How Kelly Wearstler designed her new H&M collection
Swedish retailer H&M is breaking into Milan Design Week with a new collection in collaboration with the award-winning interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Wearstler’s high-profile work, including the interiors of the Proper Hotels , and for celebrity clients like Cameron Diaz and Gwen Stefani, has earned her A-list status in the industry. Now, with a first-of-its-kind collection, H&M is bringing Wearstler’s high-end designs to Main Street. “The constraints were very real. Everything had to work within specific production and shipping parameters. But that actually became a creative driver,” Wearstler tells Fast Company over email. “Working at this scale pushed me to distill my ideasтАФhow to create something artisanal and expressive, but also accessible and adaptable to different ways of living.” [Photo: H&M Home] The 29-item collection of furniture, decorative objects, and textiles that includes a modular sofa, marble serving tray, and carved-wood vase, marks H&M’s first large-scale furniture and small-objects collaboration with a designer. Wearstler, who wanted the pieces to feel collectible, focused on flexibility and modularity to make each object adapt to daily life. “A chair can become a sofa, smaller tables can expand into larger ones. ItтАЩs about creating a system that evolves with the user,” she says. [Photo: H&M Home] Debuting in Milan Wearstler and H&M’s Milan debut will take over the 17th-century baroque palace the Palazzo AcerbiтАФa historic venue usually closed to the publicтАФfrom April 21 to 26. The palazzo’s opulent interior of frescoes and colonnades is set to contrast with Wearstler’s contemporary designs in an installation
Swedish retail giant H&M is making waves at Milan Design Week with a groundbreaking collaboration with renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Known for her high-profile work, including the interiors of Proper Hotels and custom designs for celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Gwen Stefani, Wearstler has earned her place as an A-list designer in the industry. Now, H&M is bringing her luxurious designs to a wider audience with a first-of-its-kind collection that merges high-end aesthetics with accessibility.
The project, which marks H&M's largest-ever collaboration with a designer, features a 29-item collection of furniture, decorative objects, and textiles. The range includes a modular sofa, marble serving tray, and carved-wood vase, all designed with flexibility and modularity in mind. Wearstler aimed to create pieces that feel collectible yet adaptable to everyday life. "A chair can become a sofa, smaller tables can expand into larger ones," she explained. "It's about creating a system that evolves with the user."
The constraints of production and shipping parameters initially posed challenges, but Wearstler saw them as creative drivers. "Working at this scale pushed me to distill my ideasтАФhow to create something artisanal and expressive, but also accessible and adaptable to different ways of living," she shared with Fast Company. This collaboration required careful consideration of how to translate her signature style into products that could be mass-produced while maintaining their unique character.
The debut of Wearstler and H&M's collection will take place at the historic Palazzo Acerbi in Milan, a 17th-century baroque palace typically closed to the public. The opulent interior, adorned with frescoes and colonnades, will serve as a striking backdrop for Wearstler's contemporary designs. The installation, produced by Studio Boum, will run from April 21 to 26, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the fusion of old-world grandeur and modern design.
This partnership represents a significant milestone for both H&M and Wearstler. For H&M, it's an opportunity to expand its offerings beyond clothing and enter the world of home decor with a designer collection. For Wearstler, it's a chance to make her work more accessible to a broader audience while maintaining its exclusivity. The collaboration underscores a growing trend in the fashion and design industries, where established retailers partner with designers to create limited-edition collections that bridge the gap between high art and everyday life.
As the Milan Design Week exhibition unfolds, the spotlight will be on Wearstler's ability to translate her signature style into products that are both functional and beautiful. The collection's success will depend on its ability to appeal to both design enthusiasts and casual consumers, striking a balance between artistry and practicality. For H&M, this venture represents a bold step into the world of design, one that could redefine the retailer's brand and attract new customers.
In the end, the collaboration between H&M and Kelly Wearstler is more than just a collection of furniture and decorative items. It's a testament to the power of design to transform spaces and lives, and a reminder that beauty can be both exclusive and inclusive. As the exhibition takes place in the historic Palazzo Acerbi, the juxtaposition of old and new will serve as a powerful statement about the evolving nature of design and its role in contemporary society.
