Trending now: Heritage fabric houses

Iconic brands are briging their classic designs up to date with exciting collaborations

The story so far

Heritage fabric houses that were making waves in their founding days are re-establishing themselves as relevant contenders in interiors by influencing designers and working with both fashion and homeware brands. In a creative mix of innovation, tradition and British eccentricity, these established fabric houses are forging strong relationships with designers and high-street retailers to bring their designs to new audiences.

living area with wallpaper wall with blue sofa and wooden floor and rug

(Image credit: Morris & Co.)

Morris Seaweed wallpaper in Cobalt/Thyme, £58 per roll, Morris & Co

Where we've seen it

Fashion led the way with the trend for collaborating with iconic brands such as Liberty who have been designing original prints since 1875; check out the Nike x Liberty collaboration for trainers and sportswear and the Acne x Liberty collaboration in 2014 using archive prints to create a contemporary collection. The Marc by Marc Jacobs 2015 Fall collection, A Radical Fairy Tale, evoked the rebellious spirit of Morris by re-imagining his prints such as the Strawberry Thief with a military spin.

Interiors quickly followed suit. Liberty's latest collection, Secret Garden, is inspired by designs from their archive, featuring both dense and dainty leaf and floral prints in linen, velvet and satin. A recent collaboration sees Liberty Arts fabrics as cover options for Sofas & Stuff sofas, Sofa Workshop and Swoon (see below).

arm chair with graphite hue and liberty art fabric

(Image credit: swoon)

Midnight garden: this contemporary armchair in graphite huesbrings the Liberty Arts fabric to life; Tivoli armchair in Pewter, £649, Swoon

arm chair with luxe velvet and florals

(Image credit: sofa workshop)

In bloom: add vibrant florals in luxe velvet, St Ives armchair in Liberty Jeffery Rose Tree, £1,899, Sofa Workshop

pillow with graphite hue

(Image credit: Liberty)

Classic design: this familiar pattern still adds style, Ianthe cushion in graphite, £95, Liberty

Harris Tweed fabric only qulaifies as such if it has been made in the Outer Hebridies by the islanders in their home, dyed and spun from pure virgin wool. The historic brand were brought together with Vanessa Arbuthnott to create original colourways for her
Birds and Beasts with Harris Tweed collection after her daughter Rose took an inspirational painting tour of Scotland.

living area with grey sofa and chair and wooden panel

(Image credit: Vanessa Arbuthnott)

Rich heritage: the beautiful new colours work as a warm base against brighter tones, Harris Tweed, £69, Birds & Beasts collection, Vanessa Arbuthnott

Latest releases

William Morris was the renowned designer at the centre of the radical Arts & Crafts movement, which still inspires today. Purveyors of bold and beautiful prints House of Hackney have re-imagined three keys prints from the Morris archive for a new generation with wallpaper and fabric, lighting, soft furnishings and tableware.

arm chair and floor lamp with blackthron velvet and wooden floor

(Image credit: House of Hackney)

New gothic: create a high drama with this bold print; Blackthorn wallpaper, £148 per roll, Blackthorn standard lampshade in velvet, £385; armchair covered in Blackthorn velvet, £110 per m, House of Hackney.

tea cup with saucer and hyacinth flowers

(Image credit: House of Hackney)

Hyacinth tea cup and saucer, £50, House of Hackney

painting frame with pimpernel framed print

(Image credit: John Lewis)

Art work: This classic print is given a fresh look in a modern frame, Framed Pimpernel framed print, £60, John Lewis

Finally Yorkshire wool brand, Abraham Moon &
Sons
, provide both upholstery options for M&S sofas, throws and cushions, they continue to create contemporary designs with the Bronte by Moon branch alongside their traditional wool upholstery ranges.

cushion and lambswool and multi windowpane

(Image credit: Bronte by Moon)

Colour pop: clashing tones add a bright side to traditional wool, Lambswool Multi Windowpane Cushion, £49.95, Bronte by Moon

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