The Cotton Linen Easy Sweater grew out of a designer’s instinct for what was missing. “It starts with an inspiration, a feeling,” says Gabi d’Amico, Senior Designer at TOAST. “In this case, it was that I wanted a sweater to wear every day. I wanted a piece that felt modern with a great easy silhouette, and was comfortable.” Knitted from a cotton linen yarn, the sweater has a dry, matte surface and a reassuring weight that gives the garment structure, sitting slightly away from the body. The shape is effortless, with a high rolled neck and raglan sleeves. Its simplicity is deliberate, formed through careful decisions about proportion and material.
Designed in 2019, the sweater is now part of the TOAST Foundations collection: a considered, seasonless edit built around versatility and longevity. “We selected it for the Foundations collection as it’s a key knitwear style that suits everybody,” says Sophie Vent, Buyer at TOAST, who joined six years ago on footwear and accessories and is now part of the loungewear team. “Foundations to me means timeless pieces that can be the building blocks of your wardrobe,” adds Gabi. To her, what makes a piece stand the test of time is “simplicity, ease of wear, and colour.” This season, the sweater is realised in shades of parchment, sage, montella, dark navy and rich red fig. “We always keep the navy and parchment as our timeless core range,” says Sophie.
Gabi has been with TOAST for nearly fourteen years, designing through periods of growth while holding close to the brand’s core values. She describes her approach as “designing desirable, durable, non-fussy clothes,” a principle that underpins both the sweater and all of her work at TOAST. “It’s the balance between understated design, combined with small details that Gabi does so brilliantly,” says Sophie.
Alongside the shape came the search for the right yarn. Gabi was looking for something “a little chunky, matte, and weighty to hold a swingy shape,” which led her to the cotton linen blend, which plays a central role in how the sweater feels and behaves. “The nature of the yarn means it can provide an additional layer without creating too much warmth, like wool,” says Sophie, “so this is an easy piece to layer up at any time of year.” Although originally designed with spring in mind, the sweater’s adaptability soon became clear. “It has proven that it’s a great all-year-round sweater,” Gabi says. “You can style it so easily, and when everyone wants to try it on, it is usually a good sign.”
From sketch to finished garment, the process was collaborative. Gabi worked closely with the product development and knitwear teams to refine the sweater’s construction and finishing. The garment is knitted integrally, meaning it is formed as a single piece rather than assembled from separate panels. Product Development Manager Jane Hardy played a crucial role in taking the sweater from sketch to finished garment. “It is so great working with Jane,” says Gabi. “She reads my sketch like I see it!”
That sense of collaboration extends beyond the design studio. The sweater is made with a supplier TOAST has worked with for many years, reflecting a long-standing relationship built on consistency and trust. “There is professionalism, dedication, kindness and respect,” says Gabi. That shared understanding supports the careful, considered way the garment comes together.
Like all pieces in the Foundations collection, the sweater feels effortless when worn. The rolled neck softens the outline. “For loungewear, I like rolled edges to give that sense of informality and ease,” Gabi says. Longevity is also key. Gabi returns to her sweater each year. “I have had mine for 4 years now,” she says, describing how it washes easily and returns to shape. This long-term view reflects Gabi’s wider approach to designing for TOAST. “If I’m designing or putting out this style in the world of excess, I want people to buy it with the idea of wearing it forever,” she says, or to pass it on. “We are then creating future vintage.”
Discover the Cotton Linen Easy Sweater and our women’s Foundations collection.
Words by Alice Simkins Vyce.
Photography by Suzie Howell.
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