Meet the Showroom: Gastón y Daniela
A new standalone showroom for the Spanish decorating house opens in Design Centre East
Founded in Bilbao in 1876, Gastón y Daniela creates textiles and wallcoverings known for their quality, innovation and a certain boldness and drama, often drawing on the company’s considerable archives. It’s also known for its long-established collaboration with Spanish designer Lorenzo Castillo, who brings his own distinctive flair to every collection. Marking the opening of Gastón y Daniela’s first standalone showroom in the UK, its CEO Jaime Wakonigg explains how this family company continues to evolve and thrive.
What brought Gastón y Daniela to Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour?
We already knew the Design Centre because we’d previously been a part of the showrooms there. But we decided to open a standalone showroom because the Design Centre is such a showcase for high-end textiles and wallpapers, in a very prestigious location. A dedicated space means that designers and clients can benefit from our experience with our products, and get to know them much better.
What should we expect from the showroom?
As you step into our showroom, we want to offer interior designers a unique opportunity to experience the essence of Gastón y Daniela at the touch of their hands. It’s a chance to explore all of our collections gathered in one space, where they can enjoy individualised attention from our dedicated team. We’re here to offer expert advice and in-depth knowledge of both Gastón y Daniela and Lorenzo Castillo’s collections, ensuring we provide the most tailored and exceptional service to meet their needs.
Why should people visit in person as opposed to looking/buying online?
Our textiles are often made from rich materials, and they really need to be touched and seen to fully appreciate them. Online browsing cannot replicate the tactile experience or seeing the true colours – and we do a lot of work with colours! And of course, designers get support and expert advice from our team.
Is there a ‘hero’ product that encapsulates your brand, or that’s been a long-standing bestseller?
We are renowned for our printed fabrics, which have been the cornerstone for many years, and some of them are really timeless and have consistently been bestsellers. Clients tell me that they capture the essence of the brand.
Are there broad trends in your sector of the design industry that you’re embracing?
We’ve been in this market for about 100 years, but at the same time, we’re transforming ourselves continuously. We’re now more committed to eco-friendly materials and more sustainable products; that includes sourcing organic fibres and reducing our footprint through responsible manufacturing processes. We’re about to become carbon-free across our whole company, we’re using only green energy and we have a very good recycling policy. But not forgetting that our fabrics are designed to be long-lasting, too: a customer on our retail site recently asked if we could update some curtains she bought 22 years ago – that kind of thing isn’t about sales, but it does give us a lot of pleasure.
What can we expect from the latest collections?
I feel like joy, colour and happiness are coming back to the home. Our latest Tejedoras collection is inspired by the art of weaving and the heritage passed down through generations of women. Each design celebrates the power of women, and tries to honour them and their traditions. Everything has a little story behind it, from Japan to Peru to America. It’s a very rich and nice collection.
We also have something new with the designer Lorenzo Castillo – we’re on our 11th collection with him now. It has its own style, maybe a bit more rich and daring: a designer’s collection. He loves to put things together that break with tradition, and he’s always challenging us to find new textures and new techniques.
What craftsmanship or innovation goes into your products?
We select the best manufacturer to suit every design, whether that’s in Spain, Italy, France, Belgium or India: wherever it is, we make a big fuss about quality. Some are crafted by hand, while others are made on semi-automatic manual looms.
Is there anything else you’d like the Design Centre’s community know about your brand?
We have a huge archive, which is a big source of inspiration for our design team. We’re in the process of digitising it, which will not only help our own design team but also give our clients a huge choice to create their own prints. With bigger projects, we are already working with designers to develop their own products – mostly in Spain and the US, but now that we have our team in London, we would like to do more in the UK.
