A Sustainable Umbrella

In July, Frances Costelloe, a London based illustrator celebrated for her freeline drawings of faces and flora, embarked on a creative partnership with BLUNT Umbrellas. Their collaboration resonated deeply, with Costelloe’s half Kiwi heritage aligning naturally with BLUNT’s legacy of championing New Zealand talent.

The result was the limited edition BLUNT Metro canopy, transformed through Costelloe’s hand into a serene artwork titled Calming Cornflowers. The design, featuring cornflower blue paisley motifs rendered with soft brushstrokes and playful doodles, evokes a sense of freedom and vibrant calm. “It has converted me from a raincoat girl to an umbrella in a bag kind of person,” Costelloe remarked, capturing her own delight in the functional beauty of the finished piece.

Her creative process was equally thoughtful and exploratory. Costelloe visited the V&A Museum, the world’s largest institution dedicated to art, fashion and design, in search of inspiration. With sketchpad and camera in hand, she perused its archives of fabric, ceramics and glassware, settling on a paisley pattern that reminded her of a psychedelic dress she once loved. After many sketches, she honed her vision into a reinterpretation of that motif, ultimately selecting a striking blue reminiscent of her cherished cornflower, a hue meant to uplift even the greyest rainy day.