About Us

Hello! My name is Maddi, and I guess I'm the "big boss" of this operation we call BINKABU. 

BINKABU is a place to celebrate your love for birds. We make earrings and accessories by hand in Brisbane, Australia. What started out as a polymer clay hobby swiftly became a community of birders and fashionistas alike. We strive to create unique pieces that will bring the earring lover and the bird lover a whole lot of joy.

All of our pieces are based on birds of the world. Why birds? I love birds and find that they are an endless source of inspiration. We wanted to have a very intentional focus for our creative output. Our niche means you know exactly what to expect from us, and that our flock is cohesive and recognisable. Each design aims to capture the fabulous colours and character of the species it represents. Cute, recognisable, wearable - our design philosophy!

The team at BINKABU is a small team of five, run by Maddi and Tim (and overlooked by rescue conures Link and Kevin). Tim and I are co-designers, co-makers, co-business runners, and partners in life. We run the whole operation from our home in Norman Park, Brisbane. Our team members Bronte, Rhiannon and Keely are an integral part of the BINKABU family, allowing us to grow and build on all the exciting new ideas in our heads. Everything is handmade by us, and we work with local businesses to source our materials. Tim and I have a beautiful daughter, Luna, who fills our lives with so much joy and inspires us to continue creating. We are also parents to Link and Kevin, two green cheek conures that run the show. Our first bird, Link, inspired me to start making earrings as a hobby to help fund his care and also to contribute to bird rescues and sanctuaries.

Why is avian care so integral to BINKABU? Birds are one of the most frequently rehomed and abused animals in the pet trade, and have a myriad of complex needs. These needs are often overlooked and misunderstood, and as a result, many birds live miserable lives unbeknownst to their carers. Birds shouldn't really be part of the pet trade at all, as they are not domesticated animals, but as long as they are bred in captivity, they will sadly continue to be apart of it. Owners then have a responsibility to treat them as the wild animals that they are, and provide for them with this in mind. We regularly donate to rescues and sanctuaries that specialise in bird care, the very least we can do for these magnificent creatures.

Why jewellery? What came before BINKABU? I love bright, colourful, bold earrings, so making earrings came easily to me. It started as a creative outlet to complement my life as a musician. Before jewellery design my life was rooted in the classical music industry, as a flutist, performing and teaching. I had many extraordinary experiences in the industry which I will cherish forever. Tim is a film producer and prior to BINKABU worked in the film and television world! After our daughter arrived, we craved a life that would allow us to spend more time with her, so we shaped BINKABU into a business that would support and uplift our family values.