Collection Inspiration
An in-depth look into the research and story behind the Autumn/Winter 2025 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 inspiration, examining the ideas and influences that ultimately shaped the final narrative.
SECRETS OF THE BISON
The central motif was first inspired by the incredible dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and recognises the commercial decimation of the American Bison from 60 million to just 541 by 1889 in an attempt to subjugate the Native American population. The last bison in Oklahoma county was killed in 1876, a date noted within the design.
The illustration features details inspired by hand-laboured American Folk Art objects such as weathervanes and carved decoys. It also references hand-painted parcheesi boards from the American Civil War era; pastimes often painted with rural homesteads and reminders of a simpler life. The design also contains many symbols, signs and flags from fraternal society paraphernalia, which have been re-worked and re-purposed to serve as objects of natural reverence, worship towards the earth, including the Eye of Providence. The beehive flag is symbolising our collective need to work together to protect the natural world, the tent flag symbolises the protection we must offer all species, and the two
pillars represent the strength and stability required to do so.
THE SCRIMSHAW SKELETON
The central motif was first inspired by the poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, through both water-weary descriptions and moral significance; a caution to respect our natural world.
A primary reference for this design were the skulls and bones of American fraternal art, in which skeleton symbols are seen not as morbid, but as an encouragement for virtuous living and reverence for life; The date, 1865, noted within this design marks the end of the Civil War. Many elements of this design are skeletal, from the dried, curling ferns at the top of the illustration, echoing the alligator’s ribcage, to the dried fruits and seedpods, to the skeletal coral on the seabed below, they all serve as beautiful and poignant reminders to protect our natural world.
This design is an indirect sequel to The Alligator’s Empire design from The Naturalist’s Handbook collection, featuring many connecting elements and artful links, including an allusion to The Eye of Providence from the original alligator at the top of the design. This illustration highlights the plight of whales in the 19th century; The carved whale teeth at the base of the design were inspired by Susan’s Teeth, a famous set of scrimshaw teeth inscribed by a whaler from Nantucket, while the carved bone hearts and whales in the borders were a common form of folk art for sailors of the era.
THE WOLF YOU FEED
The central motif was first inspired by the incredible dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and recognises the extirpation and near-extinction of the gray wolf from the United States due to a program fuelled by human prejudice and fear.
The titular phrase within the design references an ancient Cherokee legend; every man has two wolves fighting inside of him. One is angry, greedy and resentful, while the other is kind, peaceful and loving. Which wolf will win? The wolf you feed.
The date set in stone within this design, 1872, represents the creation of Yellowstone National Park, an event which has had a huge impact on the reintroduction of the wild gray wolf. This design features several references to fraktur folk art including the amalgam of Saguaro and other cacti species growing on each side of the central frame. Many of the details were inspired by the art of fraternal societies, re-purposed to represent a reverence for nature, from the Eye of Providence, to the golden fleece and the pillars of strength. Nineteenth century, hand painted parcheesi boards provided references for many of the pattern details, while the plight of the naïve chipmunk alludes to a second, pertinent legend.
