BEST OF BRITISH
Johnnie Boden & Molly Mahon
Both renowned for their joyful, pattern-rich designs, the duo teamed up to create a range of Boden women’s and children’s wear featuring Molly’s prints
Johnnie Boden CBE is the founder of the famed clothing company Boden which he set up in 1991 and is now a staple of British wardrobes. In spring 2022 the brand teamed up with Molly Mahon, founder of the eponymous design studio known for its block printed patterns across fabric, wallpapers and other home accessories. The pair collaborated on a one-off, limited-edition collection of colourful floral prints on women’s and children’s wear after Johnnie reached out to Molly via Instagram.
Molly I remember when we first discussed a small capsule collection where it was my print designs and Boden’s brilliant clothing. I think we both felt aligned even before beginning.
Johnnie Yes, we really got on quite a lot straight from the off, didn’t we!
M You’ve been so generous with me from the very start. I won’t be able to list all the tips that you gave me but as a small, young business with great ambition, being able to talk to you is an amazing opportunity and one I’ll always be grateful for. You’ve certainly got the wisdom!
J Well, I’m not so sure about that! I must say that when I look at your brand I’m truly full of admiration of how you’ve kept very true to your original vision which, as I know from experience, can be very difficult to hold onto.
M That’s so kind of you. I’ve always loved Boden and even beyond the brand itself, it was how you presented it. It definitely stood out with the very Britishness of it and it was the way you didn’t just design and sell clothes, but you built a whole interesting picture and lifestyle around them. I remember hearing you talk with Charlie Gladstone on his The Mavericks podcast and I hung onto every single word you said.
J Oh yes, that was a fun interview! I actually did another podcast recently, Conversations of Inspiration, with Holly Tucker, founder of notonthehighstreet.com.
M I’ll listen to that, too. In the podcast it really seemed that you started your brand for fun.
J And I’m still doing it for fun! Even though it doesn’t seem that way all the time.
M Ican relate to that because I didn’t start my brand with the aim of creating a money-making business. I began my company after having had my children and I needed to be creatively busy and to keep myself fulfilled, so I tried lots of outlets and then I came across printing and it’s just slowly gone on this expansive growth.
J What else did you try before block printing?
M Oh, I did children’s book illustration, life drawing, oil painting… But when I began block printing there was just something about it.
