L’avion is an Australian boutique accessories brand dedicated to offering a unique, desirable product, with custom designed artworks and illustrations being a key feature of their products. We spoke with Australian illustrator Kelly Smith and Jo Scahill from L’avion about how they came together to colaborate on the beautiful ‘Plume’ scarf for the Flora and Fauna collection.
How was it that the two of you came together to collaborate on this project?
Kelly Smith: I was approached by Jo Scahill, the creator of the L’avion brand, to work on a scarf design for her newest collection entitled ‘Flora and Fauna’ alongside fellow illustrators Sarah Hankinson and Spiros Halaris.
I was given the ‘Plume’ brief which was all things feathery and floaty and together we came up with the idea of a sort of miniature world of ‘Thumbelina’ esque girls set amongst giant feathers and blossoms.
Jo Scahill: L’avion is all about offering unique collectible products that are limited edition. I love the idea of working with artists and print designers to bring my ideas to life. My inspiration for the range was a modern twist on animals and flowers and Kelly’s work fits this theme perfectly. Not only is her portfolio of work amazing, she is super lovely as well
What did you get most out of working together?
Kelly Smith: It was such an amazing experience to work on an illustration that would eventually become something tactile and wearable. As important as the artwork and the detail is, it becomes just as much about the overall aesthetic when the garment is folded/worn/tied etc. Colour placement is crucial. So that in itself was a new but exciting challenge. I’ve also been slightly overwhelmed by the response. It has been so positive, people seem to love that idea of “wearable art.” It has definitely been one of my all-time favourite projects to date. In fact we will working together again on something a little special in 2012.
What do you love most about projects like this one?
Kelly Smith: Definitely the challenge in creating something wearable, and being a part of such a unique brand. I love that Jo is so passionate about the artwork – it’s such a pivotal component of her brand that each scarf is individually illustrated by various artists around the world. They each have their own stamp and aesthetic but work together as a whole. I also love the freedom that this sort of collaboration allows, working to a brief that is pretty much tailor-made for you. Even though you’re working within the confines and colour palette of the entire collection, there is still so much room to experiment and put your own stamp on it. It really is a dream project.
Jo Scahill: I love meeting and working with new people and giving artists a different way to showcase their talents.