From Sketch to Statement: How Tiger Leap Comes to Life
There’s something magical about seeing an idea go from a scribble on a page to something you can actually hold, wear and take with you.
At Fenella Smith, pattern is at the heart of everything we do. We’re a little obsessed with colour, love a playful print and believe everyday essentials should never be boring. But behind every bold design is a creative process — and Tiger Leap is a perfect example.
It starts with a sketch
Before there’s colour, there’s an idea.
Tiger Leap began life with pencil, paper and plenty of imagination. We start by playing with shapes, characters and movement, sketching out the elements that will eventually become the personality of the print.
There’s something we love about seeing the original sketches. They’re loose, expressive and full of character — long before the pattern has been perfected.
This is where the personality starts to appear.
Finding the fun
For us, pattern isn’t just about making something look pretty. It’s about creating a feeling.
Tiger Leap is playful, energetic and a little bit wild. The tiger brings that sense of adventure, while the surrounding details add movement and personality. It’s a print designed to make you smile.
We love patterns that catch your eye from across the room and make you want to look a little closer.
And Tiger Leap definitely does that.
Then comes the colour
This is where things really start to come alive.
Colour is one of our favourite parts of the design process. We’re constantly thinking about which shades work together, what mood they create and, most importantly, whether they make us happy.
With Tiger Leap, colour takes the original sketches and turns up the volume. Bold combinations, playful contrasts and unexpected pops bring the characters to life and give the print its unmistakable Fenella Smith feel.
We don’t believe colour needs to be saved for special occasions. Why shouldn’t your everyday bag, washbag or laptop case be something that makes you feel good?
From paper to pattern
Once the artwork feels just right, the individual elements are brought together to create the repeat pattern.
This is where we start looking at the bigger picture.
How does the design flow? Does the eye move naturally across the pattern? Do the colours balance? Is there enough detail to keep discovering something new?
It’s a little bit of creativity, a little bit of problem-solving and a lot of moving things around until it just clicks.
And then comes the really exciting bit — seeing the design leave the sketchbook and become something real.
Made to make you feel something
Tiger Leap is more than a print. It’s our love of colour, creativity and a little everyday escapism wrapped into one design.
Because we think the things you use every day should have personality.
Our Founder Fenella says "My delight for Tigers comes from the literature of my childhood … rich, evocative and often a bit silly and daft… the depictions of Tigers thanks to AA Milne, Judith Kerr and others gave me a vision of rather gentle soppy giants… I bet theirs ears are ever so soft…"
A laptop bag doesn’t have to be sensible and serious. A washbag doesn’t have to disappear into your suitcase. A tote doesn’t have to be plain.
They can be colourful. They can be playful. They can be completely, unapologetically you.
That’s the joy of pattern.
And that’s why we’ll always keep creating it.
From the first sketch to the final print, Tiger Leap is a little reminder to embrace colour, leap into adventure and never be afraid to stand out.
Love the print? Take the leap.
Discover Tiger Leap across the Fenella Smith collection and bring a little more colour to your everyday.
Because life is too short for boring bags.