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Wall Flowers: The Erdem x de Gournay Collaboration

A match made in print heaven

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Looking to revive tired walls this year? Here we revisit Erdem Moralioglu MBE’s beautiful collection with de Gournay.

Erdem x de Gournay

When you think about it, it seems obvious: two British design houses, renowned for their exquisite prints, skilled craftsmanship and painstaking attention to detail. Who better to collaborate on a collection that spans the worlds of fashion and interior design than Erdem and de Gournay?

The latter is beloved in the world of interiors for its fine Chinoiserie wallpaper and fabrics, painstakingly crafted pen-and-ink drawings on silk that are inspired by the thousand-year-old Chinese tradition. Fashion designer Erdem Moralioglu, on the other hand, has filled red carpets across the globe with his ornate floral creations, dressing everyone from the Duchess of Cambridge to Nicole Kidman.

Kalya dress, ERDEM x de Gournay exclusively at erdem.com. Earrings: ERDEM.

‘My sister and I have always adored Erdem’s work and I had long dreamed of working with him,’ explains Hannah Cecil Gurney, who runs de Gournay along with her sister Rachel. ‘The romantic opulence of Erdem’s clothes does not diminish their contemporary character. He has an incredible eye for pattern and texture, and we were confident he would be able to create an iconic wallpaper for de Gournay. And we knew that de Gournay patterns would look amazing on his clothes.’

The resulting prints are a riot of halcyon beauty; a springtime vision of nature in full bloom. Following instructions from Moralioglu, sparrows, warblers, pheasants and egrets were painted to appear full of life as they dart through the foliage. As you can see in our exclusive shoot, the hand-painted prints also provide the ideal counterpoint to the designer’s dreamy, romantic silhouettes.

Find out more degournay.com.

Erdem x de Gournay

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Q&A with Hannah and Rachel Cecil Gurney of de Gournay

How did the collaboration come about?

Hannah Cecil Gurney: My sister and I have always adored Erdem’s work and I had long dreamed of working with him. I knew that it would be an incredible fit for the two brands. The romantic opulence of Erdem’s clothes does not diminish their contemporary character. He has an incredible eye for pattern and texture, and we were confident he would be able to create an iconic wallpaper for de Gournay. And we knew that de Gournay patterns would look amazing on his clothes.

What do you love about Erdem and the brand he’s created?

Hannah Cecil Gurney: His clothes are feminine but with a strength of impression: somehow soft and fierce at the same time – a rare and powerful combination, one I love wearing.

What was your vision for the project?

We wanted to let it develop as naturally as possible. So often with joint ventures of this kind, the finish line eventually dominates the process. It was important for us that Erdem, with his natural vision for pattern, colour and composition, could really engage with the development of the design: a much lengthier process than people often realise. The resulting design, in all its verdant splendour, is testament to this luxury of time.

What’s your favourite piece?

Rachel Cecil Gurney: It’s hard to choose! What’s wonderful is that the silhouettes are so varied – there’ as much here for autumn as there is for Spring. I’m not attending half as many weddings this year as I have in the previous, which is a shame as these pieces would have been ideal. Though there’s certainly some I’d happily wear to work.

Why do you think fashion and interiors are crossing over so much now?

Rachel Cecil Gurney: I think the concept of ‘lifestyle’ has become more all-encompassing in recent years. People’s interests are increasingly informed by their aesthetics, and vice versa. Thus ones interior tales on as much a sartorial context as an outfit – especially if both are destined to be shared on social media platforms – for better or for worse.

Fashion director: Nicole Smallwood

Photographer: Jonty Davies

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