Worn With Intention

The Foundations collection is built around timeless, well-made clothing, designed to form the basis of a wardrobe and to be worn season after season. Celebrating its ethos of quality and longevity, we photographed members of our community in their favourite Foundations pieces, and asked them to share how these garments connect with their everyday lives.

For designer and maker James Shaw, pictured above left, clothing is tied to the daily rhythm of his studio in Bethnal Green. His introduction to TOAST was by way of a fisherman’s sweater borrowed from his wife, dyed in indigo. “The colour is developing beautifully,” he says. “I wear it incessantly.”

James always returns to the Bill Trousers. “I really love the cut, the pleats, the combination of being classic but without being stuffy. When I put them on it just felt right,” he says. “They instantly felt like mine.” He wears them with the Grandad Collar Shirt and the Donegal Wool Knitted Tank.

As a maker, clothes quickly bear the imprint of his work. “The problem is I want to wear them every day, and because I am a maker, anything I wear to the workshop inevitably ends up getting covered in glue, paint or whatever else we have going on,” he says. “But these also end up being the clothes I love the most, and in a way, are the items I have more of a connection with than those I save for best.”

Also based in London, Kevin Wilton, captured above left, has lived in the south east of the city all his life. Kevin works in the world of interior design and architecture as the Managing Director of SM Contracts Ltd, which integrates technology into home designs. His first memory of TOAST was venturing into our shop on King’s Road and discovering a houndstooth shirt that he has since worn “for years and years.”

Kevin often pairs the Monty Japanese Denim Jacket with the Rory Denim Jeans. “The Monty jacket is very smart with the denim trousers, it’s a heavier fabric, and flattens out any lumps or bumps that can be created when wearing a knit underneath,” he says. “It has sharp lines and fairly coarse grain which will wear, fade and soften in time.”

This balance of ease and refinement reflects his approach to dressing. “The whole outfit is exactly what I would choose to wear if I want to be smart, but not overdressed or compromised,” he says. “The outfit is as smart or as casual as you want it to be. If I dress in something like a suit, I don’t feel like me at all. My life is about authenticity.”

Lewis Dalton Gilbert, photographed below left, has a steady approach to dressing. Living In London, Lewis works as an independent curator and as creative director of A Vibe Called Tech, a creative studio and art consultancy. “I always joke that I dress like a cartoon character, because I am often dressed in similar styles and think people might think I just wear the same outfit on repeat,” he says. “But I think it’s so important to feel comfortable and confident in what you wear.” He sees the Foundations collection as providing exactly that. “The clothes can become the basis of your wardrobe, and can be worn in countless ways to reflect your own style and personality.”

He wears Arlo Garment Dyed Jacket in Washed Black often and finds that it can be “worn with practically any outfit whilst holding its own.” As it’s inspired by vintage workwear, “it doesn’t feel as precious or formal as a blazer, but still has the weight of a traditional garment.” He likes discovering the subtle details of TOAST pieces as he wears them in. “I know they will always be a staple of my wardrobe. This jacket is something I can rely on and return to, and looks great with my ever-growing collection of wide-leg trousers.”

Colette Burns-Meechan, captured below left, is based in Glasgow and describes herself as a “curious creative.” Her ongoing interest in jewellery making has led her to repurpose vintage beads and pendants into necklaces. She first discovered TOAST around fifteen years ago. “In the early days with two young kids it wasn’t always easy to invest in special pieces,” she recalls. “But I have made up for that in the last few years.”

Colette wears the Donegal Wool V Neck Cardigan in Cinnamon. “I was really drawn to the richness of the cinnamon colour,” she says. “I also love the different coloured specks in the wool that can tie in another colour, it makes it a really versatile piece.”

For Colette, the cardigan’s appeal lies in its warmth and adaptability. “I wear this with everything, whether over a dress or skirt or with a simple tee and some great trousers,” she says. “It’s great for layering under a jacket as it’s warm but not bulky, or for autumnal looks it’ll shine on its own.” It’s also perfect for cold Glasgow weather. “I’ll have this piece forever as I always need warm layers, and it has that vintage workwear vibe that’s timeless, so I’ll never get bored of it.”

At the Hampstead shop, where she has worked for nearly three years, Caroline A-Oduro, pictured above right, has become a familiar face within the TOAST community - alongside her role in the Sales Team, she is also a TOAST brand ambassador. She wears the Baya Patch Pocket Stripe Organic Shirt and the Corinne Cotton Wool Houndstooth Trousers. “The shirt is a timeless wardrobe staple - clean, versatile, and easy to style,” she says. “The trousers have an effortless fit, with a wide leg.”

What drew Caroline to these pieces was the sense of balance. “The fabric, fit, and finish all come together seamlessly,” she says. “I feel confident, comfortable, and stylish in these pieces, which is exactly how I want clothing to make me feel.”

When she dresses for her days at TOAST, “comfort is key, but so is approachability - I want to wear something that feels effortless and invites connection.” Longevity, above all, guides her choices. “The pieces I’ve chosen feel timeless, not tied to trends, and can be styled in countless ways. That’s a true investment to me.”

For Josephine Chanter, Deputy Director of the Design Museum, pictured above, clothing and design are deeply intertwined. A long-time resident of Peckham, she has worn TOAST garments for many years, describing them as “the staples of my wardrobe.” She recalls denim trousers and shirts collected over time, as well as ticking bed linen which “lasts forever and just gets better over time.”

Josephine’s favourite Foundations pieces are the Garment Dyed Oxford Shirt in Old Gold and Sculptural Seamed Denim Trousers in Ecru. “I saw my dad go to work every day in a shirt and so it just feels like workwear to me,” she says. “It’s comfy, practical and classic. This shirt’s impossibly soft and the colour is hard to define. The jeans are a lovely cream and hang brilliantly. TOAST shapes are so good. And these jeans have such good form.”

She admires the considered design and focus on tactility that informs the Foundations pieces. “I love the inspiration behind the collection - designers who hero materials like Charlotte Perriand and George Nakashima. We had a wonderful Charlotte Perriand exhibition at the Design Museum in 2021 and her groundbreaking work still feels so liveable and relevant now.”

Practicality underpins her everyday approach. “I have to be comfortable and be able to cycle 75 miles a week on my commute, so I need hardwearing, flexible, breathable fabrics. TOAST fabrics wear so well, they often get softer and more charming as time goes on. Like old friends.”

Discover our Women’s and Men’s Foundations collections.

Lewis wears the Arlo Garment Dyed Herringbone Jacket, Frank Cotton Long Sleeve Tee, Bill Cotton Canvas Wide Leg Trousers and Fracap Leather Sandals.

Josephine wears the Garment Dyed Oxford Shirt, Sculptural Seamed Denim Trousers and Fracap Ola Sandals.

Colette wears the Cleo Cotton Tee, Donegal Wool V Neck Cardigan and Cotton Twill Wide Leg Trousers.

Kevin wears the Monty Japanese Denim Jacket, Theo Organic Cotton Short Sleeve Tee, Donegal Wool Knitted Tank, Rory Denim Jeans and Fracap Suede Camp Shoes.

Caroline wears the Corinne Wool Cotton Herringbone Wide Leg Trousers, Baya Patch Pocket Stripe Organic Shirt and Sturlini Tall Leather Boots.

James wears the Garment Dyed Oxford Shirt, Bill Cotton Canvas Wide Leg Trousers, Donegal Wool Knitted Tank and Fracap Postman Shoes.

Words by Alice Simkins Vyce.

Photography by Aloha Bonser-Shaw.