Soft, warm lighting is thankfully something everyone can agree on, from the bedroom to the dining room to even the office. Thanks to Netherlands’ based Studio Truly Truly and their newest release for Australian lighting brand Rakumba, the Big Glow light takes center stage as a sustainable and chic option for anyone looking to elevate their interiors.
Photo: Josh Robenstone
Multiple shapes are featured in the collection, inspired by the blazing sun of Australian summers combined with the soft glow of European interiors. This marriage of styles both celebrates this yearning for the sun on a global scale, something everyone can relate to, while still remaining distinctly Australian. Through intensive research, Rakumba has featured Australian wool in a beautiful way here, naturally soft yet remaining sturdy enough to retain shape. The entire processing of this material, from wool-growing to assembly, takes place in Victoria, Australia, keeping production local and economies healthy – and retaining a Woolmark certification as well. Materiality choice lowers the environmental footprint even more in this collection. Combining wool with a plant-based bioplastic makes these pieces fully biodegradable.
A large, warm orb, suspended in space, is somehow comforting to many of us that call Earth home. “We missed the sun, but also desired the gentle, comforting glow of soft light. We wanted to achieve this with a sustainable focus,” shares Joel Booy of Studio Truly Truly. The wool acts as a perfect diffuser, retaining a warm glow even as the light dims into blackness. A central light, a facet of comfort in a sometimes cold and austere professional setting, is ever more welcome, bringing a sense of coziness.
Big Glow stands out for its groundbreaking use of Australian wool, reimagined through cutting-edge material innovation. Developed in collaboration with Woolmark, the design blends non-woven wool with a plant-based, compostable bioplastic to create a material that feels both contemporary and tactile. The result is a luxurious surface that not only diffuses light with a soft, organic glow but also enhances acoustics. “Wool perfectly embodies the warm and comforting quality we were searching for,” says Booy. “Its natural ecru hue and the way it interacts with light feels genuinely authentic.”
Founded by husband-and-wife design team, Joel Booy & Kate Booy have created a variety of thoughtful projects across products, lighting, furniture, textiles, and spatial installations, as well as art direction. This duo, flexible and forward-thinking, have ventured to question and invigorate the way people use and perceive objects. This subverts our expectations of the products we interact with in a charming way, bringing wit and style to any interior.
Specializing in luxury lighting, Rakumba is an Australian brand bridging the gap between residential and commercial. Key to their success is their collaborative nature, their ethos ‘effortless complexity’ coming into play through their strong relationships with designers. Aiming to celebrate Australian craft and legacy on a global stage, they navigate both furniture spaces with ease, telling unique narratives through design.
To learn more about the Big Glow light by Studio Truly Truly for Rakumba, please visit rakumba.com.au.
Photography courtesy of Rakumba and Studio Truly Truly, except where noted.
