This June, we feature our Citizen Blue collection that draws on inspiration from travels on the sea. We put a spin on classic stripes with playful graphics or a bow tie. We were inspired by all things nautical like sand dollars, anchors, sea gull and submarines. We envision our Tea little citizens putting on these fun styles and going out to the backyard to play pretend. Live by the seashore ? Take these styles for a spin on the boardwalk or for an afternoon sail!
Inspiration can stem from anything; an inanimate object, a person, a taste, smell or a sound. When inspiration stems from art, it has many layers. An artist is inspired and creates a beautiful piece, which a viewer in turn can be inspired by. This was the case when our team traveled to India. Our designers saw the works of a Madhubani artist and fell in love with the technique and design. Madhubani painting is a style of Indian painting, practiced in the Mithila region in Bihar, India. The painting is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, or matchsticks!
Our team was lucky enough to get in contact with the artist, Pradyumn Kumar. He allowed us to use his tree design on our Mithila Tree Graphic Dress and even custom designed the artwork on our Madhubani Floral Graphic Tee.
Monkeys are everywhere in India! But beware, not all are as cute and friendly as they may seem. Some monkeys have been known to swipe your jacket or hat when you aren’t looking. These mischievous monkeys were the perfect inspiration for our playful graphics on our boys and little girls tees. See the story behind the inspiration…
Image of Agonda Beach courtesy of Goindia.com.
Goa is a coastal gem found in west India bordering the Arabian Sea. As the smallest state in India, over 80% of Goa is compromised of beaches with swaying palm trees, deep blue water and sandy beaches. Both locals and tourists make the trip to discover the beaches many different attractions. Check out our newest swim styles inspired by these beautiful beaches!
Modern India takes great care and pride to retain the extraordinary refinement of its many palaces, old temples and ancient forts. We’ve fondly named our newest delivery, Paisley Palace. From the stunning marble dome of the Taj Mahal to the ornate arches of the Mysore Palace to the spectacular paintings that adorn the Amer Fort, there is no lack of inspiration in the architecture in India. Many of our designs in this collection are named after these great palaces! Take a look at the history of these great sites to better understand the story behind the design.
The Amer Fort was built by the conqueror Raja Man Singh who ruled from 1590-1614 AD. On our visit here, we rode painted elephants and admired the red curtains that framed the fort. We were inspired by the elaborate painted motifs on the walls and ceilings in the Jaipur City Palace.
Animals play an important role in our designs at Tea Collection. When we traveled to India, we were fortunate to go on a river safari through the Kabini Forest Reserve in Nagarahole National Park in Karnataka, located in southwest India. Karantaka has long been a favored destination, dating back to the 1800’s when viceroys, rulers and members of the British East India company would come to hunt. Today, the animals are fiercely protected and the reserve operates as an eco-tourism resort and wildlife preserve. The guides hope to inspire the guests and help them understand their role in preserving the gifts of nature. It was an amazing way to see the landscape, interact with the safari guides and get an up close look at all the wonderful animals indigenous to India!
The Kabini Forest Reserve has a lush green landscape that surrounds a large river. Many people flock from all over to have a chance to see an elephant or at times, a tiger! We rode in a jeep through the forest to try and spot monkeys, birds and deer.
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a German expressionist painter & printmaker from Bavaria. Kirchner was one of the founding members of the group ‘Die Brücke’ and we were lucky enough to see several of his pieces in person during our visit to the Brücke-Museum in Berlin.
