Behind the Label | Poplin

?There?s no reason why you can?t look wonderful while you?re relaxing.? Such is the mantra that defines Poplin, the luxury lounge wear label by designer Lucy Archibald. Based in Mumbai and London, Archibald sources locally produced artisanal silks and cottons to create distinctly British sleepwear. The East-meets-West design intersection makes the young label one to watch in the realm of progressively global brands.

?There?s no reason why you can?t look wonderful while you?re relaxing.? Such is the mantra that defines Poplin, the luxury lounge wear label by designer Lucy Archibald. Based betweem Mumbai and London, Archibald sources locally produced artisanal silks and cottons to create distinctly British sleepwear. The East-meets-West design intersection makes the young label one to watch in the realm of progressively global brands.

 

1.  What is the overall inspiration for "Poplin"?

India is a real inspiration to me. For me that's not a literal translation into "ethnic garments", but I find the energy, colour and design tradition of India incredibly inspiring. When I walk round the fabric markets my mind starts overflowing with ideas! I really have to edit and focus. 

 

 

Image courtesy Poplin

 

I'm British and I think there's a sort of controlled sense of style that appeals to me, almost like the school uniforms we all have to wear (and hate) as children in England. There's a street in London called Jermyn Street near the London Library (which is an old, dusty place and one of my favourite haunts) and it has all these old-school "mens outfitters" which I love looking in. They're like time capsules, and I find myself incorporating some of these classic menswear elements into my POPLIN designs. 

 

Image courtesy Poplin

 

2.  What made you decide to focus on Lounge Wear?

I think great pyjamas really improve your quality of life! They're not necessarily about showing off, but they're about feeling (and looking) amazing in your downtime. Like lots of women, I'm quite a home-orientated person so designing loungewear comes very naturally to me. 

 

It's one of the most relaxing and luxurious things in the world to come back from a long day, change into your pyjamas and then cook, read, watch a movie, hang out with your boyfriend... With POPLIN I wanted to fill that particular wardrobe need for a fashionable girl whose life is about so much more than just fashion!  

 

It's a happy coincidence that pyjamas are now having such a big style moment! 

 

Image courtesy Poplin

 

3.  How does your design process work?

If I wasn't working in fashion I would be doing something literary, infact I majored in English Lit. at Oxford, so I find myself starting with a story; I imagine what my character would be wearing, and a whole world that she exists in- for SS13 its her imaginary wallpaper that is the starting point for the perfect dressing gown. 

 

From there I look at fabrics and colour combinations and I explore how particular fabrics will work in different shapes. Handling and draping fabric is absolutely key to my design process. Lots of my ideas grow that way, rather than starting with pen and paper. Sometimes it's quite impulsive- the Marlene style came to me in a flash!  Once I have that creative foundation I try to balance it with more pragmatic concerns and make sure that there are a range of pieces that will work for different body shapes and ages, because while I think there is a "POPLIN woman" she is not defined by age or size. I spend a long time tweaking the cut to make it as comfortable and as flattering as it can be- that combination is key to perfect loungewear! 

 

Images courtesy Poplin

 

4.  What is on the ?Poplin? mood board? You name your pieces after iconic women- why?

 

 

The Poplin mood board is pretty eclectic, there are ... 

- Stills from 'Breakfast at Tiffanys'

- The perfect indigo blue Keralan sunset

- Tim Walker's photographs of mad English country houses 

- 1920s men's silk dressing gowns 

- Jean Shrimpton in the '60s

- Classic Campari Soda packaging

- Black and white images of colonial India...

 

 

I know it sounds cliched, but I am really inspired by women who have confidence in their own sense of style. The different styles are named after them. There's the bold pink and white stripe inspired by the joie de vivre of Iris Apfel, the masculine silk set influenced by Marlene Dietrich, a playful sexiness that inspired the short Bardot nightshirt..

 

6.  Which is your favorite "Poplin" piece?

I basically live in the nightshirts- they are so useful! And I find a longer length shirt so flattering on a woman's body. But my "wow" piece is the Marlene set. It's weighty, hand-printed silk satin and it falls like a dream. It's sexy without being cliched. And I love that you can lounge in it at home or toughen it up with leather or denim and wear it to go out.

 

Image courtesy Poplin

 

7.  What is next for "Poplin"?

We're working on some gorgeous accessories and a cashmere collection to compliment our cotton and silk loungewear. POPLIN's ideal is timeless, covetable design and that's an endless learning process. I hope we're improving all the time...  

 

To shop the Poplin Collection, please click here.