Rukaiya Daud’s online homewares boutique, Fourth Street, is not meant to be flawless. The eclectic collection embodies a duality of sorts, she says, where “things are polished and shiny [but] if you actually look closely, they aren’t meant to be perfect”.

Daud labels her product curation “very intuitive”, concentrating on long-lasting items that are made in small batches. “I do like that idea of buying once and buying well, and people keeping something for years,” she tells Broadsheet.

“Even though the collection is made up of quite beautiful and timeless pieces, there is that element of playfulness, it’s a bit unexpected and you might have to do a double take.”

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The online boutique has two sections. The Fourth Street Market includes pieces from like-minded makers and brands, such as Sutram bolster pillows, Kassandra Thatcher lamps and Agmesw NYC jewellery. The Core collection is designed by Daud, and features an intriguing mix of cotton sarongs, ceramic vessels, metal candlesticks and bright paraffin candles made in Auckland.

Then there is the egg sculpture – Daud’s signature piece – in a choice of wood, brushed steel, limestone and brass that’s as meaningful or absurd as you want it to be.

“I was just looking at my doorway and thought it would be quite cool if there was a big golden blob at the door,” she explains. “The blob turned into the egg in the design process, just because of the meaning of that being quite beautiful. Some people buy them at birth or in a new home. Or I’ve had someone buy one for themselves when they had a miscarriage.”

Daud says Fourth Street is inspired by the cities she has called home – New York, Auckland and Sydney – as well as places in India where she can trace ancestral roots. It’s even named for her New York address, the place that first inspired her to “have a go” at running her own label.

Materials are sourced globally: oak and limestone from New Zealand, brass pieces and sarongs from Uttar Pradesh, cotton from Kolkata. “I do like that when you’re working with India, they have an emphasis on craftsmanship. It’s to know nice that I’m supporting the craft and keeping it alive,” Daud says.

It was during a solo trip to India at the end of 2019 that Daud realised Fourth Street was “more than just a side thing”. Now she’s moving her business from Auckland to Sydney full-time, a change which signals a new era for the laid-back boutique.

“I am going to strip it back to its core and focus on my own products,” Daud says. “I think that is the beauty of it – pivoting and learning, and seeing what people respond to.”

As for what’s coming up, “a couple of years ago, I had a cotton towel which was done in Rajasthan and I’ll do those again this summer,” Daud says. “I’m definitely adding to the core collection with more pieces that will be quite different, new sculptures, candlesticks and more.”

Fourth Street items are available to buy online. Prices range from $15 for a pair of candles to $1350 for the largest egg sculpture.

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