designer gabriel hendifar

The most successful designs are often ones created when someone isn't able to find the item themselves. Enter the lights from Apparatus. Gabriel Hendifar, who trained in costume and scenic design and has worked as a fashion designer, was looking for something time-worn yet modern for his home with Jeremy Anderson. Together they decided to create their own. New York-based Apparatus is the result. You can see more of Gabriel's design work here.

Which five words best describe you? Closet-introvert, maker, thinker, laugher-at-inappropriate-things, aesthete.

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I was trained as a costume and scenic designer and have been primarily designing womenswear for the past 10 years - first with JMary then with Raquel Allegra. I took on interior design clients as a way to expand my perspective and sharpen my eye. I really value an interdisciplinary approach — design solutions become more rich and layered that way. Apparatus was conceived when my partner Jeremy Anderson and I moved in together a few years ago. We were redesigning our apartment and I couldn’t find the fixtures I wanted to hang in our space - something that strikes a smart balance between utilitarian and decorative.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Let your brain roam and play and make. Then edit. And then edit some more.

What’s your proudest career achievement so far? Showing up to work every day knowing that I get to be an independently creative person makes me pretty proud.

What’s been your best decision? That’s a tough one. Maybe believing in my perspective until others catch up. It’s very “if you build it, they will come”.

What are you passionate about? That moment when everything comes together. Balance. Imbalance. Music.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Can I throw a dinner party? Grace Coddington, Charles Aznavour, Chopin, and Cy Twombly.

What dream do you still want to fulfill? Expanding our collection into textiles and furniture. Designing menswear.

What are you reading? Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

images courtesy of apparatus