KAYLL’S HAND-PAINTED KIMONOS DRAW INSPIRATION FROM AROUND THE WORLD
By: Erica Commisso
Art and fashion have always shared a deep, dynamic relationship—both serving as powerful forms of cultural expression and visual storytelling. Wearable art however, is a unique fusion of fashion and artistic expression, where garments and accessories transcend functionality to become moving works of art. It allows the wearer to not only dress themselves with curated style but also express identity, emotion and imagination—turning everyday movement into a creative performance.
Bridging art and fashion, designer and artist Jessica Kayll features hand‑painted floral prints that are digitally printed onto luxurious silk tailored kimonos and swimwear. Kayll’s love of travel inspired her artistry so much that it is literally woven into her work. Each item acts as a wearable canvas — a delicate fusion with hand-painted botanicals and brushstrokes that transform silk into a living, breathing masterpiece.
Source: Kayll
Each of her ready-to-wear pieces is made from 100% silk, digitally printed and made in England. The digital printing, she says, is her favorite part of her process. It involves hand-painting unique designs that then get transposed onto each garment she creates, resulting in whimsical, colorful pieces.
“Hand-painting the KAYLL prints is undoubtedly my favorite part of the brand. It is the core DNA of KAYLL. Painting the prints is how it all started, as I was a textile designer before launching the brand,” she says. “Each print takes anywhere from a week to a month to create from scratch until developed in the final layout for the fabric. Sure, it is labor intensive, but it is such a joy to devote that amount of time into each piece of the collection.”
In order to create her whimsical, hand-painted designs, inspiration comes from the whimsy of the world, which she finds through her passion of traveling. “I have always been a naturally curious person. I love to travel when I can and get out of my comfort zone. That’s where I really find my best inspiration,” she says. “Whether it is discovering traditionally patterned ceramics in a market in Morocco, or just the feel of a new sleepy coastal town am exploring in Europe, I try to incorporate the feeling of a place into my work.”
The first launch, the kimonos, were so successful that she expanded to unveil a swimwear line made of Econyl, a sustainable, regenerated Nylon made of ocean plastic. To create Econyl, items like discarded fishing nets and plastic bottles are melted down and then re-woven into fabric, which Kayll then digitally prints her designs onto. The swimwear, she said, came as a natural extension of the robes, thoughtfully executed to represent her brand.
“We had customer demand for a line of swimwear with our signature prints, and of course, there is a lot less fabric with swimwear than the long kimono robes,” Kayll explains. “So we decided to create some particularly bold prints for the swimwear line, which complement the prints of the robes so they can be worn together.”
Source: Kayll
Hand-painting designs and then using digital printing means Kayll can stay true to the ethos of her brand, offering sustainable, travel-inspired pieces that flatter a woman’s figure without compromising modesty. Her kimono design, for example, was born out of a desire to find a solution for comfort on the beach. “I love the draping, comfortable shapes of kimono robes and how they flatter the female form,” Kayll says. “They’re so easy to slip on at home making coffee or over swimwear at the beach. The robes worn over swimwear allow for women to feel more confident on holiday by not being as exposed - and they provide great sun protection, something I take seriously having British skin. I burn so easily if I am not covered up with a robe.”
Kayll credits her development as a designer - particularly her hand-painting skills - to her time working at Alexander McQueen. “My years spent as a designer at McQueen shaped me, not only as a fashion and textile designer, but also as a person. The hours are grueling and it's not much of a work-life balance, but it is such a privilege to go to work every day to work in such a talented group of people - all working collectively to create beautiful collections every season,” she says. “McQueen was where I honed my hand-painting skills as I created print designs, and I was given lots of freedom to experiment and develop my work. It was a joy to work there.”