Interiors Trend: British Fabric House Linwood Launches New Printed Linen Collection Inspired by Nature

British fabric house Linwood has unveiled Maru, a new collection of printed linens designed to reflect the quiet beauty of the natural world. Designed in the UK and printed on 100% linen, the collection draws on archival references and traditional folk motifs from diverse cultures, reinterpreted with a contemporary approach.

Maru Hanging Lengths from Linwood

The Maru collection features seven individual designs, ranging from hand-drawn birds and stylised florals to playful lions and expressive stripes. The designs vary in character—some are intricate and delicate, while others take on a more graphic, bold appearance. Despite their differences, all share a cohesive aesthetic defined by subtle elegance and a semi-organic sensibility.

"Each design in Maru is a celebration of nature, reinterpreted through a modern lens," says Ella Richards, Head of Design at Linwood. "Our studio team has created something fresh and usable – perfect for homes that seek comfort, character, and timeless style."

Suitable for both upholstery and curtains, the linens are available in a colour palette that spans soft, earthy neutrals to stronger, modern tones, offering versatility across interior styles.

Songbird design in Crimson

The first design - Songbird - is already a favourite in Linwood's velvet collection, and is now reimagined on natural linen, offering a fresher, lighter interpretation. Inspired by a fragment of antique crewelwork embroidery and hand-painted in the Linwood studio, it features a lyrical composition of birds, scrolling foliage, and stylised leaves. The updated colour palette enhances the design’s intricate detail, bringing quiet elegance and character to both upholstery and curtains. 

Ima design in Marigold

Ima is inspired by a small-scale trellis pattern found in an Asian folk-art book. It offers a contemporary interpretation of a classic botanical motif. Layered leaves and subtle outlines create texture and rhythm across a natural linen ground. With its elegant scale, this versatile printed linen is ideal for both upholstery and window treatments – bringing refined detail to any interior.

Pipili design in Chickpea

Playful and richly decorative, Pipili is inspired by an antique bedspread. Hand-painted in Linwood's studio, the design features fantastical lions, stylised florals, and starry accents – blending historical charm with a whimsical, storybook spirit. Printed on natural linen and suitable for both curtains and upholstery, it brings colour, character, and a dash of British eccentricity to any interior. 

Yala design in Meadow

Reimagining a classic floral through a modern lens, Yala takes its cue from a hand block-printed bed cover found in Uzbekistan. A simple yet striking motif is reworked into an elegant repeat of sweeping foliage and stylised blooms. Printed on pure linen, Yala brings an elegant, decorative touch to any interior.

Yala Stripe design in Tulip

A playful partner to its namesake floral, Yala Stripe is a painterly stripe printed on natural linen. With hand-drawn character and tonal variation, this design offers balance and rhythm – perfect for layering with florals or using on its own for a more graphic look. Suitable for both upholstery and curtains, it brings a relaxed, contemporary mood to interiors. 

Hinako design in Prune

Hinako is a delicate design that takes inspiration from traditional Asian folk art. While based on a richly detailed, multicoloured original, Hinako has been reimagined in a far simpler form – featuring stylised florals that drift gently across the fabric to evoke a sense of calm and visual balance. 

Talki design in Lagoon

Talki features stylised palm fronds arranged in a rhythmic, vertical stripe. The design balances symmetry with looser, organic elements, creating a sense of movement and structure. Printed on natural linen, it brings a confident graphic edge to both upholstery and curtains. 

With the Maru collection, which is to be launched in September 2025, Linwood continues to expand its portfolio of British-designed textiles, reinforcing its commitment to craftsmanship and design rooted in natural inspiration.

Images courtesy of Linwood.

The Monkey Puzzle Tree wins "Best in British Product Design" with unique interior fabric

Congratulations to The Monkey Puzzle Tree for winning 'Best in British Product Design' at the prestigious Brit List Awards 2021, judged by a panel including the current and past Presidents of the British Institute of Interior Design.

