Today, we’re sitting down with Christopher John Rogers, the talented fashion designer and co-creator of our new Carte Blanche collection. Without further ado, here are 10 questions we asked Christopher, so you can delve deeper into the collection and the mind behind it.
About Carte Blanche
What made you decide to partner with us?
I think there’s so much we have in common. Obviously, we share a love for colour and making a declarative statement with paint and paper but also, I was really attracted by your emphasis on longevity and timelessness. I think it’s really interesting when both things can exist at the same time: really having fun with your space and making it say a lot about you, but also lasting for more than just one season.
How do you think you’ll use Carte Blanche yourself?
Although I love colour, I’ll probably lead with neutrals for my home. I love Au Lait and Roasted Macadamia because I think they’re great to ground spaces but then I’ll probably add a few accents to walls and trims. I also love Stripe — it’s my favourite!
What was your inspiration behind the paints and papers?
Originally, I just took a selection of colour swatches we had in house that I thought were particularly evocative and had a lot of personality. Then, it turned out that a lot of them were quite sentimental to me and had stories of food and family. In the end, those were the ones that we loved the most!
For the papers, it was about creating something graphic but at the same time elevated. So, the inspiration was really just about fun and self-expression.
What is your favourite colour and pattern from Carte Blanche?
I love them all — I imagine it’s like being asked to choose your favourite child. But I love Sardine. I think it’s absolutely amazing: really declarative but also really classic. Then when it comes to print, if I wasn’t to choose Stripe, I think Dot. Although I’m obsessed with them all. I think the Dot paper in Sardine and Au Lait is just… chef’s kiss.
How do you want people to feel when they use Carte Blanche?
My favourite thing is self-expression and that’s what the intention behind this collection was. That’s why it’s called Carte Blanche. It’s really up to you to pick what makes you feel the best. I want people to feel empowered and emboldened to express themselves, and mix and match the collection however they think best — you could do a whole room in Romesco or just a border in Lobster. It’s up to you to decide how you want the space to feel.
About Christopher
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
It’s fun dressing celebrities but what really brings me a lot of joy is seeing people in the street wearing the clothes, so the highlight for me has been to be able to provide people the tools to express themselves.
If you could dress anyone in the world, who would it be?
I think it would be fun to do a collaboration with The Muppets or Sesame Street, so doing costumes for that.
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Either a choreographer or an orthodontist.
You’re known for both, but if you had to pick one: stripes or spots?
Stripes.
Lastly, a very serious matter for us Brits, tea or coffee?
Coffee.