foster connections between customers and members of the broader community. I love seeing people have coffee, chat to friends or locals and draw and read around the large communal table. At Maido, we also built a “lab” so you can watch us make candles while visiting. I think this interaction breathes a bit of imagination into the space. Provider House in Hobart is like a store that you can stay in. Everything from the knives down to the towels, bowls and books are all pieces from Provider Store.

The throughline between all Provider spaces and products is to convey a sense of comfort and home. From the scents of the candles to the door handles at Provider House, every tiny detail is considered.

Tara wears the LM Denim Jacket (Coming Soon).

Your personal style seems to be a blend of minimalism and functionality, mirroring the aesthetic of both Provider Store and Maido Coffee. How do your fashion choices reflect your lifestyle?

Practical but aesthetically pleasing. I like clothes that I can create in and feel comfortable but are refined. I am actually wearing a blue LM jumper right now (that I got a bit of paint on).

What exciting projects or new directions do you envision for Provider Store and Maido in the coming months?

I am off to Japan to source some fun items for the store and meet a few new suppliers. These are my favourite type of trips as I always come back super inspired. At Maido, we are doing more events. People are loving the space so we thought it would be nice to share with like-minded brands and people. We also turn 10 this year so we are planning our party and potentially bringing back a few of the original products (better get out my paint brush).

Tara wears the Harriet Midi Skirt.

Lastly, Pocari your Shiba Inu is a beloved member of the Maido family and we love how you share her mood for the day in store and through instagram. Can you tell us, what’s Pocari’s mood today?

Pocari’s mood today is unreasonable.

Tara Bennett
@theproviderstore
@providerhousehobart
@maidocoffee
www.providerstore.com.au

Photography Nic Gossage

LM WOMAN / TARA BENNETT

A decade ago, Tara's journey to Japan profoundly shaped her vision for Provider Store, Provider House, and Maido Coffee. Immersed in Japan's rich heritage and meticulous craftsmanship, she was deeply moved by the ethos of slow design and sustainable practices, a shift that marked her journey from her full-time e-commerce job to curating spaces that evoke deep connections and emotional resonance.

Provider Store, Provider House, and Maido Coffee embody Tara's unwavering commitment to collaborating closely with local artisans, weaving together meaningful homewares and experiences. Each space reverberates with her values of sustainability, ethical manufacturing, and a heartfelt celebration of craftsmanship, creating environments where community thrives and every detail resonates with a profound sense of purpose and place.

Tara wears the Harriet SS Shirt and Harriet Midi Skirt.

Tara, your first trip to Japan over 10 years ago had a profound impact on you and the direction of Provider Store. Can you share more about how Japanese heritage and resource preservation inspired you, and how this experience influenced your commitment to sustainability and ethical manufacturing?

The first time I went to Japan was over a decade ago and I can still remember how overwhelmingly inspired I was. I loved that people could make a career out of using their hands and being creative. I also felt a connection to their traditions and how they pass skills down through generations. My grandmother taught my mum to sew, and my mum taught me how to sew - this heavily resonated with me. After returning, I quit my full-time ecommerce job, made a website and started sewing cushions. This still features through what we do 10 years on, as I am a big believer in knowing where the items you purchase come from, how and where they are made. Even though I make less of our products now, we work with small makers and workshops predominately in Japan to create long lasting tools for the home.

Tara wears the Ashton Top and Skirt.

Provider Store champions sustainable and ethically produced homewares, actively opposing consumerism. How do you go about finding and partnering with local artisans, and what criteria do you use to ensure they align with your values?

Over the last 10 years, we have built relationships with local and international craftspeople. It’s been a long process finding and meeting like-minded makers. One of the first people I worked with in Japan was a ceramic supplier. I searched high and low for a pottery factory that would work with me - I found a random email address attached to a lofi site - a guy replied and organised a meeting a few months later. He told me to meet him in a carpark in a little town in Gifu (it was less weird than it sounds). When I arrived to the carpark he was waiting for me and he ended up taking me to a bunch of different pottery workshops. After many years we still work together and funnily enough, we still meet in the same carpark each time I am in Japan.

When I am looking at working with new craftspeople, I like following the ethos of “practical but beautiful”. I think the pieces we buy should serve a purpose but also be aesthetically pleasing. For example, this year I went to Niigata to meet a frypan manufacturer. I got see how each one was made and how much effort goes into a simple, everyday item. It makes you want to look after the things you buy and have them for years to come.

The story behind each piece at Provider Store is a significant part of its appeal. How do your travels and connections with like-minded creatives influence the curation of your collection, and can you share a memorable story about one of your favorite pieces?

I do a lot of solo travel. I think when you are alone in a place you love, it opens your eyes to more opportunities and experiences that you may not have when with other people. There’s been so many cute and touching people I have visited and have ended working with for years.

