November 12, 2024 |
If the eyes are the window to the soul, the desk, you could say, is the pathway into the mind of the creative. Being the nosy bunch we are, we asked a group of our favourite designers, creative directors and friends in fashion to let us inside their offices to see how they work. Expect pristine desks from the finest vintage dealers, the best personal libraries around and, of course, the occasional bit of clutter. Fashion folk are only human, after all.
Adrian Appiolaza, creative director, Moschino
Where did you buy your desk?
It was actually a desk used by Franco Moschino, so I didn’t buy it. I would like to think of it as inherited.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
I like a tidy working desk. I would consider it organised chaos.
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
The fact that it was Franco’s desk is sentimental.
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created while sat at your desk?
I created my first Moschino collection here. It was done in a small amount of time but all from this desk.
Photography courtesy of Moschino
Priya Ahluwalia, designer
Where did you buy your desk?
From Vinterior. I love vintage and antique furniture. I think it allows you to create unique character within a space.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
Tidy – always! I really don’t like mess at all, I think it disrupts my thought process. I always tidy and clean my desk and office at the end of each day, so when I return in the morning, everything feels fresh. I also really appreciate it when the team keeps the main studio space tidy. I think it leads to more organised work, which is important when we are all busy and working on multiple projects.
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
I have a Polaroid of me and my mum in NYC attached to my computer screen. My mum is the most special and supportive person and I love looking at her face every day.
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created while sitting at your desk?
That’s a hard question, so much happens at my desk! But recently, I worked on the creative for our Ace & Tate collaboration campaign and I am very proud of that. I used a lot of the books in my office for research, which is one of my favourite parts of the process.
Photography courtesy of Ahluwalia
Ludovic de Saint Sernin, designer
Where did you buy your desk?
I found it at a furniture store while I was visiting Amsterdam and had it shipped to Paris.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
Tidy. I’m a Virgo.
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
A bronze swan that my grandmother gifted me. I love having it close to me.
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created while sitting at your desk?
All the sketches from my AW24 collection, which I made in collaboration with the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation.
Photography courtesy of Ludovic De Saint Sernin
Charles Jeffrey, designer
Where did you buy your desk?
I believe I acquired my desk from Ikea, roughly 20 years ago. It’s been a steadfast companion over the years, witnessing countless moments of my life, evolving with me through various phases and relocations. Its enduring presence makes it more than just a piece of furniture: it’s a cherished part of my home.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
My desk presents an intriguing juxtaposition of order and chaos. At first glance, the surface may seem messy, adorned with an eclectic mix of items that inspire creativity and comfort. Yet there’s a method to the madness, plus a certain texture and liveliness that the surface mess brings, sparking creativity and ideas. However, I firmly believe in resetting this space each evening, leaving behind a tidy slate. This nightly ritual ensures that each new day begins with clarity and potential, the clean surface offering a fresh canvas for thoughts and endeavours.
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
Undoubtedly the drawings I created when I was 15. These sketches are not just remnants of my past but are vivid bookmarks of my journey, encapsulating the dreams, aspirations and raw, untamed creativity of my youth. They serve as a constant reminder of where I started, the progress I’ve made and the unbridled potential that we all carry within us during our formative years.
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created at your desk?
My MA collection. It was not just an academic endeavour but a profound journey of self-discovery, pushing the boundaries of my creativity, skill and perseverance. The countless hours spent conceptualising, designing and refining each piece culminated in a collection that not only fulfilled my academic requirements but also embodied my personal growth and artistic vision. It’s a testament to the power of dedication and the magic that can happen when you’re deeply connected to your work space.
Photography courtesy of Charles Jeffrey
Hillary Taymour, creative director, Collina Strada
Where did you buy your desk?
I got my desk from Kaiyo, a used-furniture website. It is the Jean Nouvel Less table, 1994. I have four of them and we
make one big table at the studio.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
Messy!
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
I am an extremely unsentimental person. However, my most prized possession is my dog, and he sleeps under the desk all day. Does that count?
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created while sitting at your desk?
I am most proud of my whole body of work and of the consistency I have been able to create at my brand. So maybe my book [I Care a Lotta, I Wear Collina Strada] with Rizzoli.
Photography courtesy of Collina Strada
Woo Youngmi, designer
Where did you buy your desk?
I bought it at a vintage market. It’s a George Nelson Action Office desk from the 1960s. It has a unique structure with a sliding lid.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
Tidy. I’m not fond of mess. When things are scattered around, I can’t concentrate. That’s why I bought the desk with the lid.
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
The Diamond Sutra, a Mahayana Buddhist scripture, and a stone-carved buddha statue bought from Cambodia.
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created at your desk?
I try to distance myself from work while sitting at my desk. I close the desk lid and clear my mind. It helps me organise my thoughts. It’s my habit for focusing.
Photography courtesy of Yongjoon Choi
Thom Browne, designer
Where did you buy your desk?
I bought the desk from a gallery in Paris.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
Of course, tidy.
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
I don’t keep sentimental things on my desk at work.
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created while sitting at your desk?
Every collection…
Photography courtesy of Thom Browne
Yasuko Furuta, creative director, Toga
Where did you buy your desk?
I bought it about 25 years ago from ACME, a now-defunct American vintage furniture store that I loved.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
Organised messy, surrounded by things you care about.
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
Family photos and children’s singing heard outside.
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created while sitting at your desk?
During the pandemic, I was always looking out from here, and I created an innerwear series at that time called Cities of the Interior.
Photography courtesy of Toga
Simone Rocha, designer
Where did you buy your desk?
It was actually designed by my father [John] and used to be in our family home in Ireland.
Do you like a tidy desk or a messy one?
I like a tidy desk, but it’s often messy. I try to keep the middle clear and mainly [put the] piles of books at the end.
What’s the most sentimental thing you have on it?
I have a bowl with lots of personal notes and papers, and little plaster heads from a friend.
What’s the thing you’re proudest of having created at your desk?
Most recently the ideas for my haute couture collection for Jean Paul Gaultier before I took them to his atelier in Paris.
Photography courtesy of Simone Rocha
Taken from 10 Men Issue 60 – ECCENTRIC, FANTASY, ROMANCE – out now. Order your copy here.
