Endless days spent outdoors, bathed in sunlight and embracing freedom. Our Spring Summer 2024 collection, Outdoor Pursuits, celebrates the communal experience of stretched-out summers, of connecting with nature and with each other. We take inspiration from a collective that comes together to play and toil, living between open spaces and sparkling water, flourishing gardens and hand-built cabins.
Giving over to the lost art of rest, our womenswear collection features loose, easy silhouettes in cotton twill and linen, made for whiling away afternoons cooking and conversing. Meanwhile, durable chore jackets and utilitarian trousers absorb the scrapes and stories gathered when working cooperatively, be it amongst the soil in tended-to allotments or handcrafting with woodland-foraged finds.
Trailing florals are mixed with woven checks and sailing stripes to give a sense of spirited spring mornings. A palette of lovage green, marigold yellow and wheatgrass ecru reflect the vibrant summertime shades found in the great outdoors.
Our menswear collection starts from a place of connection – both with nature and each other. “Inspired by the common bond of growing and exchanging produce from the sanctuary of a communal garden,” says TOAST Menswear Designer, Catie Palmer.
Balancing practicality and play, hard-wearing canvas woven in Italy and sturdy jackets crafted from waxed cotton protect against the elements, while abstract foliage patterns and hand-painted bucket hats bring levity to utilitarian pieces.
As we journey through the season, a sense of time spent outdoors is realised. An eclectic mix of clamp-dyed geometric patterns, twisted yarn sweaters and patchwork block prints hint at cabin life and textiles reclaimed over time. Fresh spring shades of artichoke green and mustard are grounded with earthy tones of pebble and sand, complimented by flashes of nectar pink and flask blue inspired by the surrounding landscape.
Fabrics begin to soften with French-woven linens, while colours appear sun-bleached from natural mineral-dying techniques. Leaf-inspired ikat prints come together with a playful nod to traditional camping attire, from utilitarian silhouettes to patch-pocket shirts and rope detailing.
“Our colour palette is very much inspired by nature,” says Head of House&Home, Judith Harris. “Earthy tones and natural materials are balanced with abstract decoration in modern forms to give a contemporary feel.” Cushions in abstract painterly florals and loosely marked stoneware jugs evoke a sense of expressive freedom.
A playful outdoor existence is realised as we journey into spring. “We were inspired by a life of simplicity at a lakeside cabin.” A daybed strewn with cushions and quilts hints at a slower pace of life. “Layering is key,” she says. “Stripes are mixed with cross-stitched embroidery and patchwork quilts as if collected over many summers."
As spring turns into summer, we gather together outdoors. Organically shaped functional tableware in muted tones is mixed with hand-woven napkin rings and table linens for an informal setting. Hand-thrown jugs and bowls decorated in marbled glazes and splatter slipware techniques add texture - a collection designed to be mixed and matched and enjoyed both indoors and out.
Photographs by Jo Metson Scott.
Shop the TOAST Spring Summer 2024 Womenswear, Menswear and House&Home.
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