Keepin’ the Caribbean Comfy
Beanbags make their way from Bali to the BVI
Beanbags originally came to us in their 1960s form of small, recreational sacks, used for kicking around among friends, be it in a country park or a concrete schoolyard. After becoming a cult phenom among the hippy generation, the bags blew up, almost literally, and morphed into their overgrown counterparts, now used for comfy cushioning and durable furniture, proven to stand the tests of time. Now, still described by some as “groovy” and “hip,” the refined and funky furniture is often labeled as “chic” and “stylish.” The evolution of the beanbag has graduated the ageless product into a league of its own among the furnishing world. But still, the beanbag remains the ultimate in mellow and moldable.
It only seems natural that the beanbag’s durability and ability to adapt to almost any confine make it an obvious addition to a home, beach or boat—especially in the tropics. In the living room, for example, the beanbag becomes complimentary to an inviting and laid back lounging experience. Outside, on a breezy veranda, aside a cool pool or perched softly above a sandy beach, the resilient bags question the existence of a clunky alternative.
ADVERTISEMENT
Property Sales
It makes sense that Bali-based furniture company Santai—meaning “to relax” in the native language—would become leading craftsmen in the bags’ tropical adaptation. The chic and shimmering collection of overgrown pillows and loungers recently caught the attention of Arawak’s Roy Keegan, a regular client of Balinese manufacturers, whose custom crafts fill his warehouse and showroom floors. The collection of both calm and colourful hues reeled Roy into Santai’s shop off Sunset Road, a bustling strip of commercial companies in the town of Kuta. While whizzing down the packed street on his small motorbike, he hit on the brakes after passing the store, looped around and said, “Wow! I’ve got to have those.” The cushions were inspired, according to General Manager Menur Asturi, by the “summer spirit” that seems a mainstay vibe in the balmy tropics, from Bali to the BVI.
The product’s adaptability to the Caribbean is clear to Roy, who cited the “hip” bags’ versatility and durability as leading qualities. Furthermore, the savvy importer noted, the lightweight and moldable furniture seems built for the packed confines of a container ships bound for the BVI. Hip and trendy, groovy and unique, the bags seem to transcend the norm with endless possibilities.