Metamorphosis linen union upholstery and curtain fabric from The Monkey Puzzle Tree.

The Monkey Puzzle Tree's winning design 'Metamorphosis' is a linen blend inspired by myths, legends and gothic fairy tales designed in collaboration with artist Kirsty Greenwood. The fabric is woven in Scotland and screen printed in Carlisle.

Kirsty used a piece of her own marbling work as the starting point for this free flowing, ethereal pattern. Referencing the work of artists such as Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, the design features gold comets and stars as well as mysterious faces floating within a web of green tendrils and charcoal unicorn horns.

Photograph by Chris Leah.

Metamorphosis is screen printed in a heritage print works in Cumbria onto heavy, unbleached linen union. 

This linen-cotton blend retains the natural colour of the yarn and exhibits occasional slubs and imperfections which adds to the tactile nature of the fabric. 

The combination of metallic, matt and bright inks applied to the linen add depth and interest to the design.

Suitable for curtains and blinds as well as for upholstery and cushions, Metamorphosis is a highly versatile fabric, according to The Monkey Puzzle Tree. 

Metamorphosis was screen printed in a heritage print works in Cumbria, using a unique combination of metallic, matt and bright inks to create depth in the design.

Metamorphosis linen union cushion and Passion flower lampshade by The Monkey Puzzle Tree

It is in neutral tones so it can complement bold schemes, while also works well within a more pared-back room design in which the fabric introduces an element of subtle, intriguing character.  

You can find out more about the design and manufacturing work that went into creating 'Metamorphosis' by watching their video.  Click Here.

The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with artists to create beauty for interiors, from real cork wallpaper to lace.  Founded by Charlotte Raffo in 2017 after she realised that many incredibly talented artists were struggling to make a living, the company pays a generous royalty to support artists to continue with their original practice.

All designs are created and manufactured in the North of England, less than 150 miles from their Leeds studio, supporting traditional industry and ensuring that the fabrics, wallpapers and cushions are made to the highest environmental standards.

New home textile collection launched by English interior brand Tori Murphy

Tori Murphy's Living Room Rose Cushions and Portrait  
Check table cloth.

British textile brand Tori Murphy has launched Rose, a classic collection of English-woven cotton and merino wool fabrics, homewares and kitchen textiles inspired by an oil painting with a long story to tell. 

The Rose collection is a celebration of the importance of creativity, and the twists and turns life takes to lead us to a place where we can flourish.  

Woven in designer Tori’s signature graphic style, the collection includes three new designs: Rose, a modern, pared back floral, Portrait Check, a bold, monochrome check and Ilen Stripe, an organic intertwining stripe, in a palette of old rose, black and chestnut. 

A selection of the new designs are shown in the images here.

Tori Murphy's Rose Collection Living Room Rose Cushion,
and Jumbo Woodhouse Check Upholstered Chair 

Maintaining Tori’s strong British manufacturing ethic, the collection includes cotton and merino wool fabrics by the metre suitable for upholstery, curtains and accessories, as well as cushions, baskets and a wide range of elegantly utilitarian cotton kitchen textiles, all 100% woven and made in England, and is stocked by such prestigious stores as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and The Conran, and in showrooms worldwide.

Tori Murphy's 60cm cushion in Ilen Stripe.

Tori Murphy founded her eponymous brand in 2012 with the simple aim to create products for the home with character and integrity, all woven and made in England.

After graduating from the prestigious Royal Collection of Art, Tori worked in Milan designing prints for clients including DKNY, Fendi, and Christian Dior and it's here she experienced the factory floor for the first time and developed a sound understanding and love of textile production.

After this rewarding experience, Tori returned home and combined her passions into one and focused on English textile manufacturing.  With a firm belief and plenty of perseverance she succeeded in finding weavers in Lancashire, finishers in Yorkshire and machinists in Nottingham willing to support her.

From her first fabric run of 12 metres of woven Merino wool, Tori made a capsule collection of throws and cushions which she exhibited in London in June 2012 and it was here she took her first order from a store on London's New King's Road, signalling the launch of Tori Murphy Ltd.

