London-based designer and illustrator Giles Deacon has partnered with Sanderson to bring his signature grandeur and theatrics to a unique collection of fabrics and wallpapers. Refrencing medieval influences, Greek mythology and his own archive of designs, over 20 new patterns in the collection celebrate British eccentricity and classical elegance.
Claire Vallis, Design Director at Sanderson Design Group, joins us this week to discuss how the collaboration came to fruition.
Raymond Paul Schneider: When did you first start to develop this new collection?
Claire Vallis: From our initial conversations to launch, this collaboration has been two years in the making. We invited Giles to visit our archive with a very open brief of collaborating on something special, and Giles was immediately drawn to Sanderson and its classics. In particular, he loved the One Sixty collection, which features some of the designs we layered into the Sanderson x Giles Deacon collection.
It was a meeting of design minds, and we, our design studio and Giles, felt that there was a continuing story to tell, bringing iconic designs to the fore with a sprinkle of that renowned Giles Deacon magic.
RPS: What was your initial inspiration, and where did the idea(s) come from?
CV: As ever, our archive is an inexhaustible treasure trove of inspiration, so that’s where we started, looking at the classics and working with Giles to discover ways we could recontextualize designs, creating new iterations of archival designs with that special Giles magic in the mix. Commissioned artworks and prints from his studio also came into the mix for an enduringly beautiful decorating story. As a couture designer, Giles creates a theatrical, otherworldly experience that appealed to us to do in a Sanderson way, making this collection unique to anything we’ve ever done and truly an immersive design experience.
RPS: Please describe your overall creative and design process.
CV: It was very hands-on and collaborative, with all ideas on the table and lots of open dialogue between Giles and the whole design team, which is why we have such a rich collection of fabrics and wallpapers. Through working together as a collective of artists, the importance of handmade comes through, whether in repainting or the drawn elements, from both sides of the table, couture and interiors, to create extraordinarily beautiful designs. Giles’s unmistakable hand has elevated the collection to a magical realm.
RPS: Did you have a specific audience or theme in mind?
CV: It was very important to us that this collection had universal appeal. The idea of the ‘unstately home’ unfolds brilliantly across every space it touches. We’re celebrating that even the smallest interior could be decadent and take on grandeur. This immersive storytelling is for all abodes, from quaint cottages to penthouse apartments and sprawling country homes.
Giles Deacon: With the grand scale of these designs, it is not intended that they should live in grand proportions at all. Quite the opposite. These designs have been imagined for all. For those who are entranced by eccentricity, decadence and comfort in equal measure. From apartments and pieds-a-terre to stately homes or cottages, the collection is for those who wish to live amongst enduring and timeless beauty.
RPS: Please describe the methods, tools, and materials you used to develop and prototype this design.
CV: All printed designs have been produced at our factory in the UK, Anstey Wallpaper Factory. We are incredibly blessed with a wide range of machines that produce innovative printing techniques, from surface to digital printing. Old and new work together to create these designs. We played with processes to create something unique and special for this collection.
RPS: Did you utilize a new technique or technology to conceptualize or create this product? If yes, please share the details.
CV: Cupid’s Beau uses a metallic, which involves a new process to create extraordinary bow detailing. Our Fringed Tulip Toile design references an archive document, reimagined as a distressed batik-style print. This textured, stripped-back wallpaper design mimics the technique of extract printing, a special block printing process that removes color to create a lightened effect, almost bleached, to reveal the design in a new light.
These techniques bring these archived designs to audiences for a little touch of the unexpected.
RPS: Please describe any challenges that affected the design and perhaps steered you to an entirely new final design.
CV: It was a joy to work on. Our factories and experts are creative and innovative, and we love pushing the boundaries of technology and design. Challenges often yield the best results.
RPS: Describe your overall brand DNA and Ethos.
CV: Sanderson is the home of iconic florals and illustrative botanicals, where layers of legacy are honored in the joy of nostalgia. We constantly look back to move forward, pushing the boundaries of heritage design and continually reinventing to make design relevant for today. Founded in 1860 by Arthur Sanderson, we continue his pioneering spirit through our work and collections, working with designers and artists in the studio to create timeless designs of exceptional quality that captivate a discerning global audience.
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