One chilly morning in January of this year, I boarded the first of two planes which would deliver me to Jaipur, arriving bleary-eyed the next morning into a riotous world of warmth and colour. The famous 'Pink City' of Rajasthan, Jaipur is home to the workshop and atelier of Daydress, and I was here to finalise the pieces for our collaboration with founder Gabby Deeming. 

Over the following week, I would watch as the illustrations I'd scribbled just a few months previously - and which had been turned into hand-carved wooden blocks by Indian artisans in the intervening time - were painstakingly printed with meticulous skill onto vast lengths of fabric pinned to tables in the workshop.

Gabby and I made final tweaks to the dress designs - refining a collar here, nipping a waist there - and by the end of that week we were shooting our collection all over the city with our beautiful and endlessly patient model Priyanka, as the finished dresses were biked, fresh from seamstress hands, for her to wear. Perhaps only in India can you begin the week with nothing and end it with a collection of 8 dresses - and not forgetting my favourite shirt!

Find our limited edition collection of Daydress x Scribble & Daub clothing and homewares here



I confess, It wasn't all hard work, and I was lucky enough to have Gabby showing me around, who spends half her year in Jaipur, so I can say with some authority that should you find yourself in the city, these are some special places you might like to enjoy and explore...

Jaipur Tips... 

I stayed at Niravi hotel, which was so quiet and comfortable, and very reasonably priced. An exhilarating ten minute tuktuk ride from the very centre of town.



Enjoy dinner and cocktails at Bar Palladio, and the Johri Palace, both unmissable spots for beautiful decor, atmosphere, delicious food and wonderful service. If you're feeling flush, I had many recommendations to stay at the Johri, apparently it's amazing. We toasted on my last night and to celebrate the finished collection with a cocktail at Johri!

Get your heart beating faster with a visit to Ridhi Sidhi Textiles, and ask to see their warehouse across the road - a completely overwhelming but amazing place with vast rooms upon rooms stacked floor to ceiling with cloth and textiles at equally exciting prices (my haul on the right!)

There's a great organic cafe at Anokhi for lunch and fresh juices, and you can shop their block-printed wares next door. Nila House also has a very elegant shop, and display of antique textiles.

A visit to the flower market early one morning is unmissable, one of the highlights of my trip.



Explore the historic old city - its architectural wonders are all close to one another and can be easily visited in a day. Take a break for lunch at the chic Baradari restaurant inside the City Palace.



18th century astrological wonderland, Jantar Mantar (found my star sign!)

Doing the tourist thing at the Amber Fort (and test-driving a prototype of the Figs dress - can confirm it is a perfect sightseeing outfit)



Travel around Jaipur is easy, with tuk tuks aplenty, and a cheap and reliable Uber service! The famous Amber Fort is a little further out of town, and Gabby suggested hiring a driver for the morning to combine this with an early morning trip to the flower market and other sites. If you'd like to do the same, drop Viru a line, he was lovely and very knowledgeable and a half-day outing cost around £20 - his no +91 74278 08570

Take home a unique souvenir of your trip with an old-fashioned box brownie portrait, developed in a bucket while you wait! Visit Tikam Chand in his usual spot where he has been doing this for decades. Here's the one Gabby and I took on our last day together.

Should you be lucky enough to find yourself on an Indian adventure, I hope this is useful to you, and in any event, an enjoyable a glimpse of this fascinating place.