Come and colour your world with us at the A4D Mothership ~ a multifunctional space on Kabi Kabi land (in Noosaville’s industrial estate) that serves as a showroom, store and workshop studio in one. Stylist & Social Impact Entrepeneur Bettina McIlwraith’s colourful language of living is both innovative and respectful of tradition. Immerse yourself and your senses in our carefully curated collection of slowly made wares designed for good. From Africa’s most talented basket, textile and rug artisans, our favourite local abstract painters, an incredible accessories edit and imaginative antiquities to treasure.

Our “Regenerative” Workshop Program for 2024 is set to launch on the 28th January. Interested to know more about our partnerships and collaborations anchored in community? Sign up to our Moonletter to be in the know-how.. sign me up!

An old school champion for transparent and slow design since my introduction into the world of ethical fashion as a Fashion Buyer for the HUSK stores in 2000. This was really good retail - imaginative and thoughtful, honouring the heartbeat and soul of beautiful objects for your home and wardrobe all set within a whitewashed adobe interior. It was the garments and the mindsets of the now iconic Australian designers: Easton Pearson, Lee Matthews and Akira Isogawa that seriously caught my attention during this time. Hand-beaded, hand-loomed, hand-spun. Created with sincere intention alongside skilled artisan groups to create everyday beauty to love for a very long time. It was an aha moment that changed my way of thinking and career path forever.

I founded Appetite for Decoration in 2008 in London as I was traversing across the worlds of trend forecasting, styling and popUPshops while managing a burgeoning vintage print and textile archive and let’s face it.. a textile addiction! An insightful ability to curate and develop beautiful, useful and ethical ideas for living has gained me the trust of some of the world’s most skilled artisan groups, forward thinking designers and ethical style leaders: including AAKS, Marni, PETlamp, Justin Abrahams, Camille Walala, Duro Olowu, AAAA, Easton Pearson, Megan Morton, Kirsty Barros, The Beyond Retro Print & Textile Archive and The Baba Tree Basket Co to name a fabulous and mighty crew. I am grateful.

From 2017 - 2021 I lived and worked with artisan groups in Kenya and Ghana, creating meaningful relationships and partnerships on the ground that continue onwards.. upwards. It is an absolute privilege to interweave my skills with the immense creativity and wisdom of the artisans I collaborate with. To preserve culture, honour sacred materials and create new pathways and career opportunities is at the heart and soul of the work I do. Partnerships that uplift, with a focus on slow design, wellbeing and those who view craft and design as a tool to enhance humanity is where it’s at for me. I am led by an intuitive approach to living and working creatively and by colour of course!

Bettina McILwraith, A4D Founder & Shop Girl

TESTIMONIALS

“I am delighted to see the composition of Bettina’s eye every time I visit the AppetiteforDecoration Mothership in Noosa. Tucked away in the hip studio business area, the Mothership combines paintings, jewellery and objects by local regional artists as well as supplying a mix of international artefacts from Ghana and beyond. This is a must-visit retail destination for the Noosa local or regional/interstate/international visitor. I have to try very hard not to buy everything when I visit!”
Marisia Lukaszewski @aestheticalliance

“ I really appreciate the intention you bring to your business and I really sense the alignment of it with you personally.” Amanda Cooke @iamamandala