‘Lauren was a customer from our first collection almost three years ago,’ Gemma explains of their introduction, ‘she was actually one of the first-ever winners of a giveaway, which is how we came across her work!’
Once Lauren was on board with the collaboration, Gemma and Mike allowed her plenty of creative licence. They gave the textile designer a brief, a colour palette, and a series of photos from a holiday in Italy that they wanted captured. ‘The colours were tonal and soft, yet vivid because of their association with those incredible coastal Italian towns – Praiano, Positano, Lido del Faro and Ravello for example,’ says Gemma.
In a devastating turn of events, not long after Gemma and Mike gave Lauren the brief, a burglar broke into their home and robbed them of a lot more than just physical possessions. ‘Our cameras, laptops and memory cards were stolen,’ Gemma tells, ‘we no longer have any images from that trip!’ And so, the collaboration became about much more than just another doona cover…. instead, the creative process of creating this range was the perfect way to re-live a trip the pair had enjoyed so much. It seems like this collaboration was meant to be!
The artwork, originally painted using water colours, was digitally printed onto French flax linen. Once printed, the linen was then stonewashed to soften the cloth. Gemma and Mike were committed to maintaining the integrity of Lauren’s artwork, and had to print multiple times before they were satisfied with the detail of every last brush stroke.
We can’t always give a first-hand review of wares we feature on TDF, but as someone who received this beautiful bed linen as a Christmas gift (THANKS LUCY!!), I can 100% attest to the luxurious feel and artistic quality of this creative collaboration. They have become the subject of many an Instagram story and may be the comfiest sheets I have ever slept on!
You can shop ‘Paradise Stills’ here! AND PS. Stay tuned… TDF and Mirador have an exciting collaboration in the works of our very own!
