Rawls explores New York for fashion union

London interiors group Rawls & Company is in the early stages of negotiations with “strong fashion and department store” design consultancies in New York, with a view to forming an informal alliance by the new year.

“We have been to New York twice and had two initial conversations. We are not well known for fashion and department store retail design, especially in New York, and so an alliance could be very beneficial,” says Rawls & Company managing director Adam Rawls.

“[The alliance] would probably involve the exchange of consultants and give us access to clients and capabilities we wouldn’t otherwise have,” he adds.

In the longer term, the group is also looking to forge a further informal relationship with a UK consultancy.

These alliances would complement those it currently has with Design Bridge, Parker Williams and Pixel Communications. In each case, the lead consultancy on a project pays the partner group for the work it does.

Rawls says in the longer term the group might look to formalise some of the alliances.