Atlanta based designer and artist, Raymond Goins, believes that every interior, every piece of furniture and artwork, begs the question, “How can I be more beautiful?” Everything must have balance and mystery, charm and intention. He brings the artistry of design to life. We recently collaborated with Raymond, bringing to life a special project at Deco Off in Paris.
Here is his story:
My design business and studio workroom RL Goins is geared to the exclusive residential client, primarily fine furniture and products and interiors. You’ll notice a variety of style influence to the work – much depending on the moment and the client. A common thread is a foundation in classical line and theory and color. I twist and test the boundaries of form finish and material, with unique color finishes and materials in interesting ways, including leather.
This story of how I learned about Moore & Giles goes like this: In 2010, I concepted an interior design space for the Atlanta Symphony Showhouse. It was a huge success for many reasons…one in particular, because of the enthusiastic participation of great partners like Brooks Morrison, Vice President of Product Development for Moore & Giles. Their products speak for themselves and are amazing. In the project I incorporated their gray and canary yellow leathers for a couple of pieces of furniture designed for the space. We also used the same yellow leather for a tufted upholstered door leading to a verre eglomise clad water closet.
The room was also designed with a large encaustic painting of a horse over the tub, metal mesh shutters and accessories from Pratesi and British maker, Asprey of London. We blended this color theme with a unique material sequence fluidly, making it the star of the show. To this day it is known widely as “That Yellow Bathroom” reflecting the contributions and hard work of everyone involved. Projects like that are an incredible experience.
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Since the showhouse project, Brooks and I have become great friends, sharing inspiration and catching up at design projects like the Greystone Mansion show, Maison De Luxe in Beverly Hills.
As any creative would relate, when inspiration abounds, it’s easy to get distracted with creative ideas from just about anything. I sketch often and during a project I toyed around with painting fashion illustrations. They became a sort of muse for me now spanning a couple of years and have become popular amongst friends and local socialites.
Moore & Giles recently introduced an incredible new line of calfskin leathers: Couture Calf. It is so refined and supple they decided to present it in a way that references its lush fashion roots.
Couture Calf was to launch at the premier textiles world trade show in Paris, known as Paris Deco off. While the campaign development was underway, Brooks was in Paris reviewing their display space and planning. Serendipitously I sent Brooks an email with some of my fashion illustrations – it was timed with her trip to France. From Paris she called me and said, “Ray! I want to use your great fashion illustrations to launch our Couture Calf line!”…and there it started.
As ink and gouache were put to paper, Moira Giles was born. A fashion sophisticate in a pink dress with lots of personality, Moira’s image (in render) is used in the Moore & Giles ad campaign and print collateral from postcards, invitations to (and appropriately so) major design magazines like Veranda, Elle Decor and World of Interiors.
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Onward to Paris Deco Off – Moira must be represented! Brooks and I dreamed up displaying a life size mannequin and decided that I’d design and make a dress for her made of nothing less than a Moore & Giles leather. So we did. Brooks sent me her selections of the perfect leather Moira would no doubt don with pride. The biggest challenge of all was since this was the first realized dress design brought to life…and it was gold, metallic striated and scored leather (amazing and beautiful), we were to present a dress in Paris (a world fashion center) and further, preceding the 2016 Paris Fashion Week!!! Sewn by a local seamstress and considering every detail down to a Moore & Giles faux stingray leather purse. She, Moira was debuted – on the red carpet – at the 2016 Paris Deco Off with huge success. Rave reviews from Japanese, Swiss, Italian and Parisian designers and onlookers.
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This was my first Paris Deco off experience so I had no real expectation. It was interesting to see the new collections arriving for market and all the creative ways they were all presented. The Parisian air was filled with grand parties and fine dinners which were a blast to share with a seasoned traveler like Brooks. I also had the opportunity to meet and spend time with the Sackett Wood, President and Matt Buckley, Vice President of Sales for Moore and Giles, which was a highlight. I learned many things about the company including its culture and principles as an innovative and classy company.
It was a thrilling experience that has reinvigorated my internal creative chemistry, further reinforcing collaborations like this in partnership with folks just like Moore & Giles in the future.