The Invisible Collection, a digital design platform reinventing the furniture shopping experience, launches its first shoppable exhibition at Phillips Southampton from August 7th through September 6th.
The Phillips arena will be outfitted with a mélange of coveted furnishings available for purchase from the likes of Pierre Yovanovitch, Damien Langlois-Meurinne, Juliana Lima, Kelly Behun, and many more!
Co-founders, Anna Zaoui and Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays, created this state-of-the-art digital platform to champion handcrafted couture furniture and accessories from the world’s best designers.
This summer, they will bring this brick-and-mortar concept to American shores for design savants and collectors alike.
With an exceptional eye for aesthetics and superior craftsmanship, this duo sources and offers a unique inventory of contemporary products from a talent pool of veteran and emerging designers, many of which are on Architectural Digest’s 100 list.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays to hear more about the past, present, and future of the brand that revolutionized the furniture shopping experience.
How do you anticipate the digital interior design experience being different from an in-person interior design experience?
We don’t see it as a different experience. Since our inception, our business has seamlessly incorporated physical and digital so our clients can enjoy the best of both. We started with a disruptive idea: to make an inventory of furnishings specifically made for private projects visible and available to a larger audience of collectors and design connoisseurs; and at the same time to make available the unparalleled, superior craftsmanship of our artisans. The digital experience is a means to reach everyone globally and showcase our inventory of iconic pieces. We’ve built a state-of-the-art platform where one can literally order a bespoke piece. At the same time, we’re also very personally involved with each inquiry and sale down to the last detail, including delivery.
What are the advantages of digital? What are the advantages of brick-and-mortar?
Operating as a digital platform allows us to reach a wider range of global audiences. We have so many clients all over the world, including the US. We do think it’s beneficial to have a physical showroom where clients can experience the products in real life before purchasing and to build that human connection through a shared passion for exceptional designs. We have a showroom in London and are planning to open one in New York very soon.
How does the Invisible Collection differentiate itself from other digital furniture platforms?
In addition to being the first brand giving access to a curated inventory of bespoke creations, and selling exclusive works from internationally-renowned architects & designers in the likes of Pierre Yovanovitch, Charles Zana, Kelly Behun, Vincent Darre, Etel, Elliott Barnes, and Stephen Antonson, we are proud to say that we’ve built a truly global community around our brand. Our designs are not just another product. They all have a story of culture and superior craftsmanship that we share with our customers.
Is it difficult to curate a diverse list of couture designers while staying true to your own brand identity?
When you love design and superior craftsmanship, it is quite humbling to be granted access to so many exceptional furnishings. For us it is quite simple to stay true to our identity: we follow our taste informed by our experience.
How do you form and maintain relationships with veteran and emerging designers?
It’s like cultivating a friendship – with a little bit of courtship! The Invisible Collection started from a friendship: Anna, Lily, and I were friends before launching our brand. When we started, one of the first designers to get on board was Pierre Yovanovitch who was Anna’s friend. We are grateful to have a rolodex of many great designers & architects through our circle of friends. As we’re both very passionate about art & design, we’re also always on the lookout for emerging talents. If we like their style, we reach out and approach them.
Where do you see the future of interior design going? How is the Invisible Collection a part of that future?
We are heading towards a more responsible way of shopping as consumers are becoming more aware of the impact of their choices. We think that our designs reflect this need as they are made to last and to be passed on for generations. We are proud to say that we don’t produce any waste – all of our furnishings are made to order. We work with artisans who value the environment and respect the local communities. We compensate our carbon footprint for transport and delivery. The future is still about beautiful homes but decorated in a more responsible, less impactful way, and we are right at the center of this conversation.
Photography by: Sourced from The Invisible Collection
