![Book Flatlay Cover Front Transparent Trio[1]](https://d31dpzy4bseog7.cloudfront.net/media/2024/06/07080212/Book_Flatlay_Cover_Front_Transparent_Trio1.png)
A Rich Narrative – Apparel by Didier
Visiting the Didier atelier-style studio and workshop in Melbourne offers a window into the designer’s imagination, technical achievements and, above all, passion for furniture, which is exemplified in Didier’s latest collection, Apparel.
Located in an industrial building in Heidelberg, in Melbourne’s north-east, the golden front entrance provides a hint of the surprising display room within. “I wanted a sense of magical experience when leaving the factory landscape from outside and stepping into our creative hub of ideas,” Founder Ross Didier says. He started his career fabricating all manner of set props for London’s theatre industry, and it seems that storytelling via objects remains close to his heart. Didier’s latest collection, Apparel, was inspired by the world of haute couture. Indeed, the studio is reminiscent of a traditional workroom where the fashion designer creates and personally presents a curated range for clients.
As with all Didier collections, a rich narrative emerged over many months. With Apparel, the seed was sown with an inspiration to research costume design and high-fashion construction. In the range inspired by a Burberry trench coat the references are clear – the belted waistline, the centre back lapel, seam detailing, gloss leg highlights and selection of a woven yarn wool from England. “I was enchanted to watch numerous fashion parades, from early Balenciaga and Dior through the elaborate shows of Gaultier and Kenzo to recent Prada and experimented with hand-made prototypes until the curvaceous forms and intimate detailing achieved a classic styling with premium comfort,” Ross explains. “This range, and especially the signature wingback chair, has a very close connection to corset figuration and was created by building voluptuous form using layered shapes, like with life drawing.”
Each Apparel piece can be custom upholstered in high-quality, luxurious fabrics and leathers to celebrate each customer’s unique individuality. Ross carefully explains each piece in the collection and the engineering details such as the intricate steel framework with independent connections, the sculpted shaping created using layered foam-build and multiple fabric pattens sewn together to structure the form. “We work with the highest skilled upholsterers in Melbourne, using the highest-grade local materials, so our furniture can be appreciated for life,” he says. Sitting in the signature chair gives a sense of abundance as the shape envelopes in a calming cocoon. It is a chair designed for long days reading in a quiet alcove, enjoying intimate conversations by the fire, or perhaps relaxing in an open sunroom.
