Owner of Gold Coast homewares brand Moss Living.
Owner of Gold Coast homewares brand Moss Living.
Christina Armstrong is one stylish Gold Coaster, not to mention the owner of stunning local homewares and clothing brand Moss Living.
We sat down for a chat with Christina about her high-end linen bedding, sustainable sourcing practices and the new Moss Living wearables about to hit the market.
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I’ve grown up a city girl mostly. I was born in São Paulo, Brazil and travelled the world with my parents. I then spent my teenage years in Brisbane, came here for a weekend away in 2002 and never left. I worked at Swinging Safari, then moved to the southern Gold Coast to manage Elephant Rock Cafe and after meeting my fiancé in 2005, I started to call the Gold Coast my home.
What do you love most about living here?
I’m a nature lover. I love the birds, the wildlife, the fresh air and sea breezes. Our home backs onto the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary so I’m lucky to be surrounded by the most stunning flora and fauna. It’s my own little piece of paradise. My home is my haven. The beaches here are just so beautiful and clean and I love the proximity to all the best swimming spots. The community is just like a small country town, so many creative people and incredible local support.
How did your business Moss Living come about?
I’ve always been encouraged to make a house a home. From very early in life my parents gave me freedom to arrange and design my own space. I was encouraged to decorate, repaint and style my room as a kid. My mother always had the most exquisite furniture and homewares she had collected from around the world and I always appreciated the quality and uniqueness of her pieces and the way she styled our homes was just divine. The ‘good room’ was always pristine, it was her pride and joy with stunning Brazilian timber furniture, hand carved, exotic fish sculptures and fresh roses she grew herself. I’ve always remembered the fine detail and the feeling of warmth and comfort. I carried this feeling throughout adulthood. She taught me to be stylish and proud of my home. I’ll always be grateful for that. With Moss Living I’ve found something I love and I’m just so happy to be able to work with such a beautifully raw, sustainable material.
You sell beautiful, high-end linen, towels and clothing, from where do you source your fabrics?
All of our linen is ethically grown in and sourced from France. It’s the highest quality linen available on the market. Linen is a part of a movement back to the belief that simplicity and quality are paramount. We have a close relationship with our supplier and we’re always interacting with each other over new developments and concepts. Our supplier is one of the leading providers of fine linen in the world. They deal directly with France to source the best raw flax linen and in the dying process, our supplier uses AZO-free dye which is very friendly to human skin as well as the environment.
Can you talk to us about any upcoming colour trends you’re noticing for the new season?
I’ve never been a real trend follower. If you’re running a business and marketing high end products I think it’s important to understand trends however I don’t want to be someone who follows the market. I love to be innovative and aim to come up with a unique palette. In saying that, I’m influenced by my surroundings, Australia has the most beautiful landscapes and I’m always looking at colours that represent a personal experience and the love I have for nature.
Any advice for someone looking to start their own business?
Be yourself. Follow your heart. Don’t compromise quality. Surround yourself with positive, happy, supportive people. Do your research and understand it takes time. Business is a balance.
What’s the plan for the rest of 2019 for you?
We have some amazing new Moss Wearables in the making and I’m working on new colours for bedding. I’m always working on new shoots with my photographer Jenna Agius to keep it fresh and relatable.
Tell us your favourites on the Coast…
Cafe for breakfast: I’m lucky enough to be able to walk down to Cornerstone at Currumbin, amazing healthy food especially breakfast
Coffee spot: Saltmill at Currumbin and Dust Temple in the industrial area
Restaurant for dinner: The Fish House at Burleigh and Hellenika at Nobbys Beach
How does your weekend usually look: Coffee first then morning chats with our fur babies. We get produce from our local farmers market at Palm Beach every Saturday morning and I usually have a glass of bubbles or two with my fiancé. I’m often in my ceramics studio creating.