THE LOOKBOOK
A COLLECTION INSPIRED BY NATURE
Over the past two years I’ve become a keen amateur forager and spent less time in London in favour of the countryside. I’ve spent sizeable amounts of time outdoors learning about and looking closely at plants. I’ve become more sensitive to the different shades of green around us in contrast with the brilliance of flowers, and the variety of textures and shapes in the natural world. You can see the influences of this interest in the colours and patterns I’ve designed this year.
"The inspirations for this collection are personal and representative of how my life has changed from 2020. I have to say, these are my favourite parasols so far. For the previous two collections, thanks to Covid, I was unable to travel to sample in person and it was hard to produce designs without being on the ground to experiment and make alterations. Being able to go to India in March 2022 to create this collection was very emotional, I had tears in my eyes when I met the screen printer, stone carvers and block printers after two years away."
Lucy Ferguson
Designer & Founder
INTRODUCING OUR NEW ROUND BAMBOO PARASOLS
"This year I’ve found myself drawn towards darker blues, greens and teals and floral prints"
Having spent the past 6 years making parasols in all the colours of the rainbow, this year I’ve found myself drawn towards darker blues, greens and teals and floral prints, reflective of the time I’ve spent poking around in patches of vegetation and on the banks of estuaries. The grey and pink design (Maya) was inspired by misty morning plant picking. I created a pattern with curls like the heads of new growth fern fronds, and the collection’s prints have an abundance of colourful flowers and shapely petals.
LEXHAM OCTAGONAL PARASOLS
"My grandfather was a keen collector of ceramics and had a prized William de Morgan painted tile which I now own. I took inspiration from the whirls on his design to create this organic and painterly pattern which looks like the curled heads of new fern fronds."
I was delighted to design parasols for West Lexham in Norfolk where they have created a tranquil wonderland of sustainable architecture, biodiversity, biodynamic food production and retreats around a beautiful lake surrounded by billowing clouds of flowers all summer long. Spending more time in Norfolk with its red clay brick work and roof tiles has brought terracotta into my colour lexicon and I enjoyed playing with colourways and patterns to complement the architecture, taking inspiration from details on William de Morgan tiles.
NATASHA COVERDALE COLLABORATION
I collaborated with Natasha Coverdale, a Brighton-based artist, who creates vibrant otherworldly pieces. We created the Natasha Round Bamboo Parasols in two colourways, pale and dark. They’re magical and whimsical with a floral design which is so vivid that it almost feels like a coral reef.
"I’m a huge admirer of Natasha’s creations, they’re colourful, whimsical and joyful- on exactly the same page as the parasols. We both got incredibly excited about what we could create together and the design she produced was beyond my wildest dreams."
DAISY & POPPY PARASOLS
"Making this collection has made me fall back in love with my business after a challenging couple of years. I truly love the Poppy Octagonal Parasol with its jazzed up chintziness and chartreuse tassels. It took countless sketches, hours and ink mixes to create the perfect colour combination and lift it from frump to fab."
The Daisy Octagonal Parasol is a step into a new palette for East London Parasol Co. It has a dramatic print with the white flowers, pistachio green leaves, dark background and deep green tassels. I love how dark green works in a garden, it’s strikingly chic - and this parasol introduces pattern and texture which will be both stylish and easy to style.
"This year we’ve gone for a cottage feel with fine stripes, floral patterns and frilled edges. The cushions are block printed by hand in Jaipur, India on beautiful quality cotton. They have a frilled edge, a pattern on the front and a striped back so you can flip them over to change the look."
ATHENA OCTAGONAL PARASOL
These designs are the product of two places which inspire me - the natural world and the British Museum. The Athena Octagonal Parasol pillar print came from a rough sketch I did in the great covered atrium of the British Museum, and our new carved sandstone palm base is inspired by the bas-reliefs of ancient Assyria.
MAYA ROUND BAMBOO PARAL
This new grey and pink design was inspired by misty morning plant picking. I created a pattern with curls like the heads of new growth fern fronds, and the collection’s prints have an abundance of colourful flowers and shapely petals.
THANK YOU
This collection was a joy to produce and has renewed my love for my company. After over two years being unable to sample in person I travelled to India and Bali to see the makers and create the new designs. Working with skilful people, mixing dyes, creating prints, sketching tassels, sharing food, travelling long distances, all to make ever more beautiful pieces is a humbling experience. The creation of these parasols, bases and cushions is so much more than a business, it’s a network of talented artisans across the globe making wonderful objects by hand to bring cheer, colour and creativity to our customers.
