Why Nature Inspires the Best Prints

At LOVE BRAND & Co., every print begins with a story from the natural world. From our mens printed linen shirts to our patterned swim shorts, each is hand-drawn by Founder Oliver Tomalin and inspired by the wildlife, landscape, and oceans we work to protect.

So let’s take a journey through the history of nature-inspired patterns and dive into why we’d never stray from them.

The History of Floral Prints in Fashion

Florals have been brightening wardrobes for thousands of years. Like a lot of fashion, their story starts in Ancient Egypt. Decorative patterns would often show meaningful flowers like the lotus, closely tied to rebirth, purity, and beauty.

Fast forward to the late medieval period, and flowers began to bloom across fabrics themselves. In 12th-century China, artisans embroidered intricate floral motifs and nature-inspired scenes onto clothing. This trend quickly swept through Asia and the Middle East before making its way to Europe thanks to the Silk Road.

As textiles evolved, florals became more accessible. One of the biggest breakthroughs came with glazed calico, a cotton-weave fabric that originated in 15th-century India. It was often characterised by its intricate block-printed designs, a technique we still use at LOVE BRAND & Co. today.

Then came the Industrial Revolution, which completely transformed the textile industry and made printed fabrics available on an unprecedented scale. Suddenly, florals began to flourish everywhere.

And flourish they did. From the iconic Liberty prints of the 1920s to the bold Hibiscus patterns of Hawaiian shirts in the 1940s, and the carefree flower-power era of the 1960s, every era found its bloom. And today, floral prints are as popular as ever.

Translating Oceans, Greenery and Wildlife Into Clothing Prints

The natural landscape itself is, and has been for years, creating constantly changing patterns. From rippling waves to the shadows of palms across the beach.

It's the same story with wildlife. With the intricate designs of coral, seashells and beautiful formations of birds flying in the sky, natural patterns are all around if we look for them.

And it isn’t just patterns; landscapes provide such a rich colour palette that we needn’t look anywhere else. The golden sunsets of the best beach holidays, the deep blues of the ocean and rich tropical greens from jungle excursions, inspiration is all around.

Combining these creates the perfect canvas for clothing, whether that be geometric shell prints in the colours of the ocean, or repeating palm leaves in vibrant greens.

Wearing Prints With Purpose

Every LOVE BRAND & Co. print tells a story, and every sale saves a sanctuary. Take our hero ‘Elephant Palace’ print, for example. At first glance, the print appears to be a series of Indian palaces. Look closer, and you’ll find these palaces are actually elephants raising their trunks together.

This illusion print is inspired by the charity Elephant Family, a charity we’ve supported since inception and still continue to. They lead enduring and pioneering projects promoting the peaceful coexistence of humans and elephants.

Since day one, we have given a percentage of our revenues to wildlife conservation projects, like Elephant Family, helping wild elephants and other endangered wildlife.

Thanks to our customers, so far we have supported over 10 remarkable conservation charities donating to environmental projects around the world.

So the next time you pull on one of our printed linen shirts or a pair of printed swim shorts, remember, you’re not just wearing a pattern; you’re wearing a story and helping support the natural world.