Growing up immersed in a creative family, Suzie de Rohan Willner developed a profound, lifelong appreciation for art, design, and meticulous craftsmanship. Today, as the Chief Executive Officer of the conscious lifestyle and clothing brand Toast, that foundational interest continues to shape how she approaches her work, frequently manifesting in unexpected and inspiring ways.
The philosophy at Toast often draws from the intersection of artistic vision and practical sustainability. Recently, when Toast Creative Director Laura Shippey introduced de Rohan Willner to the pioneering work of artist Lee Krasner, the CEO was struck immediately by more than just the visual impact. She found herself captivated by Krasner’s remarkable confidence and, crucially, her radical willingness to tear apart her earlier works, transforming the raw fragments into entirely new, dynamic compositions.
For de Rohan Willner, Krasner’s unorthodox approach shares a clear and compelling parallel with Toast’s own corporate commitment to extending the life of existing materials. Through dedicated brand initiatives, including Toast Repair, Renewed, and Reworn, damaged, worn, and unwanted garments are never simply discarded. Instead, they serve as a starting point for visible mending, creative alteration, and thoughtful reuse rather than contributing to textile waste. It is an outlook that reflects de Rohan Willner’s broader, deeply rooted interest in craft, ongoing experimentation, and the art of finding fresh possibilities within familiar, everyday materials.
As part of an ongoing series exploring the minds of creative leaders, Suzie de Rohan Willner recently sat down to share the artists, architects, and personal influences that continue to shape her unique perspective, alongside an exclusive look at several recent milestones and projects from Toast.
Suzie de Rohan Willner’s Five Creative Inspirations
1. Anni Albers
Reflecting on the monumental impact of the Bauhaus weaver and printmaker, de Rohan Willner notes how deeply she is inspired by the way Anni Albers successfully transformed textiles from a traditional domestic craft into a universally respected, high-art form. Albers firmly believed that true design is learned only through direct, hands-on experimentation with the material itself. Rather than imposing a preconceived notion onto a medium, she always asked what the material wanted to do before asking how it should look.
2. Ruth Asawa
The captivating, ethereal sculptures of Ruth Asawa offer another vital source of inspiration for the Toast CEO. Asawa’s signature looped-wire sculptures possess the rare ability to reimagine a rigid, industrial material, turning it into something that feels remarkably organic, fluid, and seemingly soft. De Rohan Willner expresses a deep admiration for the palpable tension between strength and lightness found in these works—forms that manage to feel entirely weightless while maintaining an undeniable structural integrity.
3. The Glass House
Architecture has long played a role in shaping modern design perspectives, none more so than architect Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House located in New Canaan, Connecticut. For de Rohan Willner, the structure is a masterclass in spatial harmony, successfully dissolving the boundary between architecture and the surrounding landscape. Its floor-to-ceiling glass walls create a continuous, uninterrupted conversation between interior human life and the natural world outside, serving as a permanent reminder that the very best design simply frames what already exists.
4. Isamu Noguchi
The multidisciplinary genius of sculptor Isamu Noguchi represents a masterclass in artistic freedom. Noguchi moved fluidly and effortlessly between vastly different disciplines—crafting stone sculptures, functional furniture, delicate paper lanterns, and expansive public gardens—without ever losing his distinct artistic voice. De Rohan Willner finds profound inspiration in this fearless refusal to be confined or defined by a single medium.
5. The Sculptural Doors at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Personal history often intersects with artistic inspiration, most notably through William Mitchell, who was de Rohan Willner’s stepfather. Mitchell was a passionate pioneer of concrete as an artistic medium, championing a brutalist, highly tactile, and craft-led aesthetic. He was known for thoroughly researching a location’s historical resonance before responding with a striking, juxtaposed modernity that never failed to take the breath away. His unwavering courage in pushing the boundaries of his work has remained a guiding light for de Rohan Willner throughout her career.
Recent Projects and Collections by Toast
Beyond her personal inspirations, de Rohan Willner’s vision comes alive through Toast’s carefully curated collections and community-focused events, which bridge the gap between historic craft traditions and contemporary sustainable living.
A Shared Table in Wales
Earlier this year, to celebrate the launch of Toast’s Spring/Summer collection titled A Shared Table, the brand returned to its literal birthplace in Wales. Toast hosted a locally produced luncheon with members of its vibrant community on the windswept farmland surrounding Llansteffan Castle. As the brisk coastal wind swept across the hillside, serving as a natural reminder of the inseparable bond between landscape and community, invited guests wrapped themselves in Toast blankets to stay warm, creating an intimate, shared sensory experience rooted in place and heritage.
A Lightness of Being at Somerset House
To mark the arrival of the Spring/Summer collection A Lightness of Being, Toast gathered members of its wider community at the historic Somerset House in London. The event featured a series of bespoke installations designed to express the weightlessness of flight, the boundless opportunities found in creative experimentation, and the sheer freedom inherent in play. Dancers Francesca Matthys and Masumi Saito, dressed head-to-toe in pieces from the collection, delivered a mesmerizing performance that explored how clothing, physical creativity, and human gesture continually intersect.
Toast Renewed By Meta Struycken
Highlighting the brand’s dedication to circular fashion, de Rohan Willner points enthusiastically to a collaboration with Dutch textile artist Meta Struycken, whose independent work frequently explores the intimate scale of miniature garments. For the launch of the first Toast Renewed By capsule collection, Struycken designed eight full-sized pieces utilizing returned and damaged Toast items alongside fabric remnants sourced directly from her own studio. The collaboration demonstrated the profound creative power of repair and renewal, utilizing traditional handcraft techniques such as embroidery, appliqué, and quilting to dramatically extend the life of garments while elevating the act of mending into an art form in its own right.
Marking the Turn: The Fall/Winter Collection
Looking toward the colder months, the overarching theme of Toast’s Fall/Winter collection is titled Marking the Turn. The collection invites wearers to consider the ancient rituals and quiet rites that signal our collective movement through the seasons, most notably highlighted by moments of communal gathering. Each garment represents a specific moment in the subtle transition from the warmth of late summer to the crispness of autumn and the deep chill of winter. By translating the rich language of folk traditions through traditional handcraft techniques, thoughtful color palettes, and silhouettes that reference the simple, enduring functionality of the past, Toast continues to champion a slower, more deliberate relationship with the things we wear and cherish.
