Uncovering Luxury Brands

Designers share their insights with Lisa Hassell on collaborating with high-end fashion and interior brands

Making prints for the luxury market can be a dream come true for many designers. There is a tactile quality to fabric that goes beyond the experience of working digitally, and seeing your work translated into products for the first time can transform your design practice. Yet for those with limited experience in this area, it may also seem unattainable and somehow out of reach.

While it’s true that this kind of collaboration often comes about through art fairs, word of mouth recommendations and seeing existing work in the public space, social media is increasingly providing brands with instant access to a growing pool of emerging visual talent.

For those working in this field, overnight success is rare – you’re more likely to attract clients with a strong visual aesthetic, developed through years of design practice. Focusing on the love of your work should come first, giving yourself time to hone your craft and develop your skills and ideas. The goal should not be to simply work with brands, but to cultivate meaningful projects – beyond financial reward. A career built on authenticity and inventive ideas is not only more fulfilling, but will undoubtedly attract interest from potential clients seeking to add value to their brands.

Over the next few pages we talk to leading artists and designers who have collaborated with luxury fashion brands, translating their designs into accessories, clothing and interiors – from fashion brands and elegant perfumes to high-end hotels and ethical homeware, even launching their own design labels. These insights should help you gain access to the luxury market.