Highly acclaimed fashion designer Mary Katrantzou will be designing this year’s Christmas tree for the Design Museum, London. The tree will incorporate patterns from her Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection, which was inspired by everyday objects and will be a 2D design on the museum’s outer wall. Katrantzou’s Autumn/Winter 2012 collection included collaboration with Swarovski and Lesage to create masterful embroideries elevating the mundane to the sublime, as part of the Swarovski Collective.

Measuring 3m in height the tree will combine Katrantzou’s trademark bold patterns with Christmas sparkle to create this inventive take on a Christmas tree.

Mary Katrantzou comments: ‘The print was inspired by formal gardens and artful box parterres, these were layered and overlaid to create an intricate maze-like print reminiscent of a hand embroidered lace motif.’

The collaboration marks the exciting rise of Mary Katrantzou as one of the foremost fashion designers in the world. Katrantzou clothes are sold in over 250 stores across the world. Her recent collection for Topshop sold out in the first few days of its release. In November 2011 Katrantzou was awarded British Fashion Award for Emerging Talent and her 2011 Autumn/Winter Collection was nominated in this year’s Design Museum Designs of the Year awards. Past collaborations include a Longchamp bag line, Swarovski jewellery and a denim range with Current Elliot.

Design Museum exhibitions on show at this time are Unexpected Pleasures: the Art and Design of Contemporary Jewellery (5 December 2012 – 30 March 2013), Digital Crystal: Swarovski at the Design Museum (until 13 January 2013), Designers in Residence (until 27 January).

Sparkle the Dark Up Friday 7 December 6.30 – 10pm Late night shopping at the Design Museum (no ticket required) to coincide with this ticketed evening event (booking 020 7940 8783): The festive season-themed late opening returns with a stellar programme of activities: craft sparkling greetings cards and tags, or feature in your own e- card to satisfy impending season’s greetings needs, or hone your gift wrapping skills and envelop your Design Museum Shop purchases to a fun festive melody.

Further info: www.designmuseum.org

DESIGN MUSEUM, London