Meet: bip bop boo
bip bop boo is a colourful Australian textile and homewares brand created by designer and maker Boo, who works from a bush studio south of Darwin. Inspired by Australia's unique birds and botanicals, Boo transforms her original fabric designs into vibrant cushions, lampshades, bags, purses, scarves and more, alongside her much-loved handstitched felt brooches. Every piece is designed and made in Australia in small runs, making each collection wonderfully unique—and, as Boo says, "definitely not for beige people."
About the Business
Since launching in 2011, bip bop boo has embraced creativity without compromise. Rather than following trends, Boo designs what inspires her, creating bold, joyful pieces that celebrate colour, nature, and individuality. Working in limited editions means every product feels special, while her playful felt brooches—featuring everything from fabulous feathered roosters to birds, houses and sugar skulls—allow her to experiment freely and keep creativity at the heart of the business.
Like many small businesses, bip bop boo has evolved by adapting to change. After relocating to the Top End, the tropical climate made traditional hand-printing techniques almost impossible. Instead of seeing it as a setback, Boo embraced the emerging world of digital textile printing. This shift opened up endless creative possibilities and ultimately led her to discover her niche in homewares and accessories. Today, her vibrant collections continue to brighten homes across Australia, proving that sometimes the best opportunities come from embracing change.
Packaging Used
bip bop boo uses a range of PackQueen packaging products to suit both retail and online sales. For in-store purchases and market events, PackQueen's paper bags provide the perfect size for everything from small accessories to larger homewares. For online orders, particularly delicate felt brooches with intricate feather details, PackQueen's sturdy small jewellery boxes offer the protection needed to ensure every piece arrives safely.
Why They Chose These Products
Finding packaging that could accommodate a wide variety of products was essential for bip bop boo. With customers purchasing everything from tiny brooches to lampshades and handbags, having access to multiple paper bag sizes made it easy to provide the right packaging for every sale, whether at markets or in the Darwin retail store.
When launching the online store, protecting delicate felt brooches became a new challenge. Bubble wrap simply wasn't enough to protect the intricate designs during shipping. PackQueen's small mailing boxes provided the perfect solution, offering a sturdy, natural-looking package that keeps each brooch securely in place while beautifully complementing the handmade aesthetic of the brand.
Q&A With bip bop boo
What does your business sell?
I'm Boo, the designer and maker behind bip bop boo. From a bush studio south of Darwin, I create original fabric designs inspired by Australian birds and botanicals, then turn them into cushions, lampshades, bags, purses, scarves and more. I also handstitch felt brooches — colourful roosters, birds, houses, sugar skulls, whatever feels fresh and fun. I've been in business since 2011, working in small runs, so most pieces are limited edition or one of a kind. Big tropical colour, designed and made in Australia. Definitely not for beige people.
What do you love most about your business?
I love the creative freedom. There's no one handing me a restrictive brief, and I don't chase trends — I design what I want, and if people love it, wonderful. If they don't, that's fine too; not everything's a hit, so I just get on and make something else. And when a trend fades, it's no concern of mine — I wasn't following it anyway.
After a long day at the machine or the computer, stitching felt brooches is my creative medicine. It's where I throw conventions and expectations out the window and just experiment and play. It's my favourite part of the day — the reward of finally putting my feet up, needle and thread in hand.
What challenges has your business faced?
The entire evolution of my business has been a result of navigating challenges. I used to handprint my fabrics but when I moved to the Top End, I no longer had anywhere suitable to work. This was largely due to the heat – ink would dry in the screen or on the block, creating shoddy results.
Around this time, digital fabric printing was just starting. The day I heard about it, I went home, sat down at the computer and designed my first digital print that very evening. This entirely changed what I was able to design, and what I could do with it. I got busy trying out new products and testing the limits of the fabrics.
The technology was still new, though, and the clothing fabrics weren't washing well — so I turned to furnishing fabrics, printed a different way, which washed beautifully. I could make and sell with confidence. Nobody wants to wear furnishing fabric, of course, so I started making cushions, lampshades, handbags and purses — and suddenly I'd found my niche. Rather than fighting the tide, I went with it, and it led me somewhere better than I'd planned.
Digital printing has come a long way in the last fifteen years and now I can print on dressmaking fabrics with confidence, so who knows, I might even dip my toe back into clothing. But for now, I love what I’m doing and I’m glad I ended up where I am.
How has PackQueen helped your business?
I used to do a lot of markets, where people expect to carry their purchase away in a bag. PackQueen's range of paper bag sizes meant I always had the right fit, whatever they'd bought.
I now co-run a shop in Darwin, and again, the bags are perfect. We sell tiny things and big things — there's always a bag to suit.
I recently launched a website where, alongside my homewares, bags and purses, I sell my handstitched felt brooches. The roosters — with their fabulous feathered tails — are a best seller and posting them was a real challenge: bubble wrap was never going to protect those feathers from the weight of other parcels or a rough shove into a post box. PackQueen's small boxes were the answer. They're the perfect size, sturdy, and I love the natural finish — and the fill inside holds each brooch securely, so now I can post them all, roosters included, knowing they'll arrive in perfect shape.
What We Love About bip bop boo
At PackQueen, we love bip bop boo's fearless creativity and unmistakable personality. Boo has built a brand that celebrates colour, originality and Australian design without ever chasing trends, creating products that are full of character and joy.
We also admire the way the business has continually evolved by embracing innovation rather than resisting change. From transitioning to digital textile printing to discovering an entirely new product range, bip bop boo is a wonderful example of how resilience and creativity can open unexpected doors. We're proud to provide packaging that helps protect these unique handmade creations while supporting a business that encourages customers to embrace colour and individuality every day.
To check out bip bop boo's stunning creations head to:
Website: www.bipbopboo.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipbop_boo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bippidiiboppidii/
Pintrest: https://au.pinterest.com/bipbop_boo/
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