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To mark our new Autumn Winter collection, we sat down with Textile Designer Jennifer Parkinson to delve deeper into the range, taking a closer look at the design process, revealing any inspiration, as well as Jennifer’s personal favourite designs. So sit back, relax and take a peek behind the scenes of this exciting stage of bringing a new collection to life.
Did you have any new inspiration for the new collection?
At the start of each new design season, I love immersing myself in all the inspiration around us. My first stop is usually trend forecasting and inspiration websites, they’re great for spotting emerging ideas. I also revisit samples gathered from past shopping trips and take a good look at what’s currently on the high street. This is honestly my favourite part of the process, absorbing all the beautiful patterns and colours out there. As a designer, though, it’s about more than just what’s visually appealing. It’s important to strike a harmonious balance between colour and pattern while also being mindful of what resonates with customers.
As we move into the winter season, colour palettes naturally evolve into richer, darker tones, think autumn walks and cosy cabin vibes. Each season also brings fresh, unique colour accents straight from the catwalks, which influence our direction. For AW25-26, I’m especially drawn to the future exploration palette. It’s a softer, more unexpected, muted take on the usual AW seasonal colour, with shades like dusky pink and sage complemented by charcoal and soft grey.
What’s your personal favourite new design?
I’m really happy with how the new colour combination turned out for the ladies Reverie Stripe pack, inspired by the muted future exploration palette mentioned earlier and after all, who doesn’t love a stripe? I’m also really enjoying our new COLOURBURST collection, which will be launching later in the autumn. The designs themselves are quite simple, but as the name suggests, it’s all about those bold, joyful pops of colour.
How do you design the prints? Do you start hand-drawn or digital?
It’s a mix of both, really. Some designs begin as hand-drawn sketches before moving into digital development, while others are digital from the start. One key factor I always consider is how the pattern will interact with fabric stretch. Bold, clear shapes tend to perform best.
Were there any prints that changed dramatically throughout the process?
I usually start with a clear design plan, while other times it takes a lot more adjusting and refining before I'm happy with the final composition. Sometimes, I can get carried away and add too much detail and then it becomes a process of stripping back the design.
In most cases, that simplification improves the design. Less really can be more.
When designing a 3-pair pack, I always ensure the colours across the set complement each other. That cohesive palette helps tie everything together and creates a more impactful, unified look.
Ready to try out the new collection for yourself? Shop here!