Before covid, I went to meet a man called Sadaaki Kido who is a master in Shino style pottery. Him and his sister drove to Kyoto station to meet me and he wore a hat embroidered with ‘SYDNEY’ on the front so I could find him. They drove me to their house in Shiga where I spent the day in his workshop and saw the wood fire kilns he built in his backyard. Kido makes his own clay and then each piece goes in said kilns for up to 10 days. The temperature can’t drop so they rotate on 8 hour - even overnight. Some shino pieces retail into the thousands of dollar range. This slow process was so inspiring. He gifted me a couple of pieces (in a plastic bag) and they dropped me at the station. I have never been so careful in my life getting on and off the train.

Your dedication to natural materials is evident in your signature candle range. Can you walk us through the process of trailing and testing ingredients and scents, and how you ensure each candle is crafted to your high standards?

Our candles are our foundation and making candles is part of our DNA and our core practise. It’s how we gained notoriety, established ourselves in the international market and collaborated with some of my favourite stores around the Globe.

Each vessel is hand crafted in Japan by small workshops or individual makers, we then use premium soy wax, and finally work with different Australian scent makers to create our nature-inspired aromas. We pour each one in our Surry Hills studio space to keep a discerning eye over the process.

Tara wears the LM Denim Jacket and Skirt (Coming Soon).

The refillable and repurposable nature of your candles is a unique aspect of Provider Store. How did you come up with the idea of using Japanese ceramic jars, and what has been the customer response to the option of refilling or repurposing them?

Burn and return” is our motto. We wanted to create a special item that people love but don’t feel it’s too good to use. When someone buys a Provider candle through us or any of our stockists, they can drop it back at the store or studio and refill it and change the scent every time. This has become one of the biggest parts of the business and we have found that a lot of people now own two candles, so they always have one at home while the other is being refilled. Each candle is made in a Japanese teacup so once it’s reached the final burn, you can also repurpose it for your morning coffee.  

Tara wears the Ashton Top and Skirt.

Many of Provider Store’s signature pieces, such as cushions, textiles, and candles, are made by you. What drives your passion for creating these items by hand, and can you share a bit about your creative process and the inspiration behind these handmade products?

I used to hand paint every single cushion, but I don’t have much time to do this anymore. Although, I do still draw every picture on our website and in our newsletters.

The candle process is very hands on. I work closely with workshops to design colours and shapes of the vessels. Then the scent process takes a long time. Scent is super subjective and personal so you can’t appeal to everyone. Usually, I send one of the scent makers a brief with oil samples and references and we go from there. Some come back great but most the time there is a lot of work to tweak it to make it balanced. We don’t like to cut corners during this process so it can be time consuming but is ultimately very rewarding once the scent is finalised and the candles are burning in people’s homes around the world.

Most of my inspiration comes from travel (especially through Japan) and the feeling of returning home to where I nest and feel most comfortable.

Provider Store’s shop, House and Maido are more than just retail spaces; they’re a place for community and connection. How do you foster this environment, and what kind of experiences can visitors expect when they come to browse or chat with you?

I try to create spaces that feel calm, welcoming and lived in. We want people to interact with our products and spaces and feel a sense of warmth. While small and intimate, the shop is a look into the Provider world and gives you a sense of discovery.

The café, Maido is a space of creativity and community. The layout was designed with the intention to foster connections between customers and members of the broader community. I love seeing people have coffee, chat to friends or locals and draw and read around the large communal table. At Maido, we also built a “lab” so you can watch us make candles while visiting. I think this interaction breathes a bit of imagination into the space. Provider House in Hobart is like a store that you can stay in. Everything from the knives down to the towels, bowls and books are all pieces from Provider Store.

The throughline between all Provider spaces and products is to convey a sense of comfort and home. From the scents of the candles to the door handles at Provider House, every tiny detail is considered.

Tara wears the LM Denim Jacket (Coming Soon).

Your personal style seems to be a blend of minimalism and functionality, mirroring the aesthetic of both Provider Store and Maido Coffee. How do your fashion choices reflect your lifestyle?

Practical but aesthetically pleasing. I like clothes that I can create in and feel comfortable but are refined. I am actually wearing a blue LM jumper right now (that I got a bit of paint on).

What exciting projects or new directions do you envision for Provider Store and Maido in the coming months?

I am off to Japan to source some fun items for the store and meet a few new suppliers. These are my favourite type of trips as I always come back super inspired. At Maido, we are doing more events. People are loving the space so we thought it would be nice to share with like-minded brands and people. We also turn 10 this year so we are planning our party and potentially bringing back a few of the original products (better get out my paint brush).

Tara wears the Harriet Midi Skirt.

Lastly, Pocari your Shiba Inu is a beloved member of the Maido family and we love how you share her mood for the day in store and through instagram. Can you tell us, what’s Pocari’s mood today?

Pocari’s mood today is unreasonable.

Tara Bennett
@theproviderstore
@providerhousehobart
@maidocoffee
www.providerstore.com.au

Photography Nic Gossage