In a unique collaboration, Austral Bricks have partnered with fashion icon Camilla Franks on a collection of bold and bright bricks inspired by Mexico.
Named From Mexico City to Oaxaca, the collection, which came about after Camilla travelled through Central America, was inspired by the colonial grandeur and cobbled streets of Mexico City; the earthy tones of the Teotihuacan pyramids and Aztec treasures; the vivid symbolism of Frida Kahlo’s artworks; and the Spanish-infused culture of Coyoacan and Oaxaca.
With colours well suited to the Australian culture, climate and environment, the collection is warm and inviting and infused with Camilla’s fashion forward design sense. Designed to be long-lasting and adaptable for a range of contemporary projects, the vivid Azure and Aubergine hues are balanced by the warm Sol, with the Flame and Rosado colours bringing a touch of vibrancy to the collection.
For more information visit Austral Bricks website.
I’m excited to share an exclusive first behind the scenes look at the photoshoot for kaftan queen Camilla Franks’ collection for Designer Rugs, not available until May.
Of course, being by Camilla, they’re full of colour and plenty of floral. The rugs are handmade and inspired by Camilla’s archive and current fashion collections.
The shoot for the new collection took place at a stunning private residence in Sydney’s Vaucluse yesterday.
Lia (left) and Christine, senior designers at Designer Rugs
Known for its collaborations with high profile fashion designers like Akira Isogowa, interior designers like Greg Natale and brands like Dinosaur Designs, the grass roots creative force behind Designer Rugs is very much behind the scenes.
Lia (left) and Christine, senior designers at Designer Rugs
The company’s senior designers, Christine McDonald and Lia Pielli, have both been at Designer Rugs for more than a decade, give or take some short breaks to recharge their batteries, like all good artists. It is Christine and Lia who work with the often glamorous collaborators to bring their ideas to life and make sure, however beautiful they are, that they are actually likely to sell.
Around 80 percent of the company’s rugs are custom made and every design is available in different sizes and colour ways, meaning you really can create the perfect piece for your home or commercial space. “We have to feed off the industry,” says Lia. “We work with so many interior designers, we have a good nose for what’s coming up or what’s going to be popular.” Christine adds that people have really started to embrace colour again and she’s happy to see the back of a more safe pallete. “We’re always looking to fashion and overseas for inspiration too,” she adds.
One of Akira Isogowa’s designs
While interior trends don’t move as fast as fashion, the internet has certainly sped up the creative process.
One of the biggest challenges when collaborating, is persuading designers to design off the rugs, so that the pattern ‘falls off’ the edges so to speak. Many see the rug as a piece of paper or a canvas and try to create a pattern within it, which never works in the context of a rug.
Christine and Lia take it in turns working with the guest designers and the process can be very different, depending on their brand. “We generally let them come to us with what they want to do and then we translate it into a design that works for a rug and that we think will sell. We might change the scale or colour. Some designs translate really easily, others don’t,” says Christine. “And some designers want more input than others.” The whole process of bringing a new collection to market takes between a year and two years.
Christine’s New York design
The next collaboration is with fashion designer Camilla Franks and is due out early this year. The majority of the time, people approach Designer Rugs and ask to work with them, rather than the other way around. “For us the designs need to work as rugs. Some are beautiful but more appropriate for walls or fabric,” says Lia.
