Very often I have talked about how interiors feed off fashion and it is no coincidence the top trends we see on the runways end up in our living rooms. Sure there is a billion dollar industry researching trends — and their reports inform all leading creative brands — but the real reason we see our interiors being informed by fashion is that more and more fashion designers are venturing into interiors.
It is a good business strategy as well — why not provide loyal clientèle a completely branded lifestyle experience? While I am on the fence about actual furniture pieces from fashion labels — mostly their monogram is the only element that distinguishes them in the market — what is fascinating for me is how these labels are lending brand signature to their interiors offerings via intelligent adaptations of their trademark prints, patterns and textiles.
Here are some of my favourite fashion-led interior brands that are sure to find a fitting place in your homes without being cheesy or valuable only for their monogram.
Missoni
We all love or loathe the Italian label for its love for the chevron pattern. Someone once said to me, “If you have one Missoni you have it all”. If you feel the same, do check out their new home collection. Interpreting their classic geometric print with a futuristic twist and an on-trend colour palette, their new collection of rugs, cushion covers and bed lines is a far cry from the overdone chevron.
Oscar de la Renta
The master of American haute couture had an equally tight whip on his label’s home collection. The limited edition, 20 pieces New York Botanical Garden collection of tableware celebrates the designer’s passion for gardening and botanical patterns. The late designer handpicked prints and engravings from rare 18th- and 19th-century botanical books that feature in the collection. As the last collection under his tutelage, the one is for keeps.
Hermès
Think back to your Berkin and Kelly bags. How would you describe them? Clean lines, top-of-the-line, materials, attention to detail and sturdy. The fashion label has retained all the core brand values customers associate with its fashion label to provide a stunning collection of furniture, tableware, rugs and accessories. Not one for over-the-top colour palettes or overt design gestures, the label’s home offerings are as timeless as the handbags that made it a household name.
Versace
I have never taken a shine to Donatella’s home offering till now. I mean, I don’t want a Medusa head on my ice bucket or my carpet. But the Italian label’s latest offerings would convert even the staunchest of critics. Instead of relying on its monogram to do the sell, the label revisits Italian design classics from the bygone years, updating them; the up-scaling courtesy handmade Italian fabrics. You might still find an all-out Versace a bit too much, but if you are looking for a focal piece or an occasion furniture, this is your go-to brand for instant luxe.
Sonia Rykiel
With Yellow, Orange, Blue and Plum playing out against a neutral backdrop, the legendary designer’s latest home collection is about two stories representing her symbolic codes — a vibrant print and multicoloured stripes. From bold colour blocks to delicate prints that make you forget the loud colours, the designer has something for every lover of her label to decorate their home with.
Jean Paul Gaultier
While the designer has called the curtains on his ready-to-wear label, lovers of his risqué aesthetic can still savour his design DNA, thanks to his home collection. A riot of acid pop colours and high octave prints — you will find all his trademark roses, tattoos, text and sailor stripes — his latest collection of cushions and soft furnishings has that quintessential dose of dark, seductive glam we have come to love the designer for.
Pratyush Sarup edits the design site designcarrot.net. You can also follow the site on twitter @DesignCarrot.
