Ins and Outs
“Performance fabrics are a great fit for my brand because I strive for family-friendliness, eco-friendliness, and encouraging creativity and a relaxed vibe in the home.”
--Justina Blakeney
Friends:
It’s the Madcap Cottage gents, Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke, your Calico brand ambassadors and “hosts with the most.”
Our talented pal Justina Blakeney, the mastermind behind Jungalow and other “jungalicious” home and fashion brands, recently launched her new collection of performance fabrics, Inside Out, that—as the name suggests—works both indoors and out. The colors! The patterns! The textures! The functionality! The UV resistance! Plus, the fabrics are environmentally friendly.
We were smitten with the collection at first glance, so we called up Justina to get the back story on this high-impact collection that captures the California native’s passion for seamless indoor-outdoor living.
MADCAP COTTAGE: Tell us about the genesis of the collection and your inspiration.
JUSTINA BLAKENEY: My new Inside Out fabric collection was designed to bring a fun burst of color and pattern into homes, both indoors and out. The patterns, colors, and textures were largely inspired by my world travels, my love of nature, and a growing urge to inject the world with a serious dose of vacay vibes!
MC: What makes this collection special and different?
JB: All of the prints on the fabric are from my original artwork—mostly watercolors and some ink drawings. Inside Out fabrics are also highly textured, which is rare for a performance fabric. The combination of hand-done artwork with the nubby and super-soft hand—as well as the unparalleled performance aspects (from bleach-cleanability to UV resistance)—is pretty amazing. Also, the collection is eco-friendlier than the leading performance fabrics—and that is truly a step in the right direction for the beauty and sustainability of not just our homes, but the world at large.
MC: What was your goal with the collection?
JB: I believe that our homes should serve as a haven from the outside world, and that we should feel relaxed yet inspired, creative, and free to be ourselves. My collection aims to further that cause!
MC: What are your favorite patterns in the collection?
JB: Too hard. I love them all!
MC: Tell us about the color ways in the collection.
JB: The colors were designed for foolproof mixing and matching. I’m all about that layered look and combining botanical prints with geometric prints. Whether you want a more subdued palette or something more bright and jungalicious, we got you!
MC: How would you suggest the Calico consumer approach the collection?
JB: I think that you should go into your local Calico store and feel the fabrics. You will be astonished—as I was—with the rich colors and textures. The fabrics are so luxurious—I have never seen performance fabric like this before.
MC: You have recently purchased a new home (so exciting!), how will you be using the collection?
JB: We are in the process of re-doing our whole outdoor area, and we will be mixing and matching fabrics for shade structures, chaise lounges, and, of course, a whole slew of pillows and bench seating. It’s going to be very, very jungalicious!
MC: Can you offer some tips for mix and matching with the new collection?
JB: Again, we made it foolproof, so pick a color family and have at it! You can’t go wrong. Have fun and experiment, and the colors will shine together!
MC: Might you share a few favorite patio transformation tips as we move into summer.
JB: Don’t forget to draw color inspiration from the views and the natural world around you! If you have lots of yellow flowers in your yard, consider choosing fabrics with yellow hues. If you have lots of green, perhaps create contrast with a few warmer tones.
MC: Most importantly, do you have a signature summer cocktail recipe that you wouldn’t mind divulging the recipe for?
JB: Oh, indeed I do! Here you go:
Justina’s Mango Mojito
Ingredients
8-10 fresh mint leaves
2 brown sugar cubes
1/4 cup mango, cubed
1 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
2 ounces mango rum
2 ounces club soda
Ice
Directions
In a cocktail shaker or pint glass, muddle the mint leaves, sugar cubes, and mango until the mint leaves are crushed and the sugar is mostly dissolved. Add lime juice and rum. Shake or stir to combine. Fill serving glass with ice. Add the muddled mixture, and top off with club soda. Garnish with the mint sprig and a mango slice. Enjoy!
Thank you, Justina!
John and I are off to make a cool cocktail and kick back on our Calico-refurbished patio.
