Sometimes the right partnership changes everything. For in-demand Australian furniture brand Fearon, a rare values-aligned match was presented via our manufacturing arm, TaitForm.
Ride or Die range
When Fearon launched in 2018, the vision was clear: create Australian aluminium furniture for outdoors that could live just as beautifully indoors. The intention was for smaller, considered pieces that add colour and character to a room without overwhelming it. “We wanted to make product that would last, and eventually become an antique,” founder Jack Fearon explains. “Not something to throw away – but something to hand down.”
But there was a problem. Fearon (originally Jack and his brother) started by making themselves, crafting custom pieces for individual projects. “We were manufacturer for a few years but then we couldn’t keep up [with the orders],” Jack recalls.
Float bedframe
When Tait Founding Director Gordon came across Fearon, the synergy was instant. Australian made outdoor metal furniture, crafted to last, is something Tait is known for. So it made sense for Gordon to reach out and offer Jack assistance via our manufacturing arm TaitForm – if Fearon ever needed it. The timing was perfect – a way for Jack to outsource production while keeping everything Australian-made. From the first conversation, something clicked. “We were on the same wavelength,” Jack recalls.
When he brought Fearon sketches to show the production team, ‘they just got it’. As design-focused manufacturers, the team could see the potential and quality of the intended outcome, even from simple sketches. No complicated technical packages were needed to start with, just clear communication between people who understood the craft of manufacturing. The products, and relationship, developed from there.
Explore TaitForm
A custom Fearon lamp
What sets TaitForm apart is something most other fabricators struggle with. Because we make our own high-end design products, ‘the sanding, welds, and finishing off beautifully is priority – not just the structure,’ says Jack. ‘There’s no stress that the product is going to be finished right, which is really important. No explanation was needed there’.
The collaboration became a lifeline, enabling Jack to focus on new designs and creative projects while TaitForm handled the precision of production. Local manufacture stayed at the heart of everything, which was important to Jack, who didn’t want to compromise on this value, and to ‘keep everything Australian-made’.
Block stool/side table
Something many manufacturers demand is Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ), which can be a roadblock for boutique design brands. ‘I didn’t want to flood the market with 2,000 products,’ says Jack. ‘The ability to do small quantities in batches was a big drawcard. Also, we could easily update designs, and even tap into the team’s expertise to evolve product to its full potential.’ As a full-service manufacturer, TaitForm produces Fearon’s Ride Or Die range, custom pieces and also helps with sampling and prototypes of new products.
The manufacturing partnership stands as proof that sometimes growth isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about finding those who share your standards, understand your craft, and knowing you are supported to take that next step into the unknown.
Get up close with the brand at the Fearon pop-up store/installation in our Melbourne showroom 8–22 November.
Fearon Pop-Up
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