PATTERNITY x John Lewis: A new monochromatic collection for your home and lifestyle
“We want to use pattern to encourage people to slow down, be more mindful and appreciate the world around them.”
It is this very concept that inspired Patterns for Positive Living, a collection designed by PATTERNITY for John Lewis. The collection comprises more than 100 items for the home and body and, in classic PATTERNITY style, is exclusively monochrome.
But it isn’t just a bold aesthetic that makes the collection stand out. Where possible PATTERNITY has used both sustainable materials and manufacturing methods to create the collection. Many of the products are made using unbleached linen, organic cotton and recycled yarn. The duo also introduced multi-use products, such as rugs, that can be used both indoors and outdoors to maximise usage.
As the collection launches online and in select John Lewis stores, we caught up with Anna and Grace to get the inside scoop.
The collection includes more than 50 products, how did you approach designing such a large collection?
Grace: We first sat with the buying and design teams at John Lewis to explore different fabrications, materials and textures. We then discussed what materials were the most positive – exploring low impact linen, organic cottons and recycled materials. Being heavily involved in the product specifications and drawings, as well as liaising with the suppliers, was a first for us. Next we had to work on creating a design language that would work across lots of different product types. The collection didn't start on this scale and grew really organically but we were conscious to ensure the full range had been carefully considered and would work as a united whole. There have been many rounds of designs and fit sessions, and a chance for us to fine tune and input right through to sign off. It was a super collaborative process working with John Lewis’s specialist skills and uniting it with our patterns and philosophy. We have deep gratitude for all the ideas and hands that have brought it into being. We never could have done this project alone and it’s a wonderful and humbling reminder of the power of collaboration to create something greater than the sum of its individual parts.
What is the connection between pattern and wellbeing?
Anna: Our pattern designs are very simple but there’s a lot more to them than what you see on the surface. At PATTERNITY we explore interconnectivity and encourage people to be more mindful of the shapes and textures that make up our planet Earth. Whether you look through a telescope or a microscope, life is made of forms and shapes that repeat over and over. It is a wonderful and curious thing.
Since PATTERNITY started our message has always been closely linked with wellbeing. We want to use pattern to encourage people to slow down, be more mindful and appreciate the world around them each day. Our mantra while designing this collection has been the importance of sustaining the self. We’ve been exploring the rituals, habits and behaviours that evoke sustainability in the context of wellbeing, for both the individual and society. This collaboration invites people to look within, relax and create daily rituals such as meditation or reflection. These rituals help to break the busy autopilot mode that we often live In and find moments of ‘being’ amidst the constant ‘doing’.
You’ve made sustainable choices with regards to materials and manufacturing where possible, tell us more about the process of making the supply chain more ethical...
Grace: Where possible it was really important to explore sustainable choices with regards to materials and manufacturing – unbleached linen, organic cotton and recycled yarns. We have also introduced multi-use products, such as rugs, that you can use both indoors and outdoors, and low environmental impact materials and processes such as organic cotton towels, wool and linen cushions.
Tell us about the inspiration behind the Ripple, Ritual, and Reflect patterns...
Anna: Our collaboration is a celebration of structure and flow coming into balance and its positive effect, which is a core part of our wellbeing journey.
Grace: Since the beginning, we have found pattern inspiration everywhere. At first, we noticed the structure that we see around us – circles, lines, triangles and squares that make up the static buildings and the shadows of our city. We created a design language with these trusted geometric elements, seen in the trademark RITUAL, REFLECT and REPEAT patterns of the collection, that creates a rhythm and evokes a sense of balance, structure and strength. Secondly, we observed the flowing forms and nature’s patterns of expansion and contraction which are represented in the FLOW pattern. These encourage relaxation and liberating meditative states of mind, body and behaviour – often easier said than done in modern living. These two visual patterns interweave across the home and fashion collections as they do in the fabric of our lives.Why was focusing on athleisure wear important for the fashion side of the collection?
Anna: A core part of our brand ethos is to encourage people to live with more awareness of the behavioural patterns that shape their lives. We love exploring ways to help people to be fully present in the world around them and design habits and behaviours (meditation, rituals and wellbeing practices) that can become part of their day-to-day. A big part of positive living is the power of moving the body and engaging more with the natural world around us, which naturally leads to athleisure.
The collection is also a reflection of how we like to dress – layering practical but stylish pieces in relaxed, comfortable silhouettes that move with the body. We hope these pieces will allow smooth transitions in daily life – to suit a relaxed meeting, a walk in the park, cycling to meet friends or yoga after work. There's no need to transform and change in order to relax and create the daily rituals that we believe are so important for wellbeing.
What are each of your favourite pieces from the collaboration and why?
Anna and Grace: In fashion we really love the mantra garments that inspire people to notice and reflect on their personal patterns of thinking and behaviour, the combination of cosy bold knitwear and sleek outerwear in fashion is also a real favourite. In home, the organic cotton pieces are beautiful as they help people to integrate positive patterns in both an aesthetic and an ethical way. The multi-use rugs are exciting for us as they can transition between indoor and outdoor living spaces and the cushions allow people to create their own individual positive pattern collections at home. Finally, creating the fragrance scents was such an adventure and we really feel they will help people to create patterns of daily relaxation and appreciation in their busy day-to-day lives.
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