All of my rooms at home are filled with interesting lights. I use them to create little pockets of warmth to give a sense of intrigue to every corner. It’s the beauty of excellent lighting itself that inspired me to create this collection with Pooky. The combination of pattern, colour and lighting can bring sheer joy to any space.

Because beautiful lighting is such an influential element of my interiors, I wanted to work with a brand that shares my aesthetic values. My decision to work with Pooky stems from a long-standing admiration of the brand’s artful steer on eclecticism and quality craftsmanship. I’ve used Pooky’s lighting for years in my interior design projects, celebrating home lighting from real leaders in the field. From our initial meetings, it became clear that my skills in fabric and interior design had inescapable synergy with Pooky’s vision. Bringing the quintessential Matthew Williamson look to the classic Pooky shades was a pleasure, allowing both parties to play on their strengths to arrive at this diverse collection.

Traditional fabric designs also played a part in the inspiration for this collection. Each of the prints speaks to classic, timeless patterns which are globally recognised. They are also all patterns that I have used historically in my work both in fashion and interior design. The sprawling playfulness of this floral Paisley is a contemporary take on traditional Persian and Indian motif characterised by curving, embellished almond-shapes. In Leopard Love, the unending, classic allure of animal print has been reimagined with painterly leopard spots coalescing into a love-heart motif. The perennial, feel-good fronds of palm trees tangle amongst the pleats of Palm, a highly contemporary fabric design that transports you to sunny climes. Finally, Ikat takes its lead from classic Ikat designs. This diamond block print will add a graphic jolt of colour to any room in the house, merging colour and pattern to an almost psychedelic effect.

I wanted to create a contrast between the eclectic, colourful fabrics and the traditional shape and style of the shade. Something as playful and quirky as Leopard Love in its electric colourways can enjoy a more regency feel when paired with the silhouette of an empire shade. There is an elegance and classical quality that harks back to another era in these silhouettes, especially with the taping on the top and bottom of the shades. I have always loved the fusion and friction between old and new, tradition and innovation, and this collection is the embodiment of this fascination.

When it comes to lighting your home, choosing lamps should be like selecting accessories to complement an outfit. Setting the mood rests entirely on the lighting you choose. Forget about using one main lighting source in favour of illuminating a few lamps around the room for a more interesting, flattering lighting scheme. This way, you can be more flexible with what you intend to light. For example, a reading corner would benefit from an elegant swan-neck wall light, while a piece of art would look spectacular on the wall between two table lamps on a credenza or sideboard.

I look forward to watching the collection find its way into homes and hospitality spaces around the world, illuminating interior schemes both literally and aesthetically. It is also incredibly exciting to begin building on the Matthew Williamson x Pooky collection, adding contemporary lamp bases into the mix in early 2021.