From provenance to pigment
An in-depth look into the research and story behind the Spring/Summer 2026 collection.
In a two-part series, we will be taking a closer look at the research that accompanied Sabina's latest collection. We begin with the research process and the
colour influences that shape the final narrative.
RESEARCH
Prior to beginning the raw illustrations, there are weeks, often months, of research before Sabina puts pencil to paper. Visual references are vitally important, but the heavy, written books form a weighty element of this investigative chapter. Research includes (but is not exclusive to) visits to libraries, galleries and archives; speaking with experts, scouring the internet and devouring texts and essays.
Fairytale Di Firenze was no exception. Many portraits from the Renaissance period contained not only symbolic details within the imagery, but hand-painted typeface sharing key information about the sitter and the year the painting was completed. For this collection, fictitious information for each of the protagonists is accompanied by a reference to key artwork relating to each design.
COLOUR
Once the study collateral is collated, the physical moodboard is next to breathe life into the collection. As a visual culmination of Sabina´s learnings, it forms a patchwork of tapestry of detail and colour, bringing every element of the research together.
This season the colour palette is dominated by a base of soft pastel hues, finding depth through the sharp contrast of silvered metallics and glassy textures that mimic a kaleidoscopic prism. Rich, symbolic pops of colour pierce through the airy fresco-like atmoshere, creating a visual language that feels simultaneously ancient and surreal.
Please keep an eye out for our next newsletter, where we will be delving into Sabina´s fictional narrative, with a first look at never-seen-before illustrations from Fairytale Di Firenze.
