Siobhan Bradfield

Swimwear

3. Watercolor illustration of various flowers and leaves, displaying gentle hues and fluid brushstrokes for a fashion print collection.

Print Design

Hand – Drawn Prints „Autumn Whispers“ The Quiet Magic Behind Every Hand-Drawn Print There’s a certain kind of quiet that happens before I start drawing — that soft, held-breath stillness right before the first brush of colour meets paper. It’s the sound of intention. Of wanting to capture something fleeting… a moonlit reflection, the rustle of wind through trees, the golden hush of autumn. These are the small, magical moments that live in my prints. From Paper to Pattern Every print I create begins by hand – with watercolour and textured paper. I sit surrounded by reference photos, pressed leaves, or notes from a walk. The paint moves differently every time – sometimes loose and fluid, sometimes steady and patient – always guided by how I feel that day. When the drawing is finished, I scan it into my computer and open it in Photoshop. This is where the digital and the handmade meet – where I refine colour palettes, layer shapes, or build a repeat that turns a single brushstroke into a flowing textile. It’s a careful balance – keeping the warmth of the original while shaping it into something ready to live on fabric. A Human Touch in a Digital World In a time where so many images are generated in seconds by AI, I find something deeply grounding about making things slowly. The slight imperfection of a hand-drawn line, the texture of water pooling on paper – these are the tiny marks that tell a story. They carry presence. They carry emotion. And that emotion travels with the design – from my studio, into the fabric, and ultimately into the garment. It becomes something you can feel, even if you can’t name it. For the brands I work with, that human touch becomes part of their story too. A hand-drawn print stands apart – it’s not just decoration, it’s identity. It tells the customer, this piece was made with care, not code. Why Hand-Drawn Prints Feel So Different There’s a subtle magic in knowing no one else can recreate the exact same brushstroke or shade. When a brand chooses a print made from a real drawing, they’re choosing uniqueness – a one-of-a-kind rhythm that stands out in a sea of sameness. It’s this rarity that makes your customer pause, look closer, and connect. They might not know why it feels different…   only that it does.   Because behind that pattern is a real person – one who noticed the light shifting through the trees or the way mist moved across a field, and decided to capture it. Print Stories Each print carries the trace of those quiet, inspired moments – nature, personal experiences, and small scenes that stay with me long after I’ve left them. Translating them into textiles feels like preserving a piece of wonder.   And when a fashion brand brings that print to life – turning it into a dress, a shirt, a collection – that wonder travels even further. It becomes wearable poetry. The Beauty of Slowness Maybe that’s what feels most special about hand-drawn prints today — the slowness. The intention. The human pace in a world that’s racing ahead. Creating by hand reminds me that art doesn’t have to compete with technology – it can offer what technology can’t: soul, warmth, and connection. And for brands who care about telling stories through design, that’s what makes a collection unforgettable.   Let’s Create Something Beautiful Together If you’re a small fashion brand looking for prints that feel personal, poetic, and deeply human – I’d love to collaborate. Let’s create something that carries your brand’s story, one brushstroke at a time.   ✨ Contact me here to book a free discovery call to discuss your next prints! I’d love to make your next fashion collection something special and bring those sales in.

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Mood board featuring vibrant nature photos, Pantone color swatches, and color blocks in yellow, light green, and coral. The text reads 'Print Design and Mood Boards' and 'SS26.' The tone is creative and inspiring.

Print Design and Mood Boards

The Difference Between A Pretty Print And One That Sells Why Moodboards Matter More Than You Think When most people think of print design, they picture sketchbooks filled with patterns or designers working magic in Photoshop. But here’s the truth: before I ever draw a line or choose a motif, the real magic begins with something far less glamorous — research and moodboarding. This step often goes unseen, but it’s the foundation that makes the difference between a collection that looks pretty and one that actually sells. Moodboarding isn’t about throwing together a Pinterest collage of nice colours and patterns. It’s a strategic step that connects your brand, your customer, and the final product. Here’s what happens behind the scenes: I dig into trend forecasting platforms, colour reports, and even archival references to see where the market is heading. I explore nature, textures, and cultural influences that can bring freshness to a collection. I test how different colour palettes could tell your brand story across swim and activewear. The goal? To create a clear visual language that sets the direction for your prints — and keeps your collection consistent and recognisable. The Common Misconception Many small business owners assume a textile designer just “makes something pretty” based on preference. But here’s the thing: a print collection designed without research can look scattered, off-trend, or not aligned with the audience you’re trying to attract. A moodboard solves that. It’s the roadmap that ensures every stripe, floral, or geometric element fits into a bigger vision. Collaboration in Action When I work with clients, I don’t just keep the moodboard to myself — I share it with you. This gives us a chance to align on direction before we dive into design. You get to see how trends, colours, and references translate into a strategic plan for your collection. That way, you’re not guessing. You know exactly why your prints look the way they do, and how they’ll resonate with your customers. Why This Matters for You If you’re a small business owner in swim or activewear, this behind-the-scenes step is what helps your collection feel intentional and market-ready. Instead of ending up with designs that clash or don’t quite land, you walk away with prints that feel cohesive, on-trend, and aligned with your brand. It’s not just about design — it’s about setting you up for confidence when you launch. Ready to See It in Action? If you’ve been dreaming about a print collection that feels cohesive and truly represents your brand, let’s start at the beginning — with research and moodboarding. Let’s talk. Get in touch with me today to chat about your vision, and we’ll build the creative direction that brings it to life.

