How does one recapture the essence of a taste, celebrate both the couturier and the collector? The man of curves and the man of lines? The aesthete of reminiscences and the avant-garde pioneer who so inspired Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé.
A century following his death, Jacques Doucet’s legacy is being reawakened through a contemporary furniture collection designed by French design duo Garcé & Dimofski. The twenty-piece offering will be unveiled at Invisible Collection New York, within a scenography specially curated to evoke the sophisticated atmosphere of a 1920s French interior, reimagined through the modern lens of Olivier Garcé and Clio Dimofski. At once graphic and sensual, their furniture seems to envelop you, inseparable from the art of living so dear to Doucet. The debut Jacques Doucet Furniture Collection is available exclusively through Invisible Collection.
Meeting of the minds
Recognizing Doucet’s powerful cultural influence, Arnaud de Lummen, Chairman of the Jacques Doucet brand and Founder and Managing Director of Luvanis, sought to preserve his legacy through a collection that would resonate with today’s aesthetes. To bring this vision to life, de Lummen selected AD100 design duo Garcé & Dimofski, whose refined and sophisticated style, combined with a strong sensibility for exceptional craftsmanship, perfectly embodies the spirit of Doucet.
Invisible Collection played a key role in facilitating this collaboration, with their dedication to promoting French savoir-faire and collectible design aesthetics making them an ideal partner in bringing this project to fruition. Initially, they introduced Garcé & Dimofski to de Lummen, and now they serve as the exclusive purveyor of the Jacques Doucet collection. Garcé & Dimofski have been collaborating with Invisible
Collection since its inception, contributing their distinct repertoire, characterized by tactile sensibility, soft curves, and gentle lines. This debut collection, both graphic and sensual, feels as though it embraces you, capturing the lifestyle cherished by Doucet.
“What could be more exciting than imagining, one century after Doucet’s death, a furniture collection bearing his name, and detecting that same sparkle of recognition among today’s collectors and aesthetes? I’m thrilled to present this furniture collection, initiated by Arnaud de Lummen, Chairman of the Jacques Doucet brand. I knew that the ultra-talented Garcé & Dimofski were the perfect fit to take up this challenge. They understand the culture, the savoir-faire, and the aesthetic we all sought to honor in
Doucet’s legacy, making it relevant in contemporary interior design. It’s worth noting how Doucet’s spirit as a couturier-collector has fascinated and inspired fashion icons such as Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. Like Doucet, they were both deeply involved in the art world, not only as designers but as collectors who understood the importance of merging fashion, art, and history into one seamless vision.”
-Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays, co-founder of Invisible Collection
J. Doucet
A man of many talents, Doucet was more than a couturier. His artful eye and curious mind placed him at the very center of the Parisian cultural scene, befriending the avant-gardes while dressing the most notable women of his time. In his fashion house, the likes of Sarah Bernhardt, Cécile Sorel, Eleonora Duse, Carrie Astor, Consuelo Vanderbilt and Edith
Wharton came to order gowns and sparkling negligees. At the peak of his career, it was said about him “he creates fashions for his nostalgic customers that evoked the grace of the 18th century. He is not, strictly speaking, the inventor of a dress form or garment, but he is the interpreter of a concept of femininity that is fragile, fluid and infinitely sophisticated.” A true patron of the arts, he was among the first to purchase works by Picasso, – he acquired Les Demoiselles d’Avignon in 1924 – Klee, and Duchamp. He supported Eileen Gray and enjoyed the company of Surrealist poets such as Breton and Aragon. Doucet collected the most diverse and rare books, furniture pieces, and objects. Rumor has it that a heartbreak led him to part with his renowned collection of artworks and books. The auction was a sensation, drawing collectors from all over the world— particularly wealthy Americans who outbid Europeans to acquire Dutch masterpieces as well as rare antiques.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Doucet used the proceeds from that record-breaking sale to support the avant-gardes, building yet another extraordinary collection that reflected the spirit of his time. He died in 1929, but his legacy endured, inspiring aesthetes like Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Bergé, and Karl Lagerfeld, all of whom were deeply impressed by Doucet’s genius, lifestyle, and taste.
