Deck your Christmas tablescape with NEW Melbourne-based brand: Table Threads

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Alina Adams always had a fascination with fabrics but never dreamed of owning her own table linen business. This all changed in 2019 as she began to plan her wedding, where she noticed that she could not find beautiful yet affordable napkins for her special day. So, she did what any bride-to-be with a love of textures would do – sourced the material herself and recruited her parents to hand cut and sew 170 napkins!

“I ended up selling all of them after the wedding and realised that I wasn’t the only one in that situation. Shortly after, Table Threads was born!” she says.

“When we think of threads, we typically think of clothing and pieces that we wear, but your table needs beautiful threads too. The right table linen can completely transform a dining space and atmosphere of an event.”img_8516

Words: Catherine Falalis

Table Threads currently have two collections – woven cotton and stonewashed linen, launching with four colours in each collection. They have since expanded into table runners and tablecloths and will be adding to their range of colours shortly. They are also planning to launch another collection in 2021 so be sure to keep your eyes on their Instagram page for that.

“When fabric sourcing, we wanted to ensure that our fabrics were from a company that aligned with our vision,” says Alina.img_8514

“It’s important to us to produce eco-friendly, safe and sustainable products. We looked for a factory that made fabrics in a safe environment with no child or slave labor, was licensed by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), followed fair trade factory policies and used only 100% organic cotton & linen.”

Despite it taking quite some time to find the perfect fit, with numerous occasions of almost throwing in the (tea) towel, Alina says that they are very proud of the conscious decisions they’ve made and that it was all well worth the wait.img_8512

For customers who are unsure about colour and texture without seeing the napery in person first, Table Threads offers colour swatches to be purchased from their website. This is an amazing tool for event stylists to keep on them as well, so they can compare fabrics with other décor items when styling those all important tablescapes.

We’ve also recently launched a samples section where you can purchase a full-size napkin for a fraction of the price along with a colour swatch. I’m a very visual person so I often need a large swatch or full-size item to envisage what the final table setting will look like,” says Alina.img_8513

Table Threads even offer a hire service for special events. To hire their threads, Alina advises that it would be best to first contact them so that we can chat through some of the details. This allows them to ask you some prompting questions so that they can provide you with a comprehensive quote. Some of the things to think about are quantity, colour, material, location, event date and budget.

“Hiring will save you money as it’s a fraction of the purchase price. You’ll also have more choices of table linen for future events rather than re-using the same ones you’ve purchased. Lastly, you’ll have everything you need for the day but won’t need to worry about packing and storing them after the event. The biggest bonus (in my opinion) is you don’t have to worry about cleaning! It’s already included in the hire fee,” she says.img_8511

And for those looking to wholesale or to create personalised orders, this is an option too!

Customization naturally costs more as they are usually a one-off design and it takes more time to make the items. Therefore, there will be a wait for your goods but in the end, you will have the design you’ve been dreaming of and your table will look absolutely beautiful. For wholesale orders, we offer various discounts depending on the size of the order.”img_8515

And if you’re already thinking that Table Threads really have thought of everything, it doesn’t stop there. They can also be commended for their charitable ethos and wanting to make a difference and help those in need. This is why they have chosen charity organisation, Children’s Fortress Africa to donate 10% of their profits to.img_8510

“Children’s Fortress Africa is a not-for-profit organisation whose main focus is helping street children in Nairobi, Kenya,” explains Alina.

“There are an estimated 250,000 street kids in Kenya and they aim to see children restored to families, have families strengthened to care for their children and send them to school, and give young people the opportunities and support required to overcome the poverty they face.”

“This organisation also holds a very special place in our hearts as my husband and I had the privilege of joining their team in Kenya in January 2020. We experienced first-hand the impact they were having on the street children of Nairobi, Kenya and we will never forget how the team welcomed and loved us like family,” she says.

STYLE THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TABLE WITH TABLE THREADSimg_8517

Alina explains that styling the perfect Christmas table is all about layering. With table linen, this can be done with a tablecloth, table runner and napkins or if you want to show off your beautiful table, just skip the table cloth!

When it comes to decorations, think of incorporating different textures and colours to bring your table to life.

Here are a few simple steps as a guide:

  1. Decide on a theme: If you love a traditional Christmas, opt for touches of deep red and gold. However, if you would like to go contemporary, choose your favourite colour and build around that.
  2. Work with what you’ve got: If you already have beautiful tableware or centerpieces, it would be a waste not to use them! You can plan other elements of the table to complement them.
  3. Add your personality to the table: This could be in the form of napkin rings, handwritten place cards, Christmas decorations or special cutlery & drinking ware. Adding Christmas crackers & confetti/glitter is always a fun one!
  4. Set the mood: Lighting is key to setting the mood for your table. Candles are a great way to do this, whether used as a centerpiece or spread across the table. Go for scented candles that remind you of Christmas to take it to the next level!
  5. Flowers & foliage: Always adds another dimension to a table setting. You can forage for this in your garden, out on a walk, or at your local florist.
  6. Remember to have fun: Styling your Christmas table isn’t supposed to be stressful or overwhelming and there isn’t a right or wrong way to do it. Embrace the Christmas spirit and deck the halls, and your tables as you like!