Illustration: Jacquetta Crook in Ashish
'Lately I have felt more connected to my natural surroundings, most days I have felt a profound sense of gratitude and appreciation of where I now reside, here in the leafy South West of the country. Much time was spent gardening during the summer, obsessively so. Then walks in the countryside and the woods before a second round of Lockdown, soaking up the autumnal atmosphere and eyes drinking in the sights on offer before housebound once again. I find myself increasingly drawn to florals and nature themed textiles in fashion and in general too. If I’m not experiencing it firsthand, then I want to be looking at pictures of it and illustrating it myself. This “Swanscape” dress by Ashish has a Christmassy feel to it with its greens and icy blues (a swimming swan... just the one), which seems to fit the current - joyous despite all odds - mood and captures some of the magic in the air. It is reminiscent of tapestries, a nod to the arts and crafts movement induced by Lockdown? And painting by numbers, or designing by numbers in his case! To me, the little patches of colour sit neatly, side-by-side, each in their own space like a jigsaw puzzle or collage, complementing each other without interference. I love the sense of nostalgia too. I’m reminded of my nans knitted jumpers we wore as children, with their pictures knitted onto the front. In essence it is a sentimental yet playful and fun collection. The bold use of colour and kitsch motifs lift my spirits and elevate my mood. They contrast satisfyingly with the usual melancholy undertones of my drawings. Even though we are on the cusp of winter outside, the Spring 2021 collections looked forward to a much needed brighter, warmer future.'
- Jacquetta Crook
'Lately I have felt more connected to my natural surroundings, most days I have felt a profound sense of gratitude and appreciation of where I now reside, here in the leafy South West of the country. Much time was spent gardening during the summer, obsessively so. Then walks in the countryside and the woods before a second round of Lockdown, soaking up the autumnal atmosphere and eyes drinking in the sights on offer before housebound once again. I find myself increasingly drawn to florals and nature themed textiles in fashion and in general too. If I’m not experiencing it firsthand, then I want to be looking at pictures of it and illustrating it myself. This “Swanscape” dress by Ashish has a Christmassy feel to it with its greens and icy blues (a swimming swan... just the one), which seems to fit the current - joyous despite all odds - mood and captures some of the magic in the air. It is reminiscent of tapestries, a nod to the arts and crafts movement induced by Lockdown? And painting by numbers, or designing by numbers in his case! To me, the little patches of colour sit neatly, side-by-side, each in their own space like a jigsaw puzzle or collage, complementing each other without interference. I love the sense of nostalgia too. I’m reminded of my nans knitted jumpers we wore as children, with their pictures knitted onto the front. In essence it is a sentimental yet playful and fun collection. The bold use of colour and kitsch motifs lift my spirits and elevate my mood. They contrast satisfyingly with the usual melancholy undertones of my drawings. Even though we are on the cusp of winter outside, the Spring 2021 collections looked forward to a much needed brighter, warmer future.'
