In living color
A conversation with Jason Tessier.
“Color is key to the success and failure of the work.”
For the first edition of our artist collaboration series Canvas, we teamed up with London-based artist Jason Tessier to reimagine our iconic Cotton T-Shirt through the lens of color and shape. Known for his layered, intuitive painting style and sensitivity to seasonal shifts, Jason brought his world to fabric – creating two exclusive T-Shirt prints that reflect both his studio process and the vibrancy of spring. Each design was produced as a limited-edition run of just 250 pieces.
We sat down with Jason to talk color, process, and the intersection of art and clothing.
Could you introduce yourself?
I'm a painter based in London. My work explores how abstract shapes and color interact – how they speak to each other on the canvas. I’m very involved in every step, from building my own stretchers to priming the surface, to layering the paint. That physical, hands-on relationship with the work is something I really value.
Color plays a big role in your work. How do you approach it?
My approach to color is intuitive. I’ll see something in the world – a mark on a wall, a page in a book – and feel drawn to it. Then I’ll recreate or react to that shade in the studio. It’s like a conversation between colors. Some hold more visual weight, so I use that to create balance or tension. I spend a lot of time just looking and thinking before making the next move.
Seasonality plays into this too. As spring arrives, I naturally shift toward brighter, more energetic palettes. In winter, it’s slower, deeper tones – colors that feel comforting. It’s not always conscious, but it’s definitely present in the work.
What made this collaboration with Son of a Tailor a good fit?
There’s a real synergy between my work and Son of a Tailor's operations. The made-to-order model means every piece is created with care and intention, just like a painting. I also appreciate the brand’s clean, minimalist design. Their garments are timeless, like pieces you return to again and again. That’s something I try to create in my work too. And of course, there’s a shared love for color. A lot of sustainable brands stick to neutrals, but Son of a Tailor embraces vibrancy. That really aligned with my own philosophy.
Tell us about your process in designing the T-Shirts.
It started in the sketchbooks – revisiting old works, recording variations of shapes I’ve used in the past. I created a sort of digital shape library by scanning in the drawings and then built compositions from there. Once I had the layout, I chose color combinations that worked together while maintaining individuality.
We scaled the designs up for the back of the shirt to let the forms breathe – almost like a painting. There’s also a smaller print at the front hem with the SON x Tessier signature and the edition number. That little detail ties it back to the uniqueness of each piece.
What do you hope people experience when they wear it?
I hope they feel a connection to the work – not just visually, but emotionally. That it brings a sense of energy or calm or whatever they need in that moment. Like a favorite painting or a great piece of clothing, it should be something that fits into your life and lifts it, even subtly.
Further Reading
