Marking the release of the latest playful collection to drop under the New York City-based label, Tyler McGillivary’s “Cartoon Garden” is an ode to the imaginative realms of illustration and cartoons. We caught up with Tyler herself to chat about what inspired the collection, who she would dress if she could, and her favourite pieces to wear.

What is an animation that has been the most impactful on your design work? Fantastic Planet by René Laloux is one of my all-time favourite movies and biggest inspirations. I come back to it all the time because of the intricacies of the illustration, the colours and the surreal themes of the narrative. 

If you lived in a real-life cartoon garden, what would it look like? Miyazaki is my favorite animator of cartoon landscapes. I am so entranced by the way he illustrates the environment and how everything is realistic but slightly exaggerated and enhanced. I love when the flowers look inspired by reality and have a familiar quality, but are the most fantastical version of that reality. 

Do you have a favourite piece from the “Cartoon Garden” collection? I’m a huge fan of the Blossom Blazer and Blossom Suit Skirt. I can’t wait to wear it this fall with knee-high socks and loafers.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Tyler McGillivary (@tylermcgillivary)

If you could dress anyone in the “Cartoon Garden” collection, who would it be? Do cartoon figures count? I’d love to see Princess Bubblegum from Adventure Time in this collection.

What should we listen to when we’re wearing something from the “Cartoon Garden” collection? All of Plantasia.

How does “Cartoon Garden” hint to the direction of upcoming Tyler McGillivary collections? This collection was meant to be print-focused in a different way than our recent large-scale photoprints. I’m a textile designer/illustrator at my core and I think the details and prints in this collection point to some of the updated directions we're moving in with our new pieces. We always try to grow and change with the prints we do. 

If you could own the wardrobe of any cartoon character, whose would it be? The girls from Totally Spies – 2000s prime and so perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Tyler McGillivary (@tylermcgillivary)