Meet the designer behind our brand-new collection, ‘Duckling’

Tell us more about Welcome to the World, Duckling…

At Mamas & Papas we’re synonymous with bringing loveable characters to the forefront of our ranges. I wanted to create a unique take on a duckling character. Having recently returned from maternity leave, I had a whole new perspective and source of inspiration. Our trends research brought up lots of beautiful moons, clouds and stars - as well as really tactile boucle and borg fabrics - so I brought these themes together.

There are some unusual fabric choices in the collection – how did you choose these?

We worked really hard to capture lots of different fabrics across the range. We’re always looking for premium quality fabrics that feel soft on a baby’s skin. We also like to add fabric interest through tactile textures, premium quilting and embroidery techniques. So, you’ll notice the dreampod is a beautifully supple wadded pointelle jersey which provides a soft cocoon for baby to sleep. The buttery smooth jersey fabric gives a nice contrast to the fluffy textured boucle in the cot mobiles and toys.

The collection has a signature palette of warm shades. Are parents moving away from greys?

Yes. We’ve definitely witnessed a shift away from cool greys - neutral tones have become warmer and more earthy. Colour trends usually start in fashion - we’ve seen beige, caramel and chocolate tones dominate – then filter through to interiors. We chose a soft pebble colour for our Duckling quilt – it’s a calming shade for a gender neutral nursery.

To get the look and feel of this collection in just 3 key pieces, what should you choose?

A cot mobile, the fitted sheets and a Duckling toy. The musical cot mobiles are both decorative and functional: parents can make a real visual impact while also giving baby some calming lullaby music! I designed two mobiles, so our customers have a choice- either the super soft baby ducklings or the dreamy clouds and moon. And our soft toys start from just £8.

Which M&P furniture range lends itself to this collection?

The neutral colour palette in the Duckling range lends itself well to all our furniture ranges, but our favourite pairing is with the Harwell range - in either the off-white or the cashmere shade.

What are your top styling tips to make the most out of this collection?

Add some colour to the walls, to add depth to your space. A warm pebble tone provides a calming colour for baby to relax. I’m currently obsessed with wall panelling; I think it’s timeless and can really elevate a space.

I would add then some fabric interest through fabric mixing. We’ve given this range lots of tactile textures, which enables parents to mix and match their favourite pieces to give a more eclectic style with lots of textural highs and lows.

Trust your instincts and own sense of taste. View your nursery as an ever-evolving space that can grow with your baby. Have fun picking out the bedding and décor pieces to create your theme but don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have it finished for baby’s due date. I enjoyed layering the toys and sentimental pieces to give a unique and personal finishing touch.

The M&P design process in action…

‘Our Soft Goods team (which covers clothing, interiors and toys) gets together to discuss trends and themes we think will resonate with our customer. Then we go away and focus specifically on Interiors, Toys and Gifts, collating our research into Mood, Fabric & Detail boards, really homing in on the key elements that will make our products unique to M&P.

I research from a wide range of sources – from trade shows in Paris and shopping trips in London to the world of art and fashion, to Instagram and Pinterest!

I’ll present ideas to our Product Director and Buying & Merch teams for initial feedback, before developing the colour and fabric palette. I draw up print motifs and embroideries - I always strive to try new techniques and fabrications – making sure everything stays true to our distinctive M&P quality and handwriting.’