We’re Celebrating, 30 Years of Tait

Three Decades of Australian Contemporary Design

This year, we mark a special event - our 30th birthday! We are both humbled and honoured to celebrate this milestone.

Celebrating our 30th anniversary provides a sense of nostalgia - a chance to reflect on three decades of designing and handcrafting our pieces in Australia from sustainable materials, pieces reflective of our enviable outdoor lifestyle, informed by a distinctly Australian palette and built to withstand diverse climate conditions.

Tait’s Founding Director Gordon Tait and Creative Director Susan Tait

From the very beginning, the Tait design philosophy has been established upon a strong manufacturing heritage, with an inherent focus on quality and craftsmanship. Established in 1992 by husband and wife duo, Gordon and Susan Tait, over the past 30 years Tait has established itself as a true home of good design, a company where products are created through a resolved sophistication that resonates throughout the entire design and manufacturing process.

From their small factory in Melbourne, Gordon, a sheet metal craftsman, and Susan, a creative textile designer, began developing ideas and formulating concepts to bring into the homes of Australians. Fast forward 30 years and Tait today is known for its commitment to high-quality design and manufacturing, while also placing emphasis on the high performance of furniture over time.

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Gordon Tait working on the tube bender at Tait’s Thomastown factory

“With each new piece, our approach was to refine and prototype, at times to a fault, in order to ensure Tait products would stand up to the harsh outdoor conditions inherent in the lifestyle of Australians.

“In the ’90s, building high-performance outdoor furniture was new and innovative in the outdoor design space, and today we find our approach still resonates,” said Gordon Tait.

“Outdoor furniture in Australia by nature faces the harshest of conditions, with each piece requiring an unwavering dedication to deliver functional benefits that withstand the environment, while presenting as a calm and inviting focal point to be welcomed into the most intimate of personal spaces,” added. Susan Tait.

The Tait design philosophy is shaped by a strong manufacturing heritage, steeped in quality and craftsmanship. It is a place of design and making, where products are created demonstrating a resolved sophistication in each facet of the design and manufacturing process.

Tait has offset 25 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to saving 631 trees or driving 98,000 kilometres. Tait also diverts almost one tonne of soft plastics per year from landfill.

Tait Fitzroy Showroom

“We are focused on continually improving our sustainability outcomes, offering transparency across our operations while producing beautiful, high-performing, authentic design made to last.”

As a Gold Member sponsor and supporter of the Authentic Design Alliance, Tait is proud to join the fight against design theft in Australia, promoting the value and importance of investing in authentic Australian design.

Thank you to our loyal friends, family, and clients for supporting and investing in Australian design and manufacturing. It’s an honour to create long-lasting, high-performance products that form a part of people’s daily lives. We look forward to continuing the Tait journey well into the future!

Gordon and Suzie Tait

Photography by Timothy Allen & Timothy Kaye. Tait Film by The Local Project.

Published 4 May 2023

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