Tori and her team operate from a small factory in Nottingham, the product range has grown to 15 categories, and her website cum shop - torimurphy.com was launched in 2013. 

British Textile Week: a digital showcase of the craftsmanship, creativity and technical skills of the UK textile industry.

Normally the month of September is when top British textile companies would be showing their offering at international apparel fabric trade shows in Europe such as Premiere Vision Paris, putting the spotlight on some of the leaders in British textile industry.  But in the absence of many of such events this season, cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, the UKFT has launched British Textile Week online to provide a digital showcase of the craftsmanship, creativity and technical skills of the UK textile industry.  This digital showcase is valuable resource for those seeking British talent, flair and skills.  The British industry is known for the mills ability to blend creativity with commerciality in printed, woven, knitted and embroidered textile designs.

UK fabrics are highly sought after by the world’s most prestigious designers, tailors and fashion brands as the starting point for their collections.  Exports of  British textiles reach almost every country in the world to the tune of £3 billion.  

Meanwhile UKFT is supporting two of the country's most established fabric producers: Linton Tweeds and Liberty Fabrics who will be exhibiting at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics in China this week, from September 23-25.  This has been made possible through the Department of International Trade’s Tradeshow Access Programme.  China is an increasingly important market for British textile creations.

Linton Tweeds will be exhibiting its innovative collection of fantasy tweed fabrics.  The firm plans to develop the China market further, in collaboration with its local agent.

Liberty Fabrics will also be exhibiting their iconic printed fabric collectio.  They have an established sales office in Shanghai to develop the market further.

The UK’s textile manufacturing sector produces £5.8bn of materials, ranging from the world’s most sought-after cashmere to the finest worsted wool, luxurious tweeds and distinctive tartans. In addition to the world-renowned apparel fabrics that will be featured during British Textile Week, the UK textile industry also produces high quality fabrics and accessories for the home and contract interiors sectors,  plus a wide range of technical textiles and performance fabrics that are used in industries such as medical, defence and aerospace.

There are more than 4,200 businesses manufacturing textiles in the UK – an increase of 12% in the last five years – in a sector that employs more than 64,000 people.

UKFT is coordinating the project, with the support of The Clothworkers’ Company and the Campaign for Wool.

The UK has a strong textile heritage and also a promising future – with more than 4,800 people studying textiles at university each year on courses including textile design, textile technology and textile engineering.

All information on British Textile Week can be found on the UKFT website. 

You can also get inspiration on fabric trends and colour from leading British mills by going to the British Textile Trends for AW 21/22 page.  

Photos by Lucia Carpio: A selection of world class British fabrics on show in the UKFT booth at a recent Premiere Vision Paris trade fair.

Best of British Fabrics at Premiere Vision Paris

UKFT booth at Première Vision  Paris September 2018 edition, showcasing top quality British fabrics to industry professionals.   Photo © Lucia Carpio 

Every year the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) take more than 700 British companies to the international market place taking part in overseas trade shows to display the best of British products, as part their work to support British brands establish or expand their export.  

British fabrics sought after by international fashion houses.
Photo by Lucia Carpio at Premiere Vision Paris, September 2018.

 International fashion houses, as well as agents, press and buyers alike across the whole industry have come to rely on the Association to gain news and information  on the well-made and superbly designed  British products and brands. at major events.

This week, among other activities, UKFT is leading a delegation  of British and London-based designers this week are showcasing their collections at Men’s and Women’s Fashion Week, as well as showing their British pre-Collections in showrooms.

Come February 2019, another entourage of top British mills will be taking part in the Premiere Vision Paris Fabrics trade fair due to take place February 12 – 14, under the banner of UKFT in partnership with Department for International Trade.

At the last Premiere Vision Paris event held last September, British mills wowed the fashion industry with some of the most desirable qualities and designs for the Autumn/Winter 2019-2020 season.

Click HERE for a reminder of the luxury British fabrics on show in the September 2018 Premiere  Vision Paris trade show.

