{"id":112851,"date":"2016-05-17T09:17:33","date_gmt":"2016-05-17T13:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin-fsmag.paceinteractive.com\/?p=112851"},"modified":"2018-06-21T16:54:13","modified_gmt":"2018-06-21T20:54:13","slug":"tory-burch-design-inspiration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fourseasons.com\/magazine\/discover\/tory-burch-design-inspiration\/","title":{"rendered":"Around the World With Tory Burch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It’s hard not to be\u00a0bitten by the travel bug when you grow up hearing stories of your parents’ journeys around the world. As a child, Tory Burch was enthralled with the adventures of her parents, Buddy and Reva Robinson, who for six weeks every summer set off by steamer ship for Morocco, Italy, France, Greece and beyond.<\/p>\n

They\u00a0instilled in Burch a desire to travel, explore and learn.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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My parents raised me with the knowledge that the world is a wonderful place. The more you learn, the more you want to know. \u2013 Tory Burch<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

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The designer hopes she has passed that same curiosity on to her three boys \u2013 twins Henry and Nicholas, and Sawyer.<\/p>\n

While the demands of her growing global company have her travelling mostly for work, she carves out time as often as she can to go off the beaten path. This is often where she and her team find inspiration for the collection, known for its bold and modern use of colour and print. Read on to see how Turkish Iznik tilework, Paris caf\u00e9 culture and Indian mirrors have influenced Burch.<\/p>\n

Made in Marrakech<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Burch\u2019s love affair with Morocco stems from her childhood. The designer grew up listening to her parents recount fond memories of exploring Marrakech. The pair honeymooned in the ancient city and then returned year after year, bringing art and antiques found in the souks back to the family\u2019s Pennsylvania farmhouse.<\/p>\n

\"Moroccan<\/p>\n
Today when travelling,\u00a0Burch and her design team fill their phones with images like this one \u2013 a splash\u00a0of Moroccan tile they were drawn to because of\u00a0its vibrant colours and dancing patterns. Photography courtesy Noa Griffel<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Later, as Burch studied art history and started working in fashion, her expectations for the city grew. \u201cIt\u2019s said that Alfred Hitchcock [was inspired to create]\u00a0The Birds<\/em> after staying at La Mamounia and hearing the crows every morning,\u201d she says. \u201cMatisse was inspired by so many of the country\u2019s vibrant colours, which all filtered into his own work.\u201d And, of course, the country\u2019s mark on fashion is eternal, having been a sanctuary for Yves Saint Laurent.<\/p>\n

Happily, Burch was not disappointed. \u201cOn my first, and every trip since, the city lived up to my imagination,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cEverywhere you go, there\u2019s a hotel, store or street with a story about how the city, the people and the culture have inspired someone to create something unforgettable.\u201d
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Morocco\u2019s brilliant Majorelle blue, especially when set against crisp white, has influenced colour combinations in the designer’s own collections. “And in one resort collection a few years ago,” notes Burch, “we translated a straw hat I\u00a0found in a Marrakech souk into a conversation print we used on tunics, dresses and swimsuits.”<\/p>\n

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En vogue \u00e0 Paris<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s fair to say that Burch owes a bit of her success to the City of Lights. After all, it was in a Paris flea market that she discovered the green floral tunic that inspired the Tory Tunic<\/a>, a staple that\u2019s been in every collection since Burch\u2019s first season. More than a decade later, she continues to visit the iconic city to explore new places, while stopping by her long-time favourites including the Deyrolle, a\u00a0185-year-old curiosities shop, and Caf\u00e9 Marly, which overlooks the Louvre.<\/p>\n

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\u201cParis never ceases to inspire me.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cJust walking through the streets or sitting at a caf\u00e9, you notice the incredible Parisian sense of style,” says Burch. “It\u2019s in the city\u2019s DNA.\u201d Burch\u2019s Fall\/Winter 2016 collection is evidence of her love for the city, having taken a cue from the caf\u00e9 scene in \u00c9ric Rohmer\u2019s 1972 film L\u2019amour l\u2019apr\u00e8s-midi<\/em>, where stylish women passed by the restaurant, each flaunting a unique look.<\/p>\n

\"Tory<\/p>\n
The Tory Burch Fall\/Winter 2016 collection took inspiration from \u00c9ric Rohmer\u2019s 1972 French film L\u2019amour l\u2019apr\u00e8s-midi<\/em>, which translated into a celebration of classic seventies sportswear on a New York runway. Photography courtesy Tory Burch<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cOn the runway, that meant that every look was different, whether through print, length or silhouette,\u201d she explains. \u201cBut they all had the same subtle nod to great, classic \u201970s sportswear.\u201d<\/p>\n

