GENERATIONS OF STYLE: MOLLY MAHON
GENERATIONS OF STYLE: MOLLY MAHON
Behind the seams of our
exclusive collaboration
Behind the seams
of our exclusive
collaboration
Left to right: Lani (14), Molly, Algernon (12), Rollo and Orlando (9)
This spring, textile designer Molly Mahon invited us into her
Sussex garden studio. It wasn’t an invitation we’d pass up.
Seeing first-hand how our exclusive collaboration came about
– in a riot of colour, pattern and nature – Molly delighted in
showing us something new. Read on to discover what a day
in the life of a block printer really looks like…
(Disclaimer: career changes may ensue.)
What drew you to collaborate with Boden?
When Boden got in touch with me it was just an instantly
lovely thing. As a long and avid follower of Boden since I was
a teenager, I’ve bought Boden clothing for myself and my
children for years. I’ve always loved the way the company plays with fashion, and feel I connect with the brand on so
many levels, especially their joyful use of colour and prints.
So, when they got in touch with me about collaborating I
almost fell off my seat. I never would have pinnacled myself
that high but when they asked it was an instant yes.
This spring, textile designer Molly Mahon invited us into her Sussex garden studio. It wasn’t an invitation we’d pass up. Seeing first-hand how our exclusive collaboration came about – in a riot of colour, pattern and nature – Molly delighted in showing us something new. Read on to discover what a day in the life of a block printer really looks like… (Disclaimer: career changes may ensue.)
What drew you to collaborate with Boden?
When Boden got in touch with me it was just an instantly lovely thing. As a long and avid follower of Boden since I was a teenager, I’ve bought Boden clothing for myself and my children for years. I’ve always loved the way the company plays with fashion, and feel I connect with the brand on so many levels, especially their joyful use of colour and prints. So, when they got in touch with me about collaborating I almost fell off my seat. I never would have pinnacled myself that high but when they asked it was an instant yes.
Tell us about where you found your inspiration for the Boden collaboration?
We played with a few options and settled on the cherry design. Boden often uses fruits and cherries in their designs already. So I didn’t have to work very hard as it came together in perfect unity so naturally. I love the design because you have the red of the cherry and the green of the stalk and it repeats beautifully. There’s a sort of little dance that gives the design such energy. And they are so very British. They have this amazing charm, a nostalgic ability to instantly transport us to somewhere summery like a picnic on a glorious summer day.
“The baby cherry print
pieces, it’s all just so adorable
it’s going to make me
broody.”
“The baby cherry print
pieces, it’s all just so
adorable it’s going to make
me broody.”
“The baby cherry print pieces,
it’s all just so adorable it’s going to
make me broody.”
Do you have a favourite piece from the collection?
Of course I love the cherry print - the cherry dress with the incredible red tie back is beautiful, and the same print can be seen on the baby clothing, it’s all just so adorable it’s going to make me broody!
My go to pieces is the blue printed shirt, I’ll wear it every day in my studio with my jeans, sleeved rolled up ready to work. I love that the print repeats as a men’s shirt too, and my husband Rollo can get the chance to wear the collaboration he’s worked so hard on.
Tell us about where you found your inspiration for the Boden collaboration?
We played with a few options and settled on the cherry design. Boden often uses fruits and cherries in their designs already. So I didn’t have to work very hard as it came together in perfect unity so naturally. I love the design because you have the red of the cherry and the green of the stalk and it repeats beautifully. There’s a sort of little dance that gives the design such energy. And they are so very British. They have this amazing charm, a nostalgic ability to instantly transport us to somewhere summery like a picnic on a glorious summer day.
Do you have a favourite piece from the collection?
Of course I love the cherry print - the cherry dress with the incredible red tie back is beautiful, and the same print can be seen on the baby clothing, it’s all just so adorable it’s going to make me broody!
My go to pieces is the blue printed shirt, I’ll wear it every day in my studio with my jeans, sleeved rolled up ready to work. I love that the print repeats as a men’s shirt too, and my husband Rollo can get the chance to wear the collaboration he’s worked so hard on.
Tell us about your career, and how you discovered block printing?
It was very much started as a hobby, I’d take myself off to various workshops from life drawing, children’s book illustration, ceramics and when I went on a block print course it caught me and created an energy inside me that I got a buzz from. I love lifting up the block and seeing the pattern you could make. The more I printed the more enthralled I became. It just created this energy inside me.
Tell us about your career, and how you discovered block printing?