Embellishments and prints rule at Textile Forum in London

Fabric suppliers move up a creative gear says organiser, while trade is predicted to be challenging.

The Textile Forum taking place 15-16 March 2017 at One Marylebone, London promises to offer an even greater choice of embellished and textured fabrics for designers looking to be inspired, according to co-founder and organiser Linda Laderman.

British textiles with unique novelty are sought after at major trade fairs such as
Premiere Vision as shown above in February 2017. © Lucia Carpio 2017

“Fabric designers have produced some of the most elaborate ranges we have seen at Textile Forum since the show was launched in 2002,” she says.  “Suppliers have moved up a gear when it comes to creativity in texture, pattern and colour and are keen to introduce British quirkiness in design and artisanal techniques, to provide exciting collections to tempt fabric buyers.

“While there is an overall mood of optimism among the majority of exhibitors, there is no doubt that trade is going to be more difficult this year and prices have risen a little. With the decision to leave the EU and the uncertain consumer market, innovation, matched with exceptional service, are going to be the keystones for winning business.”

British textiles with unique novelty are sought after at major trade fairs
such as Premiere Vision Paris. © Lucia Carpio 2017 

Among the exhibitors at Textile Forum this season is Bella Tela which has found inspiration from within the British monarchy regalia for its the Koh-i-Nor diamond and regal florals in its Spring/Summer 18 collection called Ethereal.  It features 100 new designs and has used traditional artisan techniques mixed with delicate laser and intricate embroidery, with colours inspired by the fragmentation of light that occurs through the stone, so includes tones found between colours of blush, rose and coral as well as a new faint heron grey and subtle golden tones.

Top left – Bella Tela; Top right – AW Hainsworth; Bottom left – Michael’s Bridal Fabrics; Bottom right – Jane Makower Fabrics.  Photo courtesy Textile Forum.

Best known for its plain, Pongees has recognised the importance for prints in spring 2018 and has pulled together a wide range of plain silks that are prepared for digital printing. These include crepe satins, double crepes, crepe de chines, chiffons, georgettes and habotais, twills and jerseys. It is advising designers looking to create 3D effects to use  layers of crisp organza ruffles and frills that can work alongside crumpled and rumpled, surface detail lace for an easy and relaxed mood and has also introduced more fancy fabrics, including embroideries, laces and jacquards, into the collection.

While lace continues to be strong in bridal and eveningwear,  James Hare  will showcase a new guipure featuring an intricately patterned, yet elegant design, for a traditional style gown with a modern twist, available in black or white.  In addition with the return of colour in bridalwear, James Hare offers two new pastels - spring rose and blue prism – introduced into its chantilly lace group and a rose to co-ordinate with its crepe backed satin and chiffon palette.

Michael’s Bridal Fabrics, which has also extended its range of laser cuts with 3D effects, has a guipure with laser cut panels and another with embroidery and beading. It has also introduced its first print designs, including one on silk organza and will also have some new Italian jacquards.
Meanwhile, as more brides now realise that the back of their dress is as important as the front, Michael’s Bridal Fabrics is offering a back panel design with a crystalled/beaded motif on each shoulder area, which is linked together by several layers of looped crystal or clear beaded bands.
For menswear, shirtings specialist Ringhart Fabrics is again opting for Britishness with traditional Tattersall checks in updated shades, along with textured plain fabrics aimed at younger men looking for an investment piece.

On the suitings side, Holland & Sherry continues with the celebrations of its 180th anniversary, with collections for both men and women. Imperiod Gold, one of its most exclusive fabrics, woven in England, combines luxurious Mongolian cashmere and pure worsted vicuna with a dusting of 22 carat gold. Its anniversary collection features jacketing and suiting fabrics woven from Super 180s 14.5 micron yarns in worsted and woollen spun qualities available in a range of glen checks, guarded windowpanes, gun clubs and grid checks in classic colours.

