Starting out with hand-rendered printing techniques, the Sophie Darling label was launched in 2013 and has slowly emerged one print at a time into the distinctive brand we find today.
As well as their online store, the Sophie Darling shop can be visited in Brighton. A welcoming and diverse city – renowned for its culture, creativity and sustainability ethics – it makes an ideal location for the Sophie Darling HQ and studio which shares these qualities.
This is a studio that prides itself on using local craftspeople to create handmade garments from stunningly unique repeat pattern illustrations.
We are not just about fashion; we are about print, expression and versatility."
‘Slow fashion’ is the mantra for this label. Focussing on high-quality designs over trend-driven clothing, these pieces are timeless. The classic bomber jacket reinterpreted with beautiful modern illustrations is a perfect example!
Sophie’s illustrations, inspired by Japanese wood block prints are given a contemporary twist with colour, shape and composition. The silhouetted elements of her designs build into a repeat pattern ready for print.
By studying the fascinating history of the bomber jacket Sophie has added her own chapter using modern repeat pattern designs to create stylish garments. Whether worn with a pair of jeans or over a tailored dress, they are so versatile.
Here at The Silk Bureau we are very proud to print Sophie’s illustrations onto the finest Silk Crepe de Chine which is used to create relaxed but luxurious everyday wear.
Tracking the design through the factory from print to processing. The many stages of creating digitally printed fabrics is fascinating to follow.
Sophie Darling | 07866 4232266 | Studio 11, Beaconsfield Workshops | 25 Ditchling Rise | Brighton | BN1 4QL
Videos: Silk Bureau Ltd
Photography courtesy of Sophie Darling
Shop:
27 Gloucester Road | Brighton | BN1 4AQ
Monday – Saturday 10:30 – 5:30
Sunday 11:00 – 5:00
© The Silk Bureau Limited 2024
The processes involved in digital textile printing causes the original fabric to shrink. If you are printing scarves, the size of the finished product will be important to you. For example, if you have square artwork, you will be expecting your finished scarf to be square!
To get the printed fabric closer to the size you need, all fabric intended for scarves must go through an extra step to reshape it. Please allow extra time on your deadlines to allow for this process.
Let us introduce you to the …
The stenter is an enormous piece of machinery that has many uses, including coating our fabrics and reshaping scarf orders.
After travelling through a solution to soften the fabric, it then passes over a flat bed, gripped on the selvedge edges to pull it back into shape.
It’s a long and precise process that needs to be carefully monitored.
If you have selected to use our hemming service, we will check the stentered fabric for you before we begin to finish your scarves. If you are not using our service, it’s up to you to check the size BEFORE you cut out the individual scarves from the fabric length. We cannot re-size after your scarves have been cut out.