It was very much started as a hobby, I’d take myself off to various workshops from life drawing, children’s book illustration, ceramics and when I went on a block print course it caught me and created an energy inside me that I got a buzz from. I love lifting up the block and seeing the pattern you could make. The more I printed the more enthralled I became. It just created this energy inside me.
From there grew sheets and sheets of paper, then stationary, then I gradually started selling them. It was this journey, the more people purchased the prints, the more I could make, and it suited me perfectly. It’s organically grown to where we are today, working alongside my husband [Rollo, Company Director] and our team, from our studio nestled in the forest in Sussex.
From there grew sheets and sheets of paper, then stationary, then I gradually started selling them. It was this journey, the more people purchased the prints, the more I could make, and it suited me perfectly. It’s organically grown to where we are today, working alongside my husband [Rollo, Company Director] and our team, from our studio nestled in the forest in Sussex.
Where do you find your inspiration?
With the nature of the colours I use, I’m definitely influenced by my surroundings. I live in the middle of the forest and all of these waving trees. Come summer I’ll be surrounded by verdant greens and I’m sure I’ll want to use a lush combination of fresh greens and sunny yellows. I’m so grateful for nature and the constant inspiration it brings.
Where do you find your inspiration?
With the nature of the colours I use, I’m definitely influenced by my surroundings. I live in the middle of the forest and all of these waving trees. Come summer I’ll be surrounded by verdant greens and I’m sure I’ll want to use a lush combination of fresh greens and sunny yellows. I’m so grateful for nature and the constant inspiration it brings.
Tell us more about your commitment to sustainability?
We talk about sustainability a lot in our business, and I prefer to use the word thoughtful. We’re really conscious about what we make and I’d never make anything I wouldn’t have in my own home. Our fabric is organic but we don’t really shout about it. A lot of paints I came across were quite toxic so we decided to make our own, which are water based eco and drain safe.
We can’t help but notice your incredible home. Tell us about your interiors style?
I haven’t studied interior design, and I’m not worried about following any rules. I just wanted a space that’s really warm and welcoming and exciting. I love open shelves and love to see all my books, pans, glassware. I like to think you see quite a lot of us in our home, it’s so expressive. My favourite space is our sitting room, with a huge stone fireplace which we’ve painted, and our pink sofas strewn with tapestry cushions. My happiest moments are when we’ve downed tools and we’re all sitting around the fire with the dog and it’s all very low-key, relaxed, it’s not perfect but it’s the place where I feel most safe and at home.
“We’re really conscious about what we make and I’d never make
anything I wouldn’t have in my own home. Our fabric is organic
but we don’t really shout about it. A lot of paints I came across
were quite toxic so we decided to make our own, which are water
based eco and drain safe.”
Tell us more about your commitment to sustainability?
We talk about sustainability a lot in our business, and I prefer to use the word thoughtful. We’re really conscious about what we make and I’d never make anything I wouldn’t have in my own home. Our fabric is organic but we don’t really shout about it. A lot of paints I came across were quite toxic so we decided to make our own, which are water based eco and drain safe.
We can’t help but notice your incredible home. Tell us about your interiors style?
I haven’t studied interior design, and I’m not worried about following any rules. I just wanted a space that’s really warm and welcoming and exciting. I love open shelves and love to see all my books, pans, glassware. I like to think you see quite a lot of us in our home, it’s so expressive.
My favourite space is our sitting room, with a huge stone fireplace which we’ve painted, and our pink sofas strewn
with tapestry cushions. My happiest moments are when we’ve downed tools and we’re all sitting around the fire with the dog and it’s all very low-key, relaxed, it’s not perfect but it’s the place where I feel most safe and at home.
And finally, what brings you joy?
When I go to India I go solo and feel like a really intrepid explorer and I love that. But when I’m with my family we go to the Isle of Mull on the west coast of Scotland. A place I’ve been going since I was a child. It’s very sentimental, very connected, I always go with my sisters. That is my happy place. There’s something about being on that island where nothing worries me, I’m completely at peace.
Feeling inspired? (Us too). Head over to @Boden_clothing and learn the art of block printing with Molly and her son Orlando.
And finally, what brings you joy?
When I go to India I go solo and feel like a really intrepid explorer and I love that. But when I’m with my family we go to the Isle of Mull on the west coast of Scotland. A place I’ve been going since I was a child. It’s very sentimental, very connected, I always go with my sisters. That is my happy place. There’s something about being on that island where nothing worries me, I’m completely at peace.
Feeling inspired? (Us too). Head over to @Boden_clothing and learn the art of block printing with Molly and her son Orlando.
