This season, Bird and Knoll have collaborated with New Zealand artist, Lucy Gill to create a print that is inspired by the visionary mood, botanical colour palette and silhouettes of the HS21 collection - an expression of mindful escapism, with abstract, soft and feminine shapes that are floating, balancing, colliding and connecting like a beautiful day dream.

Combining oil painted elements clipped from a new series of paintings and digital drawing, Lucy has created a harmony and alliance of two separate shapes representing “Safekeeping” and being “In Balance”. Rendered onto fresh crisp white and rich navy backdrops of the softest cotton voile, the print is thoughtfully cut and sewn into each garment, ensuring unique nuances to each piece. 

Lucy is a New Zealand artist currently living in Sydney. After graduating with a BFA Hons from Elam School of Fine Arts in 2018 her paintings have been shown at Sanderson Contemporary Art Gallery and The Vivian Gallery in Auckland. Lucy’s painting practice is focused around creating abstract oil paintings inspired by our elusive and immersive thought patterns.

You can shop Lucy's collection of works online at What Lucy Paints.

Mindful Escape offers optimism through the joy of dressing. Sexy and cool, empowered yet relaxed, the strong, positive and assertive new shapes sit beautifully along with Bird and Knoll’s signature romantic silhouettes.

Summer sunlight dappled through trees, sheer fabrics and frills dancing on bare arms, fields of wildflowers and a warm and wistful botanical vibe – these whimsical feelings inspire the earthy glamour of the collection.

An upbeat palette of deep hues balanced with soft shades are translated into dresses and separates in crisp cottons and sheer silk blends. These same colours have been artistically interpreted by artist Lucy Gill and rendered into a sophisticated “Mindful Escape” print.

Inspired by the visionary mood, botanical colour palette and silhouettes of the HS21 collection the print design is an expression of mindful escapism, with abstract, soft and feminine shapes floating, balancing, colliding and connecting like a beautiful day dream.

Bird and Knoll have always been inspired by a sense of wanderlust, referencing intrepid and beautiful destinations within their collections - this past year has asked us all to find that sense of escape, joy and inspiration via alternative pathways, through romanticising memories, and exercising our creative spirit.

These prints combine oil painted elements clipped from a new series of paintings and digital drawings by Lucy that enhance the vision, equilibrium and elevating mood of these prints.

Against the fresh crisp white there are tones of dusky rose, midnight navy and sand. Then against the rich navy backdrop there is a beautifully painted caramel, alongside deep olive, and soft pale pink printed on a gorgeous soft cotton voile that hangs effortlessly against the body.

As the print is thoughtfully cut and sewn into each garment, there will be unique nuances to each one with no two dresses being exactly the same. Across the beautiful silhouettes these original prints are designed to bring a breath of fresh air to your wardrobe, with a spirit of optimism and spontaneity to be treasured for years to come.

“Safe Keeping”

Held together in a hovering balance, this painting shares the harmony and alliance of two separate shapes. The generous, serene background provides calm, akin to a spacious mind, allowing our thoughts to rise and fall, converge and part in a natural way. The gentle brush strokes of the rich caramel shade provides subtle texture and the delicate space curving between the two shapes elevates and refines both elements. 

“In Balance”

This painting shares the playful connection between two unique and charming shapes. Cocooned together in partnership, they belong, reliant and balanced around and within one another. Floating in a space of delicate soft pink these beautiful shapes hang effortlessly together. There is a communication shared, as between thoughts which move and relate in the mind. Light gestural brush strokes are a lovely reminder of the hand painted humanness of the work.