Jay Godfrey on His Design Collaboration with Cachet Boutique NYC

by Sydney Sadick

Jay Godfrey, the designer behind his namesake label worn by many Hollywood celebs—Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, and more—has an upcoming partnership in-store in the interior design space. He’s collaborated with the new Cachet Boutique NYC hotel, where he worked alongside Cachet’s Bangkok-based design team led by Domenic Sicoli and Pauline Choo to create an ‘East Meets West’ cultural atmosphere, making for a chic new destination for those checking into NYC. Set to open November 6th, Godfrey fills us in on what we can expect… 

Jay, how did this project come about?
In 2013, I partnered with Cachet Hotel Group to collaborate on the rebranding and renovation of URBN Hotel, China’s first carbon-neutral multi award-winning hotel in Shanghai. The collaboration was a huge success, and when I heard about the U.S. flagship property in NYC, I was thrilled to lead the design effort and combine Asian design elements with Western style.

What’s the concept behind the design of the rooms?
My goal was to make clean, sensual, and modern looking rooms and suites. In this particular case, because it is an Asian based hotel company, we wanted it to have a little bit of an Asian flavor to it. Ultimately, we want the whole look to be unmistakably bold and sexy, with just the right touch of rock n’ roll . In order to achieve this, I tapped into the same influences and inspiration that I do for my ready-to-wear collection—contemporary artists (like Ellsworth Kelly and Jackson Pollock), modernist architects (like Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava), photographers (like Miles Aldridge and Mario Testino) and even the music and lifestyle aficionados (like Keith Richards and Lenny Kravitz).  I wanted this hotel to feel like a place where these influencers would stay and call home.

What was the most challenging aspect of partnership?
In ready-to-wear, the timeline from sketch to sample is a matter of days and there’s an instant gratification element to it. With designing the Cachet Boutique, there are much longer time horizons from concept to creation not to mention building permits!  Being that I have the attention span of a goldfish, this was definitely the most challenging aspect of this project.

What elements of the rooms are you most excited about?
I really love that the rooms are sensual urban oases that you could hide out in for days!  I also love that each item in the rooms can be easily tied to a moment of inspiration for me.  And finally, the idea of Jay Godfrey bathroom amenities (shampoo, conditioner, lotions etc) is kind of surreal.

What elements of your clothing design can we see in this collection?
Use of abstract prints, dashes of color, tactile textures, and generous use of metallic elements. There’s also an overarching sense of drama and mystery in the design and I feel like the JG girl espouses that in her daily life.

Would you want to come out with your own décor line?
Certainly, and it is something I have been working on already. We will start with bedding and bath and will likely build from there.

Have you stayed in the rooms yet?
Not yet!  I live close by in Chelsea and have two little daughters, so I typically like to stay in my own bed. But I will certainly stay there once it is 100% complete.

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