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Collage with abstract and natural elements: a blue marbled bodysuit, crystal, icy textures, and serene lake scene. Text reads "AW 24/25" and "Coloro 129-35-18.

Colour of the Year 2025: Future Dusk

WGSN and Coloro have announced their colour of the year 2025. Future Dusk has a mystical character and plays with the themes of escapism and change. It is a hue between blue and purple. The colour is with the code Coloro 129-35-18. Purple has always been a colour that speaks to mystical themes – being a colour of spirituality. Future Dusk has a relation to that but goes deeper in a way that includes technical themes that play a role in our life and will be much more present in the future. We are already experiencing deeper connections to tech themes compared to the world before Corona – everything made a jump with people working at home and seeing each other digitally even more – giving the world even a stronger sense in regard to globalisation. Future Dusk touches on topics like AI generated content – as well giving a secure and calm vibe in contrast – as blue is known to be a calm, cold and grounding colour. In this world that is progressing digitally rapidly fast and inflation is taking it’s place – colours have an influence – what kind of print is being used. What kind of colours people are wearing. It has an immediate impact on how people feel. Blue has always been a colour that has an calming effect and stands for a reliable and confident expression. For prints blue is a good combination with other colours – depending on the shade it can be combined with many other colours and can give a print design just the calm composition that is needed to reassure the customer in this uncertain world. Click here to find out how to work with me on new prints for your swim or activewear collection including Future Dusk as a calming but still mystical colour – making the customer curious to buy your clothes. Photos: Canva Finding the right colour for prints can be a long process and development. Trends can help to make this decision easier and faster. Whether you are looking for a pattern that is an addition to your current swim or activewear collection or you are looking for new prints for your upcoming collection – I’ve got you. I work in Illustrator and Photoshop with hand-drawn and digitally-drawn flowers and other elements. Are you wondering how to translate this trend into print design ideas? Let me help you with a custom print for your brand – click here to contact me and learn more about working together. Giving an idea of what topics and elements could relate to this trend: futuristic elements, the mystic trend theme, marble prints, including gradients vs sharp edges in abstract prints, and transparencies using dark colours. Write me an email at in**@**************ld.com to book a free inquiry call.

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A collage with silver star confetti, pastel pink-gold marbled swimsuit, silhouette of person by a curtain, ocean sunset with a crescent moon, and golden stars on black, labeled "SS24.

Mystic Print Trend SS24

This is a special print trend that I fell instantly in love with. Because I am a big fan of astrology this trend is one that is close to my heart and I am about to make many prints out of it. It is a trend regarding the stars, the moon, the sun and the universe. It touches on astrological themes and is related to a mystical feeling. As the stars are so far from us we can only imagine how they would look close up. This trend emerged from people feeling stressed, having anxiety, it is a longing for calmness and a sense of bringing nature closer again. It is a trend that is not specifically tied to one season, it is something that occurred in the past and will be seen in the future because it is a topic that is present at all times. Prints that are suitable for this trend: Colours that can be naturally combined with this topic are blue, yellow, even gold and silver – giving the print a mystical feeling. But also calm colours like a terra cotta peach. Because this is a summer trend I do also recommend using bright colours with for example white backgrounds. Aesthetics that I recommend for prints are: making use of elements, like stars, the moon, clouds, structures like marble that excite and give a sense of magic and mystic. Fine lines in contrast to abstract colours. Playing with items and categorising in star signs is a wonderful way to give your customer something customised and special. Are you excited about this trend and want to have prints that are magical and will bring you in more sales? But you are unsure what the prints could look like? Lets talk – write me an email at in**@**************ld.com and see how we can work together.

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