If you were asked to draw 'fun', what would it look like? It is a word so commonly used in the English language, yet a direct visual representation is elusive.

The Greek island of Hydra (Idra) is an apt representation. Travelling to this destination in the summer of 2024, we found unexpected creative inspiration. From the turquoise blue waters outside the DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art to the white and orange houses lining Hydra's cobblestoned ports, colour, fun, and a sense of bliss awaited around every corner.

Hydra, it was discovered, is the embodiment of earthly hedonism. The word 'hedonism' is derived from ancient Greek for 'pleasure'. On the island, mornings were greeted with a clear blue sky. Walking along an ancient pathway to the island's various swimming holes, the dusty orange and green cliffs were punctuated with white buildings decorated in citrus-hued trim. Afternoons were spent melting your body into a rock along the shore, cooling off in the turquoise ocean, then resolving the day with a fresh sunset beverage. Come evening-time, the island's creative and glamorous inhabitants dressed in their Mediterranean finest to dine and dance the night away at one of the port's intimate and joyous taverns. Hydra was a place where time - 'Forá' in Greek - was an afterthought. There, it nearly disappeared.

Inspired by this idyllic paradise, we wanted to partner with an artist to bring a visual representation of 'fun' to life through art. Coincidentally we had recently attended an art opening at the Bomb Factory Art Foundation's Marylebone gallery space, where we fell in love with painter Laurence Watchorn's work. His curved canvases, joyous use of colour, and spirals (a Blue Nude favourite) were the perfect match. 

Laurence's work investigates how sound, rhythm, and time can visually permeate a canvas. He had recently travelled to the Greek Islands as well and shared the desire to create a collection of mood-boosting clothing that was destined for fun. 

During five months of visits to Laurence's Chelsea-based studio, we extracted motifs from his large-scale canvases to pair with the collection's pieces. On a sensual maxi dress, a lime-green bodice is accentuated by a white body of silk and bamboo, punctuated at the hip with one of Laurence's orange and green abstract motifs. More of Laurence's canvas elements were selected, extracted, and reassembled on a white silk twill for a button-up. Finally, we returned to hand-painting for another limited-run t-shirt - a colourful piece ready for this summer's adventures in the sun.

On the sustainability front, we experimented with a new fabric innovation - plant-based stretch fabric. Previously, we had avoided using virgin stretch fabrics (unless surplus or upcycled) as they contain lycra or elastane. These materials are plastic-based, do not decompose, and are difficult to recycle. We were delighted to come across a corn and lyocell-based fabric with natural stretch. With this, we crafted an easy, summer-ready halter wrap top with a sweetheart neckline. 

Forá is a representation of time, or lack thereof, and how the pursuit of fun can make it disappear altogether. 

Coming soon.