When the Annie Trousers were added to our womenswear collection in Autumn Winter 2017, they arrived quietly, without fuss or immediate impact: a simple silhouette, characterised by a tailored waistband and relaxed straight leg. But in its simplicity, this design embodied the principles and qualities we strive for in all our garments.
“It’s a timeless piece that pairs well with the rest of our collection. We design with a focus on enduring wearability and value,” says Rebecca Stant, a TOAST womenswear designer.
Early sketches accentuated the deep front patch pockets, each with a slanted opening, and three buttons on either side. Despite these details, the shape was always clean and considered. The first version of Annie would be fashioned from garment-dyed cotton twill, and its success led to another iteration in indigo denim the following season. These fabrics subtly paid homage to traditional workwear, an important influence in Annie’s development.
“Workwear is key in grounding our TOAST women’s collections, and underpins the staples we offer each season,” explains Rebecca. “This utilitarian style was shaped by vintage mariner and carpenter detailing, falling with a relaxed straight leg and beautiful pocket construction. Annie’s design perfectly balances tailored elements with true workwear references.”
While the original Annie was cropped, we went on to add a full-length version. Ever since, three core iterations of the design have been included in our seasonal collections, offered in a mix of denim washes and weights. The trousers now fasten at one side with three corozo or horn buttons. In most styles, the buttons are a similar tone to the fabric; a subtle feature on a largely minimalist design.
Rebecca joined TOAST in 2024, bringing a decade of experience in the industry. “There are many roles to play in creating clothing, from the very first idea to the finished product, which requires great attention to detail,” she reflects. “TOAST’s commitment to producing characterful and thoughtful clothing is a real privilege to be involved in.” Rebecca specialises in workwear, denim and jersey styles, and has overseen the evolution of Annie alongside members of our pattern and product teams.
As this design has been a staple of our collection for years, instead of passing through the TOAST pattern room every season, adjustments are usually managed by the product development team. “My role is to ensure that the Annie trouser fit feels consistent across different suppliers, fabrications and seasons,” says Freya Scoggins, our Technical Product Developer. “I work with our factory to produce the sample, before liaising with Rebecca to ensure the fit is aligned with what our customer knows and loves.”
The collaboration across departments reflects our overarching design approach. Each concept progresses with input from many creative and analytical minds before reaching the wider TOAST community.
For Autumn Winter 2026, we will be releasing Annie in our organic cotton Japanese Kuroki denim, sourced from a mill that has been producing denim for over 70 years. “Japan is an expert in producing indigo denim,” says Rebecca. “Anecdotally, I am told that the waters in Japan are what make the finish, texture and vibrancy of colour so markedly special.”
Typically in denim, the indigo is applied to the warp yarns and the weft is left untouched, with the residual white yarns forming the classic twill denim construction. The Japanese denim we have used employs a different, more premium technique. Both the warp and weft yarns are rope-dyed, resulting in a deeper, richer blue-black tone that runs throughout the entire fabric.
All Annie styles are included in TOAST Foundations, a collection of signature pieces we return to season after season. As one of the most popular – if not the most popular – TOAST trousers, Annie has undoubtedly earned its place in the range.
“The Foundations collection includes designs that form the basis of a wardrobe,” explains Rebecca. “It’s those pieces which sit quietly, with the cut and fit and details all coming together to make clothing which is incredibly versatile, useful and desirable. It's the things you reach for and wear time and time again.”
Discover our Foundations collection and the Annie Trouser in Black, Indigo and Ecru denim.
Words by Bébhinn Campbell.
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