High flying names – previously too expensive for the high street – including Neisha Crosland, Sebastian Conran, Nick Munro and Matthew Hilton are partnering with John Lewis. It is quite a PR coup to have bagged Crosland; her hotly anticipated collection of wallpaper, fabrics and bedlinen (inspired by Elizabethan and Jacobean England and oriental Shanghai deco) is her first entry onto the high street.
Crosland justified her decision in the collaboration by saying, "I love the way that John Lewis do not get carried away by the cult of celebrity trend, but invest in solid, consistent good quality."
Sebastian Conran, son of Sir Terence and design legend in his own right, says: "Anyone who knows me will have heard me say, 'If you can’t get it at John Lewis, then it’s not worth having.' So, I was absolutely delighted to be invited to help develop this collection."
Set to rival Jamie Oliver's range, Conran’s new John Lewis cookware collection of 15 innovative cookware essentials is affordable and sleek. His favourite? A hob–to–table stockpot steamer that doubles up as a colander.
Initially, Jamie's new essential kitchen kit was only available from Debenhams and includes the multi three–in–one peeler – revolutionary with its three interchangable blades. 'I’m really excited about what the interchangeable heads can allow even a crap cook to do,' he told mydeco.
This isn't the first season that acclaimed designer Nick Munro has partnered with John Lewis but critics are keen to scope out his new upholstery collection there. Sumptuous cushions and solid walnut feet give the sofas, footstools and his saddle chair an air of high end design but – and here is the key bit – at high street prices.
On a mission to prove that quality design by reputable names need not cost the earth, Debenhams have long championed their Designers at Debenhams collections.
Seasonal highlights include John Rocha's red petal cushion (£25.60), printed teardrop mirror frames by Betty Jackson (£12) and a funky peacock cushion (£20) from Julien MacDonald.
But the real triumph this autumn is their latest collaboration. Fashion hotshot Ben de Lisi, famous for dressing the likes of Kate Winslett and Elizabeth Hurley, has turned his pencil to creating colourful home ware for Debenhams. Reds and greys feature prominently in de Lisi’s home range; worthy of particular mention are his super cool red dog cushions (£15) which smack of Warhol graphics.
Last week, another thrilling collaboration hit the shelves. Muji, the Japanese lifestyle chain has teamed up with iconic German company Thonet led by British designer James Irvine and German furniture manufacturer Konstantin Grcic. The result of the surprising partnership is an affordable collection of simplified, stylised Thonet designs made of bentwood and tubular steel. Look out for Irvine’s Bentwood chair (£215) and a beech table/ desk (from £325) designed exclusively for Muji.
Politicians and news readers may be on holiday this month creating a silly season of headlines but the design pages are bursting with hot collaborations between designers and shopkeepers. For designers, it’s rather like hoping to be picked for the school team; for the buyers, it’s a question of picking the right brand for their reputation. May the best team win.
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