Fashion isn’t just about what you wear – it’s a lifestyle. It’s also about the glass you drink from, the rug you walk on, down to the bedding you dream in. Nowadays, some of the world’s top couture brands are bringing their DNA to interior design. Here are five of our favourites
Fendi Casa
When you think Fendi, you think sumptuous materials. Beautifully crafted fur, skin and leather brand staples have been the essence of the brand since 1925. Fendi’s furniture collection takes the same approach, with pieces carved by Italian artisans, walnut glossed and bronze brushed smooth, often paired with hand-stitched velvet cushions. For those who want crocodile skin in their kitchen (that’s everybody, right?), look no further than the Fendi Casa Ambiente Cucina collection.
Bottega Veneta
Craftsmanship. That’s what Bottega Veneta is all about, and it’s a thread that runs across the Italian brand’s understated home collection, which ranges from tables and chairs right through to pet baskets (your pooch deserves to look this gorgeous). Attention to detail is key – just look at the bespoke intrecciato weave in its ceiling lamps, the smoky wine glasses mouth-blown on the island of Murano, and dining and coffee tables featuring the ever-popular marble tops.
Versace
You can’t get much more Versace than this: tableware embellished with gold and platinum, highlighter-blue leather chairs and velvet sofas. Yes, Versace’s interior collection is as bold and flamboyant as you would expect. The Italian fashion company was one of the first to recognise the power of brand extension, launching their first pieces in 1992. Whether grandly classic or contemporary and outré – like the Haas Brothers for Versace Home collection, a limited edition series of leather-and-gold chairs and tables inspired by Gianni Versace’s 1990 Bondage line – you can expect an unmistakably Versace result.
Armani/Casa
Armani is well and truly on the diversification train. It’s not just about fashion for this Italian fashion house. They do flowers, hotels, restaurants and clubs, too – and of course, they do a gorgeous line of home interiors. Armani/Casa offers everything from beds and lighting to rugs and candles with linear silhouettes that recall the Italian designer’s sharp tailoring. And the emphasis is also on materials: think gold leaf, textured leather, embroidered dragons and straw marquetry that lift the range beyond elegant simplicity.
Roberto Cavalli
Curves, flamboyant prints (think leopard, zebra and punch-packing floral motifs) and brilliant colours – these are the hallmarks of a classic Cavalli dress. And this same sexy exuberance comes through in the fashion empire’s home offering, too. Don’t just admire the extravagant prints on its cushions, bedspreads and gilded armchairs – the collection also spans tiles, tableware, textiles, tables and so much more, meaning you could give your entire home the Cavalli touch. It’s not for the faint-hearted – but then, you wouldn’t expect it to be, would you?
