Smythson’s A/W 2019 show set timelapse

When it came to conceiving his inaugural presentation for Smythson, creative director Luc Goidadin dived in head first. The designer’s ambitious show set was inspired by eccentric English country homes, and featured a festoon of topsy turvy objects, from dining room tables to tiny yachts, classical sculptures, to garden furniture, appearing to sink into a lily pad-strewn pond. ‘We wanted to nod to the British heritage of the brand via a historical setting’ Goidadin explains, ‘...which also complemented the modernity of the new collection’. The presentation was held inside Somerset House’s Portico Rooms, and as part of the presentation the creative director was inspired by photographs of Lord Berners surrounded by his painted doves at Farringdon House or the famed parties at Ashcombe House. ‘These homes were really theatres in which fantasies were enacted he adds.’ This presentation was pretty dreamlike too.

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.