A W Hainsworth, which provided the red fabric for the tunics of the British army at the battle of Waterloo, is introducing new colours based on its military heritage.

A new media partner for Textile Forum is Savile Row Style, which puts the spotlight on bespoke clothes.  It also covers other upmarket topics of interest to those who shop in the Row or aspire to, and concentrates upon quality and craftsmanship in the modern world.

Novelty fabrics for SS18 - a showcase of new technical and creative styles

Evening fabrics and novelty textiles showcased at Premiere Vision Paris in February 2 - 9 for the Spring/Summer 2018 season displayed a wide range of schematic patterns and appealing surface textures that point to a fresh and optimistic outlook full of innovation and imagination.

The PV fashion team described the SS2018 season as one that is simple yet extraordinary.  Neither naive nor romantic, but rather highly graphic and contemporary.  Definitely a season infushed with creative energy, featuring flowery or geometric lace and guipure with well-defined contours, schematic patterns in two-tone or three-tone colourways with refined contrasts for maximum visibility, as far as evening fashion fabrics are concerned.

While there were sparkling examples, such as mixing cellophane and iridescent yarns, there were also colourful reflections and exuberant, full-coloured metals to enhance jacquards.  There were also dishevelled, fringed patterning, applique embroideres and flowers budding in pulsating scales, featuring greenhouse plants and exotic natural themes burgeoning with flowers, leaves and birds of paradise.

British textile mills and design studios' new creations for high fashion shone through in this genre where new technical and creative styles were highlighted.  

The variety of decorative visual details enriched with visual fantasy played off a complicity that was clever, modern and yet embracing.  Any designer wishing to present their clothing as objects of desire would be spoilt for choice.    A decorative showcase of exuberance for an optimistic future indeed from the British mills.

British creativity and technology knowhow when combined with Asian workmanship produced extraordinary results as showcased by the London Embroidery Studio which participated in a special zone at the fair called Maison D'Exceptions dedicated to high creativity, targetting fashion designers and luxury brands.
Founded in 2007 in London, the studio combines digital and analog techniques to produce made to measure embroidery and adornments.  The company was set up by Royal College of Art graduate Andrew Kenny whose founding aim was to tie together research practice and studio production in the promotion of design-led embroidery practice.

Also featured at Maison D'Exceptions was British company Rare Thread, a textile studio/collective conceived by Laura Miles and Kirsty McDougall incorporating a team of designers and specialists.  The studio has worked with couture names such as Valentino, Chanel, Balenciaga, YSL and other top brands including Calvin Klein and Christopher Kane, with its global networks scross yarn, material, woven manufacturing and finish.  The studio also produces small-scale series in varied and uncommon formats, combining experimental techniques to achieve surprising results.

The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) stand at the Premiere Vision Paris trade fair February 7 - 9  2017.

From Stephen Walters & Sons, the SS18 collection launched at PV covered womenswear, menswear and neckwear fabrics boasting a broad range that featured the company's signature combination of superior technical expertise and intensely creative spirity.  Both contemporary and heritage inspirations were very much in evidencr, displaying refined, sophisticated fabrics with luxe appeal.
"Our SS18 collection is a wonderful demonstration of both the technical capabilities of our historic Suffolk silk mill, and the innovative, fashion forward vision of our design team, " said Bruce Crabtree, Design Director of Stephen Walters and Sons.  "Thesse exceptional strengths not only enable us to create the finest fabrics for menswear, womenswear and neckwear, but also undertake creative partnerships with fashion houses, producing unique designs for their signature collections."

Meanwhile Bella Tela, another English design house, showcased a wide range of evening wear couture fabrics in its new collection, showcasing widely sourced materials combined with state of the art contemporary embroidery, as well as traditional manufacturing techniques.

New additions to Litmans Lace & Fabrics included luxury crepe and Marocain fabrics, stretch chiffon and stin, French Style Chantilly laces and on-trend metallic shimmer fabrics, geometric, sequin and luxurious 3D stretch laces.

All photos © Lucia Carpio 2017