Sarah Richardson’s inspiration focuses on carnivorous or ‘man-eating’ plants and their devious character. For all life, survival of the species is paramount. To achieve this the natural world is constantly adapting and evolving in response to ever-changing environments. Richardson was attracted, much like their prey, by their flamboyance and ornate and decorative appearance. These plants can act as monsters of the natural world as they use their evolutionary techniques of trickery to lure their prey in, before trapping them with their dubious surface textures. Each carnivorous plant is uniquely and skilfully designed to catch the eyes of the natural world in order to thrive and this was depicted within each of Richardson’s textile pieces to create a visually endearing outcome.

Richardson’s collection celebrates a terrible, dark beauty in uniqueness. Inspired by the plants ruthless yet successful survival techniques, Richardson created a collection of repeat prints to portray a sense of continuous growth, whilst using scale to create visual impact and mirror the captivating qualities of the visual source. The printed textiles have been developed digitally while retaining hand-drawn qualities and a lively variety of marks within bold compositions to translate the twisted and complex personality of the carnivorous plants. The collection is digitally printed onto a range of tactile materials, from thick linens to delicate satins, to achieve unique statement prints. Additionally, this collection builds upon the printed designs by creating dynamic textures through embroidery and embellishment techniques, both delicate and loud, to enhance their striking aesthetic.

The collection is designed for couture inspired, high fashion womenswear. Brands like Delpozo and Richard Quinn are key influences with relation to their use of artisan hand processes and bold prints. Through the use of contrasting textural fabrics and added depth through three-dimensional surface details create a tactile experience much like the dangerous and intelligently designed surfaces of some of nature’s most intriguing plants. Overall, Richardson’s work aims to captivate the viewer through a bizarre and playful form of printed textiles as well as emphasise the power of print to tell a story through a garments surface and structure.