The Way I Work... Gergei Erdei
In our series where we look at the things, places and people that inspire a creative’s working life, Marie Claire Chappet meets designer Gergei Erdei
Fashion and interiors designer Gergei Erdei mines the past for creative inspiration – from MGM soundstages, to Studio54 and period film costumes. Born and raised in Hungary, the now London-based artist cut his teeth working for Gucci in Rome, under the Italian brand’s former creative director Alessandro Michele. Erdei founded his eponymous homeware brand in 2019 – a maximalist treasure trove brimming with imaginative flair. He sits down with Service95 to share his working playlist, the importance of morning coffee, and where his creative spirit may take him next…
On His Work Space… I have a studio, but for creating I work at my Bloomsbury home. I normally set myself up on my big dining table, which will be covered in pens, paper and paints. I keep it all stored in these big marble-patterned boxes on a shelving unit, so I feel like I am working in an old library. Then I can box things away so the space is separated for meal times and work.
On His Working Playlist… I can’t work in silence. I put on old classic soul and music from the 1960s and 1970s. It’s usually a really eclectic mix: Ria Bartok, La Femme and The Cramps… This sets the scene for me to create.
On Working Rituals... I like to have a slow start to the day! For me that’s relaxing in bed with coffee, then getting up and having a proper breakfast – eggs, fruit, whatever. I start work later in the morning, even around midday. I like to take my time to properly create and not rush. My long mornings are an almost meditative process for me. I can then work quite late, which is why that calm space at the beginning of the day is so good for me.
On Getting Inspired… I’m a very visual person, so images move me. Those MGM musicals, the Fred Astaire movies on the big soundstages and the Marilyn Monroe comedies are my favourite. I always think of the budget spent on set dressing and costumes back then – they are amazing. It’s the same with advertisements from that period, which I look for in old magazines and online. I also recently watched the Harry Styles film My Policeman and was so inspired by the costumes; those 1950s neat pleats!
On A Work Uniform… I work from home, and I make sure I am still properly dressed; jeans and a shirt, that kind of thing. It makes me feel put together and ready to work. I still wear a lot of Gucci and I am also a big fan of Sandro, which I mix with a bit of vintage. I wear Nasomatto Parfum. It has a great undertone of whisky, so I smell like a great cocktail.
On Travelling… Budapest will always be a special place for me. Rome, where I used to work – I always get inspired there. Somewhere I have been travelling a lot recently is Marrakech. For me, it’s a great place to switch off and not be on my phone. There are just beautiful things on every corner; the colours, the streets, the riads. It’s amazing.
On Role Models… I look closely at other designers who have started their own brands, how they have created and framed their businesses. The story of Ralph Lauren is one of my favourites.
On Scrolling Habits… I follow Alessandro Michele – he always posts amazing art and interiors. And @petuniawinegum is filled with 1960s and 1970s film stills with the most incredible details.
On Career Advice… The best I ever received was: it costs nothing to be nice to people. That is so important. Kindness to others is not just the right thing to do, it will help you in your career, because people remember that.
On Future Prospects... If I wasn’t doing this, I would still be doing something creative. A photographer perhaps? I never know where I will be or what I will do next – I get bored very easily – but I know that if you have a creative process, that can open so many doors. It is an amazing transferable skill.
Marie-Claire Chappet is a London-based arts and culture journalist and contributing editor at Harper’s Bazaar
