From Mood Board to Masterpiece: Why Our Prints Are Always Designed In-House

One of my absolute favorite parts of building Ivy Coast is designing our exclusive prints from scratch.

Not sourcing them.
Not tweaking something already created.
But bringing them to life from nothing.

Every collection begins the same way — with Pantones spread across my desk. I start by pulling the key colors of the season, but I never chase trends blindly. I look for tones that feel coastal yet elevated. Colors that feel timeless. Colors that will still feel relevant hanging in your closet three years from now.

From there, the mood boards begin.

I build each capsule around a feeling. Is she heading to a garden luncheon? A yacht club cocktail? A long weekend away? I pull imagery from coastal landscapes, interior design, vintage textiles, European tiles, chinoiserie panels, woven rattan, trellis gardens — anything that evokes the lifestyle Ivy Coast represents.

And then comes my favorite part.

Taking those abstract feelings and translating them into print.

I love incorporating a strong “core” pattern — stripes, trellis, classic geometrics — something that grounds the collection. These anchors allow the more whimsical prints to shine while keeping everything cohesive. It’s similar to designing a beautiful room: you need balance, texture, structure, and a hero moment.

It’s also incredibly important to me to see the collection as a whole — exactly how it would be merchandised on a selling floor. I design with the rack in mind. Our solids always match back to our prints, creating a complete, cohesive story. Nothing feels random. Everything feels intentional. You can mix, layer, and build a wardrobe within the capsule itself.

Of course, it’s always tempting at industry shows to see stunning prints ready to purchase. The fashion world is full of beautiful things. But for me, having a say in every detail — from scale, to repeat, to color saturation — is what makes Ivy Coast pieces truly special.

When we design in-house, we control:
• The exact Pantone tones
• The scale of the motif
• The repeat layout
• How it interacts with the garment’s silhouette
• How it will photograph
• How it layers across capsules

That level of intention is rare.

And I truly can’t thank my team at @darkroastmedia enough for helping bring these visions to life. From refining artwork to perfecting scale and ensuring every detail translates seamlessly from screen to fabric — they help transform a concept on my mood board into something you can actually wear. Creative collaboration like that is everything.

Because when you wear Ivy Coast, you’re not wearing something you’ll see five versions of elsewhere. You’re wearing a story. A print that was imagined from a mood board, refined through dozens of revisions, and created with a very specific woman in mind.

A woman who values quality.
Who appreciates timeless design.
Who wants something elevated but wearable.
Who understands that exclusivity isn’t about flash — it’s about thoughtfulness.

Designing our prints in-house isn’t just a creative choice. It’s a commitment to originality. To integrity. To craftsmanship.

And to you.