Oranges and Lemons, Silk Scarf Blouse, citrine/zest
An exceptional scarf blouse, designed, printed and made in England. It is made of four silk scarf panels, carefully constructed to display Sabina's creations. It has simple cuffs and a simple collar band with concealed mother-of-pearl buttons. It has a loose and airy fit with pin-hem and French seams throughout . 100% silk. Ours is a size small, which will accommodate a wide variety of sizes. Dry clean only.
Oranges and lemons ring the bells of St. Clement's,
You owe me five farthings ring the bells of St. Martin's,
When will you pay me? Ring the bells at Old Bailey,
When I grow rich, ring the bells at Shoreditch.
When will that be? Ring the bells of Stepney,
I do not know, rings the great bell at Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
Oranges & Lemons is a folk song that accompanies a children’s game, in which the song speeds up progressively until one lucky players is caught out in the final, fateful line. The lyrics have been described as a way for Londoners to recall the names of the various churches throughout medieval London. It also traces the path prisoners walked en route to the Tower of London. In this design Mother Goose flies gracefully (or falls?) above Victorian Long, adorned in a beautiful grosgrain ribbon. The sky is filled with exotic fruits, a stark contrast to the grey London landscape. Among the fruit a parrot looms, hinting at the arrival of new species which threaten native species and Victorian England’s status quo.
Every Sabina Savage design is hand illustrated, telling the story of the collection through the composition and details. The scarves are drawn in full, and the four corners of each scarf hold individual elements, ensuring the wearer will display a different feature however the scarf is folded. Each illustration takes around six weeks to complete.
Rhymes of London
Each verse paints a picture, soft and serene, but if you look closely there’s more to be seen.
Sabina Savage’s uses Mother Goose rhymes as the backdrop for her Spring 2025 collection. Developed for children, these rhymes gained mass popularity in the 19th century with their appeal blossoming into the Victorian era and beyond. Having said that, nursery rhymes are often based around historical events and there are often hidden meanings within their words, some with dark connotations.
In her research, Sabina was struct by the parallel between nursery rhymes and the visual representation of animals during this time - the innocent, docile imagery masked or smothered the true nature of animals. At the same time, domestic pets and women served similar functions in Victorian culture and iconography, being symbols of servitude, compliance and mildness. During this time both oppressed groups broke chains thanks to advances in natural science and women’s rights. Darwins scientific breakthroughs were challenging prior notions of the animal kingdom, while the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies was founded in 1897.
Sabina’s designs reflect Victorian England’s habit of putting tame animals on a pedestal, often infantilized or anthropomorphized. She literally puts them on a pedestal, seemingly serene and idealized. Look closer and you’ll see these plinths crumbling beneath them - they are unable to support the weight of these romantic expectations. Meanwhile, the melodic tones of nursery rhymes are a perfect analogy for Sabina’s designs: something beautiful and charming thinly veils a deep and serious message.
