Two worlds of design collide when fashion turns its hand to interiors. We explore the best high street and high-end offerings
Words Joy Montgomery
Fabrics, textiles and patterns – creativity has no limit, which rings especially true within the worlds of fashion and interiors. From zany wallpapers to luxurious throw pillows, the intersection of fashion and interiors have resulted in spectacular combinations that were once only expected of high end fashion house collaborations. More and more recently, the high street has taken the interiors market by storm with its own competitive offerings. Read on to see a few of our fave picks across the board…
Roberto Cavalli
Synonymous with high octane, glossy glamour, Roberto Cavalli is the king of exotic prints and bohemian silhouettes. The brand has maintained a distinct character throughout its 40 year history and maximalism is the order of the day.
Roberto Cavalli home offers all the high impact decadence of the fashion line. Drawing on different fabrics set off by a single bold print, dye or effect, this is not a look for the faint-hearted. ‘When I create a dress I want it to emphasise the femininity of a woman; and so as with designing for the home,’ Cavalli explains. The brand’s signature animal print pervades Cavalli homes’ Signature Line, alongside flashes of molten gold, while the wallpaper and linen look to the ornate frivolity of rococo style. A Cavalli home for the Cavalli woman.
Zara Home
Originating in northwest Spain, Zara is the biggest brand from the Index group, the world’s largest apparel retailer. Founded in 1974, the brand now manages up to 20 clothing collections a year and is famously known for its incredibly responsive supply chain, which ships products to stores twice a week. The result is an international brand constantly on the edge of the latest fashion trends.
Zara Home launched in 2003 and won the hearts of the public with its affordable approach to homewear. Stocking pieces for every area – bedroom, bathroom, dining room and home fragrance – Zara have created a platform from which interiors can be sold like ‘fast fashion’. With platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest democratising the world of interiors, there’s no doubt that this high street giant is onto something within a previously inaccessible market.
Eley Kishimoto
Husband and wife team Mark Eley and Wakako Kishimoto’s prints have graced the world’s catwalks for decades. Founded in 1992, this eclectic fashion and design company gained prestige as a result of its first womenswear collection in the mid 90s and has continued to produce their own line ever since. Following the success of its clothing line, Kishimoto developed a variety of innovative design products, all identified by their timeless geometric prints. The brand is now known for its ability to decorate anything and everything. ‘The world has many surfaces and we as surface decorators are happy to cover these with our aesthetic’ is the manifesto the brand stands by. Its interiors line offers mid century modernity, intersected with tessellating shapes and vibrant hues. Passing trends and fads are rejected in favour of iconic prints such as chevron and houndstooth.
French Connection
Founded in 1972 by Stephen Marks, French Connection has solidified its position in the high street hall of fame. The brand become popular in the ‘90s with t-shirts emblazoned with the FCUK logo. Fast forward two decades and French Connection has positioned itself at the top end of the high street. After a short homeware run in the early noughties, the brand took a second shot at the market in 2012 with the help of Irish designer Lorraine Brennan. French Connection Home is composed of tasteful pieces, with clear nods to interiors trends – from industrial style to mid century modernism.
