by Last week, The Pacific Design Center hosted its spring market, which brought together design industry pros to explore the latest trends and innovations in design, featuring a diverse range of exhibitors and educational programming.
The morning keynote was hosted by Architectural Digest’s West Coast Editor Mayer Rus, who led a discussion with Alice Temperley, best known for her eponymous fashion brand, Temperley London, and Emily Mould of Romo Fabrics, about their new collaboration. Their conversation explored the crossover between fashion and interiors and was a master class in collaborative excellence.
Shared creative language
U.K.-based textile company Romo Fabrics is renowned for its range of upscale interior fabrics, wallpapers and trimmings, making it a natural partner for Temperley’s romantic, bohemian aesthetic and knack for intricate detailing. While her focus has been wearable fashion, Temperley specializes in textiles. This is a rare design collaboration where the celebrity designer already shares a creative language with the manufacturer, making the process of collaboration smooth.
Stepping outside their comfort zone
Developing a new fabric collection is a delicate dance between the two poles of wildcard patterns and safe-bet neutrals. Introducing Temperley’s signature leopard print was an edgy step outside of Romo’s comfort zone, but to her, it is a neutral.
This is what a good collaboration should do, push beyond the bounds of what has already been done, in a way that is expansive and sensical for both brands involved. The layers of leopard with moody jewel-toned embroideries and ornate trims had the auditorium full of interior designers very excited.
Slow, sustainable fashion
The home furnishings industry has long been focused on sustainability, not just because it is the right thing to do for the environment, but because you’re not going to reupholster the sofa as often as you get a new jacket.
Because fashion changes quickly, fashion designers’ sensibilities often don’t translate to designing for interiors. Pieces can be too trendy and unsustainable. But this is what excited Temperley about the Romo partnership.
By partnering with Romo, Temperley has elongated the lifespan of her fashion patterns by putting them on walls and pillows, windows and sofas. She’s kept a library of her archival designs dating back 20-plus years and now they get a new, long life.
