Melbourne-based brand Merci Perci has expanded into home textiles following the success of designer Claire Falkiner’s colourful artwork.
It has been a crazy year for Falkiner, who started Merci Perci—named after her bunny Percival—in December 2013 after losing her job in the fashion industry. Having studied design at uni, she decided to use her spare time to make elaborate headdresses out of paper.
Although she was unimpressed with her first attempt, a friend of a friend passed her details onto Julia Green from Greenhouse Interiors, and things fell into place. “Julia absolutely loved [the headdresses], wanted to meet with me straight away to see them in person and the day after I had my first order,” says Falkiner.
She designs and makes all the paper sculptures and textile patterns in her home studio, and has the cushions manufactured locally. She says the move into textiles, which feature the same attention to detail and beautiful patterns as her artwork, was a natural progression after working in fashion.
“With my textile design background it made sense. I have always loved digital printing and the variation of colour and texture that can be achieved with this method of printing.”
Although Merci Perci is only a young business, Falkiner says there have already been many highlights. “From meeting with Julia Green and having her say, ‘oh my God, these are amazing. I love them. You are going to sell truckloads’, to having free reign creatively.
“One moment I can think of was looking at my little car packed to the roof with artworks going to different stores—that was a pretty special moment. I remember driving around thinking, ‘I’m doing it, this is my business, I am my own boss’. Sounds a bit corny but it was very true.”
As a people person, the biggest challenge has been adjusting from life in a large office to working alone at home, along with staying driven. “The other challenge would be time management—trying to stick to schedules when it’s only you who can do the work and self motivate to get things done.”
Merci Perci is currently stocked in stores throughout the country, and even received an order form a store in Kuwait. “I am very fortunate that I am stocked in some incredibly beautiful and successful homewares stores around Australia,” says Falkiner.
“The stores that stock my artworks do a very good job of merchandising and creating that ‘lifestyle’ look and feel in-store so their customers can try and recreate that look in their own homes.”
With her debut cushion collection garnering attention, Falkiner is focused on expanding Merci Perci. “There are heaps of new products that I am working on to launch at the Life Instyle exhibition in Melbourne at the end of July. Watch this space.”
Merci Perci is available through Greenhouse Interiors.
