Broached Commissions, founded by creative director Lou Weis, are annual international design collaborations that use an event in Australian history as inspiration for each new collection. All commissions result in made to order or limited edition furniture and objects for commercial sale.
The inaugural commission for 2011 is ‘Broached Colonial’ which references the period of 1788-1840, when the industrial revolution was transplanted from Britain to Australia. The Australian frontier mentality is a strong part of many design practices and the Australian psyche: a ‘makedo’ sensibility that results in a determinedly simple and rustic, repurposed aesthetic, a persistent trend from the colonial period.
The three founding and permanent designers: Trent Jansen, Adam Goodrum and Charles Wilson began their dialogue with Broached Colonial curator John McPhee, who lead the group on a fascinating journey into the human and industrial stories of the applied arts of the colonial period. This set the historical context for a two-year research and development process.
The selection of guest designers Max Lamb, Lucy McRae and Chen Lu have added a wealth of diversity in their design responses to the period.
Exhibition Dates:
Melbourne: 27 October—5 November 2011. 21 Bouverie St, Melbourne
Sydney: 10—17 November 2011. Former Paramount Pictures Building, 80 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills
For Chanel Spring Summer 2012 Karl Lagerfeld has created a magical underwater world. The Grand Palais was transformed by huge, blinding white sea shapes—corals, shells, sea horses, stingrays—and Florence Welch arose like Botticelli’s Venus on the half shell to sing “What the Water Gave Me.”
Karl created a dazzling collection based on the set’s modern forms of the ocean designed by Architect, Zaha Hadid.
There was an impressive, graphic modernity in the outfits. Lagerfeld used new fabrics that brought an iridescent mother-of-pearl shimmer to the collection—the lightness literally shone through. That was also why Lagerfeld strung pearls, instead of belts, around waists andSam McKnight dotted pearls through the models’ slicked-back hair.
It was enthralling to watch the way he translated his underwater theme into the traditional Chanel vocabulary.
Imagine an online interior design site that shares a curated collection of the ultimate product and interior design for your home and how to create the look.
Australian skincare brand Aesop have launched in New York with a kiosk at Grand Central that’s made from over 1000 copies of the New York Times. The newspapers were stacked, torn and bound in a wooden frame then topped with sheets of powder-coated aluminium. The kiosk is Aesop’s first venture into the American market and was designed by Brooklyn architect Jeremy Barbour of Tacklebox.
Presenting the Fiat 500 by Gucci, Designed by Frida Giannini, the creative director of Italian luxury brand Gucci, This special edition, which debuted recently at Milan Fashion Week and the Geneva International Auto Show, highlights Italy’s association with high-end fashion. It also serves to commemorate Gucci’s 90th anniversary.
My heart still lies though with the original 1957 Fiat ‘Bambino’ 500.
Emmanuelle Alt is the new editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris. After Carine Roitfeld stepped down earlier this year, the style icon has seamlessly filled the prestigious role. With her unique approach towards fashion and design, the new editor will undoubtedly place a fresh feel on the iconic magazine. Known for her French bohemian chic, Alt has become the new face of fashion around the world.
I am looking forward to you joining me at next’s Wednesdays ‘Conversation in Design’, where I will be discussing this year’s Milan Furniture Fair and key trends.
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