Fable England, Natural History Museum Partner for AW24

Fable England, the British heritage brand known for its jewelry, accessories and sleepwear, has partnered with the Natural History Museum to create an exclusive fall/winter 2024 capsule collection. The 38-piece collection, featuring hand-painted enamel jewelry, silk scarves, signature Fable England bag shapes and luxury sleepwear, is dominated by an exclusive print inspired by historical botanical illustrations. 

The collaboration between Fable England and the museum showcases their shared passion for nature and British literature. The team was granted access to the museum’s collections of artworks, manuscripts and rare books from which they drew inspiration. A key influence on the collection was the work of Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th-century entomologist and illustrator whose groundbreaking studies on insects revolutionized scientific understanding of their lifecycle.

Merian’s 1705 publication, “Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium,” was the first-ever scientific record of the process now known as metamorphosis. The hand-colored plates have gone on to inspire many natural history illustrators, artists and entomologists.

The collection’s standout feature is the Floral Engravings print, an abstract botanical design that combines elements from Merian’s illustrations and her daughter, Johanna Helena Herolt’s, work. The print’s contrasting borders were taken from Alfred Waterhouse’s architectural blueprints for the Natural History Museum.

Natural History Museum x Fable England Collection

“When the opportunity arose to collaborate with the Natural History Museum, we were thrilled; it was the perfect partnership for Fable England to collaborate on such a special capsule collection for AW24,” says Vanessa Radley, creative director, Fable England. “The highlight for me was the unforgettable experience of being invited to the museum’s rare books library and meeting with their special collections manager, Andrea Hart, where an array of priceless rare books had been prepared for the design team to look through from the archives. I was particularly delighted to (carefully) leaf through their illustrated nature studies of botany, entomology and ornithology.”

“A remarkable story unfolded when researching the life work and studies of Maria Sibylla Merian, whose pioneering and adventurous spirit is an epic tale; she embarked on the first recorded expedition for the sole purpose of scientific research and discovery at the age of 52,” says Radley. “Her unique story unfolded further when I learned that some of the artwork selected to create our hero print, Floral Engravings, were the work of one of her daughters, Johanna Helena Herolt, whose illustrative studies have often been mistaken for her mother’s.”

“Given our aligned values and dedication to sharing the wonder and beauty of the natural world, it should come as no surprise that we’ve collaborated on a marvelous collection showcasing the work of Maria Sibylla Merian – a true pioneer for women in science,” says Maxine Lister, head of licensing, Natural History Museum.

“Creating a collection which is both sustainable and beautiful was and continues to be key for both Fable England and the NHM, and this new collection is no exception, with sustainably sourced materials including TENCEL, recycled PU and recycled nylon,” adds Lister.

The Floral Engravings collection will be available at Fableengland.com starting in early September.