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All eyes on Istanbul<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cIstanbul is one of those cities where you can stand in one place, whether inside or outside and take in an extraordinary, 360-degree view,\u201d Burch says. The designer opened her first boutique in the Turkish city in 2013, having visited once before.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s magical \u2013 from the sultans and pashas to the mix of old and modern architecture, it has such an incredible history and culture,\u201d she says. The self-admitted history and art aficionado appreciates Istanbul\u2019s past, preserved in the city\u2019s streets and buildings, as it blends with the area\u2019s new, vibrant art scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to know anything about architecture to appreciate [it],\u201d she says. \u201cIf I could go back in time and learn from the Romans, Byzantine and Ottoman artisans . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Blue<\/p>\n
“My design team and I have spent hours in the Blue Mosque, studying patterns and colour combinations,” says Burch. Photography courtesy Noa Griffel<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Through the years, as Burch\u00a0and her team spent time at\u00a0the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace, the colours and graphics in Turkish tile work, textiles and architecture found\u00a0their way into the\u00a0collections. The designer\u00a0is especially drawn to the \u201ccolourful florals of Iznik tiles, layered textures of Azerbaijani rugs, hammered copper accessories and tassels\u201d found in the historic spaces.<\/p>\n

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Colour collision in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m in India, I\u2019m a tourist in the best sense of the word,\u201d Burch says. \u201cI want to soak up every second.\u201d During her time in south Asia, the designer often fills her days exploring area temples, museums and shops, forgoing sleep in favour of immersion in the local culture.<\/p>\n

\"Tory<\/p>\n
Inspiration abounds in India, where Burch appreciates the melding of culture and history. Throughout the years, her collections have been inspired by classic Indian patterns, embellishments and techniques she finds throughout the country. Photography courtesy Tory Burch<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

On one such whirlwind vacation to Rajasthan in 2009, Burch took an elephant ride to the grand Amber Fort, where she and her fellow travellers got more than they bargained for. \u201cAt the top, there were several young men who we thought were selling beautiful woven baskets,\u201d she says. \u201cTurns out, they were snake charmers.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen I\u2019m in India, I\u2019m a tourist in the best sense of the word. I want to soak up every second.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Burch\u2019s love for the country is clear in her clothing designs, though it\u2019s hard to pinpoint what she finds most inspiring\u00a0\u2013\u00a0the pace of life, the landscape of mountains and jungle, or the artisan details tucked into India\u2019s historic architecture. \u201cEvery trip to India offers something new,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n
Burch\u00a0snapped the photo at left during a trip to India, capturing an intricately carved sculpture dressed in flowers. The icon inspired the design at right, a red floral appliqu\u00e9d tulle dress. Photography courtesy Tory Burch<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Faithful followers of Burch\u2019s designs will recognise the classic Indian patterns, embellishments and techniques appearing on the company\u2019s tunics and totes throughout the years. For example, she says, \u201cThe mirror-work details in one season reflected the ornamented rooms in the Sheesh Mahal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Celebrating the past in Ginza<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Though she spent a whirlwind week in Japan when opening the first Tory Burch boutique in Ginza, the designer admits that her stay wasn\u2019t nearly long enough. \u201cWe packed a lot into a short amount of time, but we barely scratched the surface,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

During her 2010 excursion, the designer explored Tokyo-area markets and temples, including the Senso-ji, a Buddhist temple where smoke from incense burners is said to bring good luck. \u201cIt\u2019s a popular and spiritual place for young couples to get married,\u201d she says. \u201cI remember vividly seeing one young bride in a stunning traditional kimono.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few seasons ago, Burch found inspiration in a blue woven samurai suit she saw during this trip to\u00a0Japan, which made its way into a collection of armour-tinged knits and patterns.<\/p>\n

\"Japanese<\/p>\n
\u201cIt reminded me of the suits of armour my father and grandparents collected on their travels,\u201d explains Burch, who captured the intricate detail in this samurai suit during a trip to Tokyo. Photography courtesy Tory Burch<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

On her next visit, Burch hopes to day-trip around Japan\u2019s countryside, learning more about local culture and enjoying the cuisine.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Created in partnership with Tory Burch<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Your Journey Begins Here<\/h2>\n

Select a destination and start exploring<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\"floral <\/picture>\n

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