Closet confidential

For this year’s edition of Wallpaper* Handmade – our temple to divine design at Salone del Mobile – we asked global purveyor of bespoke British cabinetry Smallbone of Devizes to team up with Parisian menswear label Helbers on the design of a bespoke wardrobe.

They responded to this year’s brief, which centred on design-minded ritual, with aplomb. ‘Dressing and the way you look is a kind of daily ritual,’ says Paul Helbers. ‘For some people it’s really a moment of contemplation.’ And so he presented Smallbone with sketches, intentions and colour palettes to create a cabinet that fulfils our reverent, contemporary dressing habits.

The wardrobe comprises transparent acrylic front and sides, providing a 180 degree view of the clothes – positioning them as carefully curated artefacts. Framed by the highest quality oxidised English oak, the simple bedroom cabinet is elevated to a museum-worthy display.