I moved house recently, to a different part of London. My new commute to the studio takes me on the Overground, winding its way through the overgrown allotments of North London. Every morning, I find myself staring out the window at the joyful chaos of courgette flowers, peonies, wooden canes and rudimentary scarecrows — all jostling together, vying for space. It’s this glorious, unkempt mess of private green spaces, glimpsed in passing, that inspired my new In The Greenhouse print design.
Sometimes I don’t really know what a print is about until it’s finished and I look back through my camera roll, a digital scrapbook of snapshots and saved moments. Among the images that shaped this sleepwear collection were photos of Cedric Morris’s garden, grown from seed; the Cecil Beaton exhibition at the Garden Museum; a ride on It’s a Small World at Disneyland; and a trestle table piled with colourful tomatoes at the local farmer’s market (which I frequent often, but never really buy anything from — because I never really cook). I keep them all in a folder called Work Inspo.
When I think about those allotments, I often return to the Voltaire quote: "Il faut cultiver notre jardin" — "we must cultivate our garden." This print is a homage to those who quietly carve out a bit of space and time to create something beautiful. Whether in a greenhouse, an allotment, or a sketchbook, it’s all an act of care.
Karen x
In The Greenhouse – Pink stripe Cotton Pyjama Set – £170
In The Greenhouse – Green Linen Pyjama Set – £175
