Tantra founder Taran’s vision has always been to create unique, quality collections of furniture and decorative items which are also affordable.

The Bowral-based company initially launched with a range of standout mirrors and mirrored furniture sourced mainly from India, later evolving into a more eclectic contemporary brand. Whilst hard to pin down, the design ethos generally centres on European and Central Asian-inspired elegance.

“Our collections include timeless pieces inspired by world cultures, that transcend design genres and work in variety of settings,” says Taran.

Image: Tantra

The global pandemic has presented challenges for all of us, with the décor and furniture industry hit hard by problems to the supply chain, making it difficult to meet local demand. Ironically, the latter grew stronger thanks to the boom in home furnishings and renovations during lockdown.

Taran says that most of Tantra’s day-to-day challenges centred on supply issues out of Asia, with COVID-19 closing many of the region’s major manufacturing centres. Their second biggest issue was getting people back into showrooms to experience the products in real life.

“Like most businesses we had to pivot and leverage online channels to a greater extent. At the end of the day, whilst people are happy to buy small design pieces online, people want to touch and feel larger furniture pieces them before making a decision.”

Tantra was fortunate to land some large projects throughout 2020 which kept them going. They also saw increased interest in their glassware range, with many people working from home and looking to personalise their spaces with small design pieces.

In terms of utility, they’ve found people are also looking for pieces which are adaptable and can improve both the look and functionality of a space.

“From a design perspective we are seeing a lot of interest in more textured materials. Natural stones and textured glass and metals. The other significant trend in the commercial space is the growing expectation of buyers to be able to customise pieces, rather than just buy off the shelf.”

The theme of the Australian House & Garden International Seminar Series at Decor + Design 2021 will be ‘Designing a New World’, and Taran says that he sees the desire for customisation as a search for more timeless pieces that are adaptable to both indoor and outdoor settings, that can adjust to the needs of the buyer over time.

“People are also starting to seek out and demand Australian made and are prepared to pay a little more for it. Environmental concerns are also causing a push for more sustainably-produced products.”

We’re delighted that Tantra will be returning as an exhibitor to the 18^th edition of Decor + Design, 15 – 18 July 2021 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. After a virtual show last year, this will be a unique opportunity for the Australian design community to meet in person again. the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in 2021.

Taran says that it is important for Tantra return to the show in 2021 for many reasons but – perhaps most importantly – it is an opportunity for them to demonstrate how they have evolved and how they are able to meet the changing needs to buyers.

“We’ll be showcasing an elegant and eclectic range of pieces that are very much in sync with ‘new world’ considerations and expectations,” says Taran.

Don’t miss the chance to see Tantra’s latest collections in situ at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, 15 – 18 July 2021, along with hundreds of leading exhibitors from across indoor and outdoor furniture, soft furnishings, lighting, textiles, art and more.

Entry to the exhibition is free but limited to trade visitors. Register now and start planning your trip to Melbourne!

Explore Tantra’s collections here.