How We Design

The Oasis Collection

After introducing Fun in the Sun, our first Sunbrella collection, I wanted to follow up with more stripes that would complement Veranda and Patio Stripes, and explore a shadier, more netralled palette. On a visit to Palm Springs I found my inspiration. Surrounded by desert, the town was developed around an aquifer that provided an oasis in the dry mountain terrain. Palm trees and brilliant flowers provide cooling respite from the heat. Courtyards are common as they provide the perfect indoor/outdoor entertaining environment.

I began playing with color combinations and possible pattern relationships that would tie the two collections together. I wanted to be sure that all four patterns would work together.

Using construction paper and a paper cutter, I created numerous stripe combinations until I found two that complemented the existing patterns.

We received the sample blankets and cut out our favorite combinations. As always, the blankets are unrolled on our studio floor for study. Several colorways needed tweaking.

The mill re-wove the selections and we did a final pattern/color check with the Fun in the Sun collection. We wanted new colorways we hadn't done before (like the lime Pergola) but they still had to fit with Fun in the Sun.

The final result: New warm tones in Courtyard and Pergola, ready for introduction.