“Years ago, I devised a sort of test for the new people I met. I would casually mention the name Jacques Doucet in conversation, and if I detected a sparkle of recognition from the person I was speaking with, I knew I had found a kindred spirit… Jokes aside, given my background, the cultural and aesthetic values I champion through Invisible Collection, it’s only natural that I am a great admirer of Jacques Doucet. His culture, his curiosity, and his discerning eye have inspired legions! Here is a man who sailed through the Belle Époque and the Gilded Age, building an extraordinary collection that included rare antiques from the French 18th century—an era that resonates deeply with me—and masterpieces from figures such as Fragonard and the most precious collection of 18th century furniture. And yet, when he was older—at a time when most would retire to bask in the glory of their acquisitions—he made a radical choice. He sold his entire collection and turned his attention to modern art, acquiring one of Picasso’s most significant paintings, supporting the avant-garde designs of Eileen Gray, and building the most comprehensive library of rare art books of his time. He is my hero!
This transition is reminiscent of another visionary collector, Nissim de Camondo, who also surrounded himself with exquisite French art and culture. Their shared passion for blending the classic with the contemporary continues to inspire generations of aesthetes and curators.”
–Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays
An icon, reawakened
Preserving the foundations of his aesthetic, Jacques Doucet’s spirit comes to life through a 20-piece collection by Garcé & Dimofski Available exclusively through Invisible Collection.
The collection comprises furnishings across various categories—ranging from dining and coffee tables, chairs, lighting, sofas and armchairs, to carpets. In designing the collection, Garcé & Dimofski sought to highlight the exceptional savoir-faire rooted in the arts décoratifs tradition, which was so meaningful to Doucet. This results in creations that are classical yet forward-thinking, injecting complex, intricate details to the simplicity of the shapes. Some original designs are enhanced by enchanting embroidered featherwork details by Lemarié—one of the specialty creators from Chanel’s Métiers d’art—that reference Doucet’s fashion designs, as well as handmade straw marquetry finishes by Lison de Caunes.
“We tried our best to channel Doucet’s spirit and taste through this collection, engaging deeply with the essence of his legacy. We asked ourselves, what if Doucet was our client? What if he asked us to create furniture for his home?
We thought of his collector’s eye, his eclectic tastes, his curiosity, his lifestyle, his love for the new and cutting-edge, balanced by a subtle yet unmistakable classicism. And, of course, the savoir-faire. With this in mind, we developed a line of furniture that is the beginning of a long conversation with Doucet.
For instance, we designed sofas that are contemporary yet somewhat classical. Their modernity is defined by their comfort and subtle lines. The shapes may seem rather simple, but the details are intricate and complex. Each piece embodies the soul of a man who continues to inspire today’s interior and fashion designers,” -Olivier Garcé from Garcé & Dimofski.
About Invisible Collection:
Invisible Collection is the leading online gallery for discovering contemporary designs from the world’s most renowned talents. Bringing together more than 250 artists, decorators, architects, and designers on its platform, alongside 350 exceptional artisans, and supported by a team of 60 talented and passionate individuals, Invisible Collection bridges the old and the new, merging the traditions of decorative arts with innovative digital offerings.
About Garcé and Dimofski:
For Clio Dimofski and Olivier Garcé, design always begins as a conversation that often leads to collaboration. The design duo, also a couple in real life, have authored some outstanding projects infused with textured poetry, including curating the opening exhibitions for both of Invisible Collection’s galleries in Paris and NYC.
About Luvanis:
Established in 2009 by Guy de Lummen and his son Arnaud de Lummen, Luvanis owns, manages, and incubates a unique portfolio of dormant heritage brands, whose most emblematic creations are housed in museums around the world. Positioned at the intersection of culture, history, and lifestyle, Luvanis seeks out brands that left a mark on society through extensive archival research, acting as a custodian of each brand’s ethos and DNA in order to revive them and make them relevant to the contemporary world.
Available at: www.theinvisiblecollection.com
