It’s been a busy year so far for Faye Toogood. The London-based designer and founder of her eponymous studio landed in New York last week to celebrate collaborations with Poltrona Frau, Garde, and Hem—fresh off the heels of an equally busy Milan Design Week, where Toogood debuted a rug and furniture collaboration with cc-tapis and Tacchini. The debut was a genitalia-filled takeover of cc-tapis’ showroom, titled Rude Arts Club.
Perhaps it seems like a lot of spinning plates for one person, but Toogood has long been a multihyphenate before the word multidisciplinary became a key buzzword. After studying and making art, the designer has gone on to do fashion, homeware, furniture, rugs, and interior design.
Her latest collaboration with Poltrona Frau, Squash, is a soft and plushy line up of furniture and accessories. Sitting on the Squash chair in the company’s new New York flagship, Toogood spoke to AN Interior about her design process, the rise of comfort-forward design trends, and the evolution of her visual language thus far.
Kelly Pau (KP): The past few months have seen a suite of collaborations between you and numerous brands. Why was Poltrona Frau the next choice?
Faye Toodgood (FT): A couple of years ago, they asked me if I would be interested in working with them. I have to say at the beginning I was like, “Toogood and Poltrona Frau?” It wasn’t natural for me. But then I went to their factory and saw the way they work and their archive. What I saw in the archive—the history of Poltrona Frau and some seriously iconic pieces designed by amazing designers—I was like: If they are prepared to go for it, then let’s do it.
KP: This collaboration does feel quite different from Poltrona’s more rectilinear, contemporary style.
FT: I think so, too. I guess working with them on allowing the leather to fold and wrinkle that’s quite uncommon for them. Not only the shape but also the way we treated and embraced the leather was a different attitude, a different approach. I think my approach is always to come along and do the absolute opposite of what’s been going on.
Read more of the interview at aninteriormag.com.
