Isabelle Dubern-Malevé: everyone is investing in beautiful, timeless design

Isabelle Dubern -Mallevays is one of the founders of the unique insider network, The Invisible Collection. The collection was not only the first to present unique designer objects from the stars of modern design – it became a platform that made these objects available to a wider audience and on an international level. The Invisible Collection is a kind of net-à-porter of modern design; Each piece, made to order by the world’s finest craftsmen, is delivered “with white gloves”.

Isabelle is a former journalist and editor at Bloomberg, where she contributed to the lifestyle section. She describes herself as “an entrepreneur obsessed with all things beautiful, with an unconditional passion for the Enlightenment, landscape architecture and Jean-Michel Frank.” In 2005, she founded her own fashion and luxury consultancy, and in 2015 she was appointed creative director of Dior Maison and launched a home collection in collaboration with the brand, debuting at Dior’s flagship store in London. She continues to collaborate as an artistic consultant with the luxury industry, including brands such as Diptyque (their first home collection), and Dior Parfums.

Isabelle is passionate about interior decor and crafts, seeking out the best talent in design and pairing them with outstanding European craftsmen. A tireless and inquisitive reader, Isabelle borrowed the title The Invisible Collection from Stefan Zweig’s novel of the same name. Her motto: “Courage is the bridge between dreams and reality.”

“Invisible collection”

Anna Zaoui, my business partner and co-founder of The Invisible Collection, and I share the same vision. We are obsessed with the thirst for new discoveries and therefore constantly share our finds with each other. It’s a never-ending process that is perhaps the most exciting part of our journey together! The Invisible Collection has always strived to showcase global talent, from contemporary icons to emerging designers. It is important that we never deviate from our founding principles of preserving the beauty of design and fine craftsmanship. This year we are delighted to have continued our growth with the opening of new showrooms in London Marylebone and New York. We were also able to invest significantly in the development of our teams and digital presence throughout 2020.

It’s very difficult for us to choose just one favorite designer: we’re proud of them all. We adore the collections of Charles Zana and Pierre Jovanovic, stars of modern design, and the ceramics of the young master François Roger, who today continues the legacy of his grandfather Jean Roger. We’re inspired by Malaika’s recently launched embroidered linen collection: the fabrics are entirely handmade by women from the Threads for Hope school in central Cairo, where they learn the art of embroidery – which subsequently provides them with a steady income. For us, this collection demonstrates the true power of feminine design.

When we launched in 2016, it was revolutionary because we were the first to offer access to exclusive designs through a digital model. The Invisible Collection has since expanded into dedicated sales teams around the world, highlighting the power of digital platforms to meet demand. The existing online service allows us to offer unlimited support to customers around the world. All products are authenticated by us, the workshop, the artist or designer.

Non-temporary investments

Unfortunately, most showrooms have had to close in one form or another, and for some we assume this will be permanent. However, we are building on the power of the online platform by introducing new names and investing in the team. Since everyone now wants to feel comfortable and safe in their homes, many have decided to invest in beautiful, timeless designs, moving away from fast fashion trends in furniture. This is a promising sign for the future, as these products often last a lifetime and are therefore less harmful to the environment.

We created The Invisible Collection when it became clear that the realm of wonderful designer furniture that echoed prestigious art collections was almost hidden from the world. After 2020, the importance of a beautiful home has never been more evident. And so we believe that the demand for bespoke and rare creations will only increase. All the collections we present have been designed by interior designers and artists to elevate a person’s lifestyle.

Sofas, boucle and light fabrics

Over the past year, sofas have become incredibly popular, which are both large and comfortable, but at the same time they look impeccable, chic, attractive with shapes and upholstery. We believe that the 280 sofa by Pierre Augustin Rose or Julie by Charles Zana embodies this aesthetic. As always, light fabrics and the famous ivory bouclé remain favorites. And we adore the Asymetrie chair by Pierre Yovanovitch.

About online and offline

Both areas are incredibly important to consumers today. And, although we work digitally, we also support the showroom policy – two new openings are planned in 2021 in London and New York. The digital and physical versions of The Invisible Collection are intertwined. It’s easy for us to create custom designs and meet with clients, which is something we love to do. However, The Invisible Collection’s digital platform has certainly played a crucial role in building the brand it is today.