Behind the Print

For this Spring/Summer season, we aimed to design a bold floral print that is both vibrant and colorful. Our goal was to capture the essence of summer, offering versatile pieces that seamlessly transition from day to night while ensuring they remain beautiful and breathable.

The wild peony print was created by one of our beloved independent artists, known for her graceful watercolour designs. We have a long-standing relationship with her and find her distinctive fluid handwriting seamlessly intertwines with our style. The moment we saw the peony print, we knew it was something special.  We resized and recoloured her design, and adapted it to fit various mediums in our collection, from luxurious silks to versatile tote bags and intricate embroidery. 

The collaboration with stylist Gayle Rinkoff was inspired by her deep alignment with NRBY, valuing bright colours and easy summer dressing. Our initial meeting with Gayle was a whirlwind of inspiration, drawing from her childhood memories of cross-stitching and passion for textiles. We wanted to create a collection that was vibrant and versatile with a showing-stopping print piece for the summer, calling to event season but also embodying NRBY’s ethos of comfort and natural materials. 

Naturally, the wild peony silk print dresses became the centrepiece of the collection.  To create something dramatic and impactful, we enlarged the peony print to cover the majority of the silk dresses, creating a high-end and eye-catching piece. We also developed a smaller scale version of the print for the belt and shoulder straps, as it’s all in the details, considering how they will look on different bodies, the effect of movement and the occasions at which they will be worn. The watercolour print was used on our 100% silk Sheena & Ines dresses,  creating a chic and airy style with unmistakable charm. to event season but also embodying NRBY’s ethos of comfort and natural materials. 

For the embroidery, we redesigned the peony into a cross-stitch pattern that resonated with Gayle and our love of unique needlework. We transformed the design into various sizes, tactically placing them and paired it with cross stitching to trim the edges.  Tying in the warm hues of the wild peony print, we paired the embroidery with a rich geranium shade for the linen Petra and Deia, then contrasted in white with Leonie & Alba making the peonies pop. 

The mix of NRBY and Gayle’s signature bohemian style adds a twist to our natural fabrics and classic shapes, bringing to life a collection that is as vibrant and unique as it is timeless and comfortable. The peony print was transformed from watercolour painting into becoming the heart of our collection, infused with the essence of summer and our passion.