How Lee Broom Started

Broom started his creative career in theatre school, but after winning a fashion design competition at the age of 17, his career shifted dramatically. That win led Broom to legendary designer Vivienne Westwood, and he began working for her before beginning his studies in fashion design at Central St Martins. While in school, he began to shift into interior design. At that time, he was already providing décor advice to a number of independent bars across London, which helped solidified his transition to that field.

Since his launch in 2007 with his first furniture collection ‘Neo Neon,’ Broom continues to launch two new collections each year: One during Milan Design Week and the other during The London Design Festival. This cadence has led him to more than 75 new furniture and lighting designs since then, with each new release earning Broom global acclaim. His designs are now sold in more than 120 stores in 40 countries worldwide.

The Aesthetic of Lee Broom

While Broom has come a long way from his roots, the imprint that his theatrical beginnings left on him continue to serve as an inspiration. There is a sense of dramatic narrative that his lighting collection dictates, one that has no doubt been shaped by the stage. Fashion also remains one of Broom’s greatest sources of inspiration. Lee Broom is to furniture, as The Guardian puts it,“what Marc Jacobs or Tom Ford are to fashion.”

Awards & Recognition

Over the years, Broom has collected a plethora of awards and nominations. He has won more than 20 awards, including the prestigious British Designer of the Year Award in 2012. In 2013 he won his 4th award in three consecutive years in the British Design Awards for his renowned lighting product, the Crystal Bulb. One of his greatest achievements however, was receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in April 2015–the UK’s highest honor for business success.