Xanadu

A Botanical Journey Through Heritage and Memory

Xanadu emerges from the lush heart of tropical imagination, taking its name and inspiration from the Philodendron xanadu – a plant whose very existence speaks to the interconnected nature of Caribbean, Colombian, and Venezuelan landscapes. This collection represents a botanical pilgrimage, tracing the roots of this magnificent plant back to its origins while celebrating the cultural tapestry that connects these vibrant regions.

Created in my North West studio, Xanadu becomes a bridge between my Kittitian and English heritage, weaving together the tropical abundance of my Caribbean ancestry with the craftsmanship traditions of British garment making. Each piece is a love letter to this duality, honoring both the lush vegetation of my grandparents' homeland and the skilled artisanship of my chosen creative home.

The Language of Leaves and Storm

The Philodendron xanadu, with its distinctive lobed leaves and architectural beauty, becomes the visual narrator of this collection. But these aren't simple botanical illustrations – they're emotional landscapes painted in fabric. The rich, verdant forms speak to growth, resilience, and the way Caribbean culture has flourished and adapted wherever it has taken root.

Accompanying the xanadu are other tropical plants that populate the Caribbean imagination – each leaf, each bloom carefully observed and lovingly translated into wearable art. These prints capture not just the visual beauty of tropical flora, but the sensory memory of Caribbean gardens: the humidity that clings to skin, the overwhelming fragrance of flowering trees, the dappled light filtering through broad leaves.

The collection's crowning achievement is the Storm Print, a striking fusion of traditional marbling inks and hand-inked sketches, later refined through digital manipulation in my North West studio. Inspired by my experiences of Caribbean weather, this print captures the raw power and hypnotic movement of tropical storms, offering a dynamic contrast to the serene botanical imagery typically associated with the region. Despite its bold, expressive energy, the Storm Print remains true to the warmth of Caribbean colours, blending intensity with vibrancy in a unique artistic interpretation of nature's most dramatic force. It reminds us that Caribbean beauty encompasses not just tranquil beaches, but also the awe-inspiring power of weather systems that shape island life.

Craftsmanship Meets Consciousness

Xanadu showcases our unwavering commitment to sustainable fashion through made-to-order production. Every garment is meticulously crafted only after it's been ordered, eliminating the waste that plagues conventional fashion manufacturing. This isn't just an environmental choice it's a return to the traditional relationship between maker and wearer, where each piece is created with intention and purpose.

Working with ethically printed fabrics sourced exclusively in the UK, I ensure that every step of the production process aligns with our values. The tactile quality of these carefully selected materials enhances the botanical prints, creating depth and movement that brings the tropical imagery to life on the body.

Femininity as Cultural Expression

The silhouettes in Xanadu celebrate femininity as both personal expression and cultural inheritance. These designs honor the strong women who carried Caribbean culture across oceans, who maintained traditions while adapting to new lands, who passed down stories through recipes, songs, and the way they moved through the world.

Each piece invites the wearer to connect with their own narratives and memories whether that's the grandmother who tended a small tropical garden in Manchester, the aunt who could make any house feel like a Caribbean home, or simply the universal longing for places that exist more powerfully in memory than in reality.

Nostalgia and the Poignant Ache of Beauty

Xanadu embodies what I call "joyous remembrance" the ability to find beauty in longing, to celebrate what was while embracing what is. The collection captures both the idyllic nature of tropical paradise and the complex emotions of diaspora: the simultaneous joy of cultural pride and the gentle sadness of distance from homeland.

This emotional complexity is woven into every design choice, from the way prints flow across the body to the colors that shift between the bright optimism of Caribbean sunshine and the deeper, more contemplative tones of memory.

Xanadu invites you into a world where ethical fashion meets cultural richness, where every thread tells a story, and where wearing art becomes an act of cultural celebration and environmental consciousness.