WHO IS opens at Designcraft
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It’s a love affair that runs deep. Fashion and furniture might seem like an odd couple at first glance but their relationship embraces quality design and craftsmanship on every level.
Fashion plus furniture is front and centre at WHO IS, a free exhibition to be presented by Designcraft in its massive showroom in Hume this Friday.
Open to the public, WHO IS features pieces from ‘Propaganda’, a new collection by local fashion design label Corr Bimey, and residential furniture never before seen in Canberra by internationally renowned furniture company Walter Knoll, celebrating its 150th year in business in 2015.
The initial connection between Corr Blimey and Walter Knoll is Germany.
Germany is Walter Knoll’s home and a place Canberra fashion designer Louisa de Smet has travelled with her partner Steven Wright. Each trip to Berlin has uncovered new layers for the couple, which has influenced their fashion work here at home—old architecture brandishing the wounds of war, monuments, modern graffiti and hidden surprises uncovered in nooks and crannies.
WHO IS celebrates the reputation German design has upheld for decades. It focuses on how great design, no matter what its discipline, always combines strong principles, incredible attention to detail and precise manufacturing processes.
“Design and aesthetic is a big part of whether someone loves something,” says Samuel Gowland, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, Walter Knoll Australia.
“It’s the first thing you see. But when you dig beneath the surface, you uncover what goes into making something, whether it’s a piece of furniture or an item of fashion. There’s definitely a link between us and a quality label like Corr Blimey.”
Designcraft thought of the collaboration with Walter Knoll and Corr Blimey, loving the idea of cross-pollinating business and brands. It’s a perfect fit for all three brands since all three represent top design. And so it was that Louisa was invited to study pieces of Walter Knoll furniture for inspiration that could influence the collection she will launch at this year’s FASHFEST.
‘Propaganda’ has two parts—preview pieces that will be on display at the WHO IS exhibition and pieces kept secret for the runway at FASHFEST later in May.
Walter Knoll, a familiar brand in the commercial world, is growing its residential side in leaps and bounds. The company will take over the showroom at Designcraft for the exhibition.
“Their temporary residency will see the showroom filled with a wide range of pieces, including sofas, chairs, tables, stools and even home-office furniture,” says Bob Fenderson, Managing Director.
“It will be the first chance Canberra will have to see these Walter Knoll products, which are exclusive to Designcraft in the ACT.”
It will also be the first chance for Canberrans who adore fabulous local fashion to see new pieces by Corr Blimey and a unique opportunity to talk direct to the designer and even get measured for a garment.
In studying the beauty of Walter Knoll furniture, Louisa examined pieces closely and from every angle, even flipping some furniture upside down to examine structure and the work Walter Knoll puts every piece of its furniture.
“I’ve translated some of the furniture’s construction elements into the design of the garments,” says Louisa.
“The palette of the fashion is even based on Walter Knoll’s approach. Neutral tones are injected with colour. And, as with the furniture, I’ve designed the garments so they’re well-constructed but comfortable and long-lasting.”
Corr Blimey’s new ‘Scaffolding Dress’ illustrates how Louisa was influenced by the furniture. The dress, made from grey 100 per cent cotton, includes strips of burgundy tape as a design feature.
“Furniture is designed around a framework purpose-built to support the human body but without compromising the aesthetic,” says Louisa.
“The framework is most often hidden within the skin of the furniture although it’s visible with some of Walter Knoll’s pieces. With the Scaffolding Dress, I’ve placed the framework—the burgundy strips of tape—on the outside drawing attention to different areas of the body. As the wearer moves, the scaffold appears to change depending on the viewer’s perspective.”
Corr Blimey’s work at WHO IS is accentuated by sculptural pieces of jewellery created by Louisa’s brother, Aaron de Smet, of Silver Atom. One pendant was made with the same geometric style featured in many of Walter Knoll’s tables and chair legs. Like some other of Silver Atom’s work, the pendant can be worn as jewellery or placed on a table as objet d’art.
WHO IS … a free ‘furniture plus fashion’ exhibition that will run 21 to 28 March and is open to the public daily from 10am to 4pm.
Featuring Walter Knoll furniture and Corr Blimey fashion, the exhibition will give Canberrans an opportunity to talk to designers, see fabulous design up close and even have a tour of the Designcraft Factory and Showroom with Bob Fenderson, Designcraft, and Sam Gowland, Walter Knoll, Thursday 26 March, 3pm-4pm. It also includes a floor talk by Designer Louisa de Smet, from Corr Blimey, on her new collection, ‘Propaganda’, Thursday 26 March 4 to 6 pm.
Win a designer weekend!
To celebrate WHO IS, Designcraft is giving you the chance to win a Designer Weekend Package of:
· Two nights in a Creative Room at Hotel Hotel, NewActon
· Your very own BMW from Rolfe Classic BMW, Phillip for the weekend
· Dinner for two at A.Baker, NewActon
· Limited edition scarf and bag from Corr Blimey
· Cuoio Lounge Chair from Walter Knoll
Total prize package valued at $3,965. Enter here.
The essentials
What: WHO IS Exhibition
When: Opens Friday 21 March running until 28 March
Where: Designcraft, 8 Tralee Street, Hume
How much: Free
Photos credits:
Fashion: Corr Blimey, Photography: Leighton Hutchinson Photography, Model: Rachelle from HAUS Models, Hair: Wayne Friend, Director of Hair for FASHFEST, Form Hair, MUA: Suzie Walden, Furniture: Walter Knoll; and shoot location at Designcraft.
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