Reimagining traditional, vintage lockers, Mustard Made started as a small business between two sisters living on opposite sides of the world. Now, a global furniture and accessories brand recognised for its bold colour palette, playful branding and warming founder story, Mustard Made champions female founded businesses in the interior space. We sat down with Co-Founder and Creative Director Becca Stern, to discuss all things vintage lockers, juggling long distance and the inspiration behind the brand’s most innovative launches.
What sparked the idea for Mustard Made?
I left London in my early 20’s and moved to Australia, so living apart has really defined my relationship with my sister, Jess. For most of our adult lives, we’ve been living on opposite sides of the world, which is really where the story of Mustard begins, because for years we both shared a dream of starting a business that would allow us to spend more time together. The real spark came in 2016 when Jess visited me in Australia after my son Ellis was born. During a long walk on the beach we began brainstorming ideas and landed on my love for vintage lockers. With Jess’s expertise in fashion buying and my experience in creative, small businesses, Mustard allowed us to create our own sweet spot.
How do you make it work living on opposite sides of the world?
You can view timezone differences as a barrier, or you can choose to make the most of them. Jess and I often Facetime early in the morning or late at night, which may sound odd, but it means the two of us can lead our teams on opposite sides of the world and keep Mustard moving almost 24/7.
My Monday morning is Jess’ Sunday afternoon, so we plan carefully – no one wants Monday morning energy encroaching on their Sunday. We rely on collaboration tools like Trello, world clocks and a lot of planning to keep things as smooth as it can be across different time zones.
Why the name Mustard Made?
When we were deciding on a name for our new locker business we had a few criteria, it had to be easy to say, spell and remember and it had to be something that could grow into anything. We knew colour was going to be central to our brand, and after throwing out a few different options we came to Mustard and we just knew that was it. Just like the condiment, our products aren’t for everyone, but if you love it, you love!
What factors contribute to the creation of the Mustard Made colour palette?
Colour is a huge part of the Mustard story and every colour choice we make is deeply considered. There are now 12 colours in the Mustard rainbow and we think of our products as a family. They all have to fit together and make sense alongside each other, every member gets to shine but feels part of something bigger! We put a massive amount of work into getting our colours just right, so that they are super versatile.
What is the story behind the Glass Collection?
The launch of our Glass Collection unlocked a new era of Mustard. We’ve drawn on vintage and retro styles for inspiration, but it’s really important to us that every Mustard piece has a timeless quality, too. Just like our original lockers, our fluted glass collection strikes the perfect balance between nostalgia and timelessness.
We’re very considered in what we create, we don’t do seasonal collections, so all our products become a permanent part of the family. Our Glass Collection took almost three years to bring into the world and we knew it was going to be a launch that represented how much Mustard has ‘grown up’ as a brand.
The Glass Collection is a true elevation of Mustard Made as a brand, exploring new avenues and design features.
What makes Mustard Made different from other brands out there?
Our products are big, beautiful and colourful, so Mustard naturally stands out from the crowd! As a small, female-led business, we’ve poured an incredible amount of care, thought and love into every detail of our products. Our lockers are designed to be both beautiful and built to last, with quality and longevity at the heart of everything we do.
Our lockers are made from thicker steel than many similar-looking lockers on the market, making them stronger, more durable and designed for long-term use. They’re finished with our signature tactile matte powder coating and come in Mustard’s unique rainbow palette, with 12 thoughtfully developed colourways available across our Original lockers, Glass Collection, and accessories.
For us, functionality is just as important as design. Our lockers are lockable and come with two keys and Mustard’s signature keyring, but they also close securely without needing to be locked, giving people flexibility in how they use them. They’re flat-packed for easy delivery and designed to be assembled simply and stress-free, with clear instructions and helpful how-to videos to guide the process.
Our products are intended to be cherished for many years. By using high-quality materials and thoughtful design, we hope Mustard pieces will be reused, repurposed, and enjoyed for generations.
