The Society inc is a design studio & retail shop based in Sydney, Australia.
We specialise in hospitality interiors, product development, branding & global sourcing. The Society inc’s elements of retail, wholesale, books & interior design are captained by Sibella Court.
With Sibella’s degree in History, her spaces & product design draw on both the true & make-believe to create unique interiors that delight patrons & guests, showcasing her attention to detail & immersive style achieved through her imagination & black book of speciality trades.
We pride ourselves on working with masters of their craft to create bespoke detail-orientated products. Sibella’s black book, collated over a 20+ year styling career, includes blacksmiths, signwriters, scenic painters, architects, antique dealers, pickers, artisans, dyers, weavers, landscape designers, horticulturist, builders & all the other speciality trades that give each project that distinct Sibella mark.
With a history degree and 25 years of industry experience behind her, Sibella Court carries a bag of hard-won magic tricks which she weaves into her role as an interior designer, product designer, author, globetrotter and content creator.
Originally embarking on her career path as a stylist in Sydney, her vast repertoire working in editorial & advertising was firmly established during 10 years in New York, styling and concepting with such powerhouses as Bergdorf Goodman, Jo Malone, Donna Karan, Anthropologie, West Elm, Saks Fifth Avenue whilst contributing to a vast array of magazines.
Evolving from stylist to designer saw Sibella applying her inimitable approach to bigger and more permanent spaces. Upon returning to Sydney she founded her shop & studio The Society inc and counts Palmer & Co, Mr Wong, Hotel Palisade, Ms. G’s, The Oaks, Upstairs at The Beresford, The Blue Room Bondi, Old Joe’s, El Loco and The Fish Shop amongst the various commercial spaces that showcase her attention to detail and immersive style.
Sibella has penned a library of award-winning & best-selling books including Etcetera, The Stylist’s Guide to NYC, Nomad, Bowerbird and Gypsy, with her sixth book IMAGINARIUM releasing in July 2018. She creates content for her very own newspaper released twice a year, whilst continuing to contribute to magazines, social media & online content. In 2015 she hosted ABC’s Restoration Australia, showcasing her passion for Australian history and celebrating the restoration of heritage houses.
This interior stylist, historian, creative director, product designer and globetrotter is never happy to sit still, always on the move gaining fresh ideas and experiences. The calling of places unknown is never far from her and she seeks out adventure wherever she can find it, which in turn inspires her unparalleled approach to design. She claims to be part Gypsy, part Pirate; a theory yet to be disproved.
A degree in accounting & finance & a successful run of businesses throughout his 20’s – Ben needed a sea change & decided to hit the surf, and with that came buying a custom surfboard company called McTavish. A call to arms from the Society inc to helm up the operations & logistics sees him splitting his time between Byron Bay & Sydney. He secretly aspires to be a trade & can often be found on site, tool belt on, hanging up pictures or trying to convince builders to take him on as an apprentice.
The Society inc team are dedicated to sourcing the globe, wrangling trades, research, performing miracles & hitting deadlines. The team gathers objects & finishes from far & wide, visiting international design fairs, markets, auctions, and adventuring into new frontiers. Local & international involvement is a passion, working with manufacturers & designers from around the world in celebration of their craft. Having access to authentic, one-of-a-kind wares through to mass-produced, artisan, bespoke & custom-made pieces at competitive prices & hospitality grade, means there are no limitations to our designs. A communicative team with the skills to present a unique unexampled interior with enthusiasm & expertise.
The foundations of Sibella’s inimitable style can be found at her store The Society Inc; a rambling warehouse and imaginarium that plays host to her favourite treasures as well as pieces designed by her. Furniture, homewares, art, oddities & curiosities are sourced locally & by traversing the globe seeking treasure. A sensory experience, forever changing & never finished, full of magic & fantasy that will be as though being in the pages of one of her books. Part hardware store, part haberdashery and total playground for aesthetes and dreamers, The Society Inc in Sydney’s St Peters is a one-stop shop for interior inspiration.
Her own range of decorative hardware & lifestyle product, books and postcards are available for wholesale.
The Society inc range hosts decorative hardware & home accessories designed by Sibella Court. Each piece is inspired by Sibella’s globetrotting adventures, a love of forgotten trades & appreciation for humble materials. With uniquely hand tinkered hardware from drawer pulls to door knockers to mirrors, the collection invites you to bring a little piece of wonder into your own space.
If you are interested in stocking The Society inc range, please visit our Wholesale page.