Summer Afternoon: The Jo Malone x Marthe Armitage Home Collection Is Just The Sweetest Thing

I believe that a huge part of my job is to be a storyteller; to use words in order to describe passion, evoke emotion and encourage action. Whether you're a wordsmith or a painter, a photographer or a designer, we all use the skills at our disposal to tell a story that transports the reader or viewer to somewhere else entirely. This summer Jo Malone (the ultimate in fragrance storytelling) have created a partnership that is akin to the best kind of stories. Marthe Armitage is an artist and wallpaper designer who's been living and working in London for over 60 years; she draws, cuts lino, mixes paint and prints using a vintage press entirely by hand, creating timeless designs that instantly transport you back to a simpler time when playing on the lawn was the only thing you had to do that day. Having attended the Chelsea School Of Art in the early 1950's, Marthe spent many decades perfecting her art and honing her skills - only to fully reach notoriety in her 70's. Now 87, her unique designs and hand crafted art has been used within films and displayed at some of the most prestigious galleries, showing that we can all achieve our dreams no matter how long it takes us.


Rather quintessentially, Marthe's partnership with Jo Malone London is inspired by the ingredients in the brand's elegantly simple scents and Henry Jame's belief that the two happiest words in the English language are 'summer afternoon'. The entrancing haze of an English summers day has been captured in a unique hand-drawn and printed design that runs through a capsule collection of products, including these delightful scented drawer liners. Marthe has designed a 'repeat pattern' in three different colour ways (printed not only on the products but the packaging they're sold in,) which makes this collection covetable in more ways than one. It may not be to all tastes (you can either look at it as old fashioned, retro or kitsch!) but the designs certainly stand out and make fabulous gifts for all ages.

Seeing as she's most well known for her wallpaper, it seems appropriate that drawer liners were top of the list when it came to the collaboration; although a rather vintage way of keeping clothes fresh, I just love the idea and have always kept a little scented something in my knicker drawer. However, if drawer liners aren't your cup of tea then there's a frosted glass bath oil, deliciously decorated candle and repackaged travel soaps to whet your appetite too. The design features trees, floral arrangements, croquet players, bee hives and so much more besides; half the fun is trying to spot the different elements to the story while breathing in the scent of Red Roses. Although there are no new scents (just the packaging is limited edition,) it's definitely worth taking a few minutes out to discover the collection and get to know Marthe a little better. Her artwork tells a story you'll be glad to read.


The Jo Malone x Marthe Armitage Home Collection is available now, priced from £30.00 and including soaps, bath oil and a candle. The drawer liners are priced £36.00 for six.