TOAST x DARN
On the cusp of Spring DARN has sprung back into action with our first collaboration with British lifestyle label TOAST. Presenting two exclusive 100% silk scarf designs, both of which have been designed and made in the UK and feature as part of the beautiful TOAST SS22 collection, this has been an absolute dream collaboration for me.
As someone who has admired TOAST’s designs for many years, the team have been so wonderful to work with during the creative process, allowing me freedom to be playful when developing colour studies and more naïve in my illustrations.
Combining hand drawn shapes created using oil pastels, ink and tape, a mood board of colour combinations and digitised elements, the Moon Fruit Silk Scarf and Sunflower Chess Silk Scarf are large in size to allow for different styling options - a hair scarf, wrapped around the shoulders, a bandana style top or however you prefer! - and to showcase either illustration at its very best.
Helping the colour tones to really POP we chose a 100% silk twill fabric for either design and called upon the trusty Adamley in Macclesfield for printing, who always ensure the best quality finish with perfectly rolled edges and super crisp print finishes.
A collaboration that has been years in the making, but like many things has happened in perfect timing, I connected with TOAST’s Head of Design Laura after my studies at Royal College of Art in London and we kept in touch as I transitioned from living in the city back to the coast in Cornwall. Remaining in contact as DARN began to take shape, talk turned to collaboration and the ball began to roll. We looked to mood board imagery of fruit bowls, a variety of colour combinations as a starting point and freedom for me to draw, play and experiment led to a wall of colour and cut out pieces of materials that I layered to create initial shapes and scales. Always finding new ways of working, hand illustrations of sunflowers and fruits were cut and scanned in illustrator where further colour experimentation took place - colours, colours, colours is what it’s all about!
Combining DARN’s love for being playful, with TOAST’s reputation for designing using natural fibres in earth tones, the addition of these two scarves as part of the SS22 collection is such a joy to see and celebrates the perfect day to day elegant, yet practical wardrobe.
Both the Moon Fruit Silk Scarf and Sunflower Chess Silk Scarf are available to purchase exclusively via TOAST. Stay tuned for further insight into our collaboration, including a video interview coming soon.
Thankyou to Laura, Susie and the TOAST team for this opportunity - I hope our first collaboration of many more to come!
Lookbook and studio images courtesy of TOAST