This week the RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place, as well as an exclusive exhibition featuring Pat Albeck's work. Read on to find why we are embracing all things floral.
The Chelsea Flower Show attracts over 157,000 visitors every year, inspiring people with dramatic and beautiful flower and garden displays. It was originally named the Royal Horticultural Society Great Spring Show and was first held in 1862. It moved location to the Chelsea Hospital, where it has been since 1912, renamed to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The stunning displays of flora challenge our conceptions of nature and garden design and influence future trends. This celebration of spring, new life and the beauty of nature is enjoyed by millions, whether by those fortunate enough to attend or, like most of us, from the comfort of our homes on television.
Embracing all things floral, we are re-introducing this beautiful floral print, exclusively designed by renowned artist, Pat Albeck.
Back by popular demand, this cheerful blouse embodies summer and is a celebration of the Cotswold countryside. Made in collaboration with a family-run mill in Cheshire, the design was printed onto swathes of pure cotton and then cut and sewn into the beautiful pieces shown above, according to our in-house design specifications. Whether styled casually with jeans as an over-shirt or tucked into a chic skirt for a more refined look, this statement blouse is sure to turn heads this summer.
Pat Albeck started out in her career designing for Horrockses in the 1950s, going onto to design for John Lewis (the 'Daisy Chain' print is one of her most famous), the National Trust and many other famous brands. With over six decades of design experience we were thrilled when she agreed to design a print for us.
Pat designed this exclusive print for us in her picturesque Cotswold cottage, where her studio is overflowing with fabulous prints that she is working on and overlooks her garden. She feels she is experiencing her own renaissance as vintage prints rise in popularity.
Her Cotswold cottage and garden provide her with plenty of inspiration for new prints. She is devoted to her passion: going out everyday to pick a flower and draw it. When asked which was her favourite flower, she said that she likes "each flower as it comes", especially zinnias, sweet peas, lupins and waterlilies but her favourite flower is the rose, so we were not surprised that the print she designed for us featured an abundance of gorgeous roses.
Pat Albeck's latest work will be on display at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler's latest exhibition, 'A CUT ABOVE', featuring 20 of her pieces.
Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler was founded in the 1930s and is the longest established interior decorating firm in Great Britain, as well as one of the most respected. Founded in 1938 by Lady Colefax, a glamorous socialite and interior decorator, who drew upon her childhood in India and European travels for inspiration when decorating.
Their impressive showrooms on Pimlico Road host Pat's intricately crafted paper flower collages from Monday, 22nd May to Saturday, 27th May 2017, during the Chelsea Flower Show.
Pat's latest work is a result of experimenting with a number of different techniques and by doing so she has "discovered that cut paper is my very favourite technique.”
Whether you are in Chelsea this week for the Flower Show or not, be sure to visit Pat Albeck's latest exhibition. For more details, click here >
Did you know, we also created a beautiful skirt in the same print? Take a look here or read more about Pat's exclusive print >
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