about bally
Their Vision
The two Bally Creative Directors are great partners. They share a common vision for the Swiss luxury brand while being very different in their approaches and inspirations.
The two personalities do not get diluted to become one. A constant exchange of ideas in the form of a permanent discussion is at the very basis of their successful relationship. Complementary beyond the point of womenswear/menswear, it seems natural to have a pair to hold the helm of an original shoe brand. Two is company; two is family and two rhymes with creativity in the world of Bally.
When asked to describe Bally in five words, they go like this:” Swiss-Familiar-Elegant-Quality-Craftsmanship” and the conversation can begin.
Michael's Portrait
Michael is rich of the two cultures he has inherited from his parents.
A British father and a Guyanese mother have drawn the contour of his imagination where colour has a predominant role. What comes to his mind is featured in his home where he confesses to be the most inspired.
“My home is my greatest inspiration. The house was built in 1710 and is a protected
English heritage building. I have filled it with drawings and paintings, books, furniture and objects from all over the world which I love and give me great insights”.
Entering Michael’s world is like going on a panoramic-fabric journey.
Michael’s den is a cabinet of curiosities for today’s ideas and tomorrow’s realisations. A true fashion foodie, Michael sashays in his kitchen where he expresses another one of his talents, cooking. “My kitchen is where I relax - cooking and eating are two of my greatest pleasures. Both my parents are excellent cooks. In fact my father was a professional chef and once cooked for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.” Two is company and Cat is never far away, a great gastronome too and surely an amateur of folk prints. “Cat is always there too. His favourite snacks are called ‘Dreamies’; he sleeps most of the day and likes to curl up in a bowl on the table.”
Flowers are Michael’s ultimate treasures; he cherishes them and could never have to
many of them: “Flowers are my luxury, and I have as many fresh flowers in the house as possible. My favourite summer activity is during August when I visit the island of Jersey to see the Battle of Flowers parade where I support the St Clements float made from over 200,000 flowers and over a million grasses.”
Graeme's Portrait
Essentially British and from Newcastle to be precise, Graeme Fidler expresses his verve through sartorial means with a permanent focus on lines. Ready to take the next chicane, a passion for innovation and a constant search for perfection summarise well the designer’s approach. On the fast track to get Bally’s heritage on the 21st Century rails, he looks back to iconic designs and masterminds for inspiration.
Simplicity rendered through complexity could be the designer’s motto: “Modern
architecture and functional design really fascinate and inspire me”.
Very interested in the technical aspects of things, Graeme gets inspired by artists such as Jean Prouvé or Charlotte Perriand. His imagination starts to play when he tries to understand a making process. He expresses his tailored view on fashion through clean lines and precious micro-details. It is about the beautifully made and the timeless like legendary buildings and monumental pieces of architecture. “I wish I’d designed New York’s Flatiron building or the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle. They are such beautiful, elegant icons of modern design – having the vision to conceptualise something so incredibly intricate demands enormous respect.”
When discussing with Graeme about icons, names in the like of Tomas Struth or William
Eggleston fall in the conversation. An architect of the body more than a fashion designer? Maybe. Graeme Fidler has the sensibility to appreciate a great heritage such as the Bally one and to create something contemporary. Very much rooted in the present, he enjoys life as it is “My greatest pleasures are simple: spending time with my family and friends; playing football with my son on a Sunday afternoon; or watching Newcastle United play at St. James’ Park.”