Founded in 1997, Blithfield is a boutique British textile house, known for its beautiful printed textiles and wallpapers which are inspired by an extensive archive of documents sourced all over the world and accumulated over three decades of collecting.
Artisanal techniques, meticulous attention to detail and an exacting eye for colour and design are in the brand DNA.
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THE DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
Grounded in the original archive of prints and designs, Blithfield’s distinctive aesthetic is the product of imagination, instinct and intuition, looking to the past to move each collection into the future.
Each print is a synergy between motif and palette, every collection delivers new and innovative designs, the brand continually evolving. Never dictated by trends or sales figures, the collection is the result of a unique vision that perfectly fuses vintage inspiration with contemporary verve, an alchemy of craft and vision – truly timeless design.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Impeccable craftsmanship and a commitment to preserving artisan techniques is central to Blithfield's collections. Each design is the result of hours of work sourcing, sampling and experimenting.
Whether it is a weave or a print, we strive to find ways to do 'traditional things in a modern way', partnering with artisans to bring the brand vision to life and respect the designs.
Our commitment is to make conscious, meaningful choices throughout every stage of our fabric and wallpaper journey; from the sourcing of materials to production and beyond. We recognise that the textile and interior design industries must play a vital role in addressing the climate crisis.
At Blithfield, we believe that true sustainability goes beyond ecological factors to include social responsibility, ethics, and the creation of enduring, high-quality products.
OUR APPROACH
Circular Design Principles:
Our design philosophy works in a more circular design structure, ensuring that our fabrics and wallpapers are crafted to the highest standards to extend their lifespan. By prioritising durability and timelessness, we aim to keep our fabrics and wallpapers in use for longer, therefore reducing waste.
Natural, Biodegradable Materials:
We use biodegradable, natural fibres wherever possible. Linen, for example is celebrated for its low water consumption and biodegradability and features prominently in our collections.
Timeless Design Over Trend-Driven Production:
Our collections are deliberately small and timeless, designed to be layered with past and future Blithfield designs. We focus on creating pieces that transcend trends, encouraging longevity over fast consumption.
Low-Impact Production:
We produce in small runs and to order, significantly reducing waste and overproduction.
Social Responsibility:
Sustainability is also about people. We are proud to support initiatives like Fine Cell Work, contributing to rebuilding the lives of prisoners through meaningful employment and skill development.
BRAND HERITAGE
Anne Dubbs and Liz Downing met in 1994, two American women living in London. Anne had a background in textiles from years working with Eldo Netto at Cowtan and Tout as well as a strong vision of a textiles company inspired by the vintage and historic textiles she collected.
Liz was looking for a new challenge having spent several years working for American fabric houses and with the renowned US interior designer, Mark Hampton. Anne introduced Liz to the first drafts of the prints she’d been colouring and the spark was lit.
With complimentary skills – Anne runs the design and production side of the business, Liz the business and marketing – a shared work ethic, commitment, determination and sense of humour, they were a natural fit to launch a business together. And in 1997, with five hand coloured designs, the duo launched.
After weeks scribbling multiple name ideas onto a yellow legal pad, the brand was called Blithfield after the street Anne lived on when she first moved to London.
THE BLITHFIELD ARCHIVE
Anne has long held a fascination with vintage and antique textiles and prints and began collecting pieces for the Blithfield archive long before the company began.
With a keen eye for enduring and interesting design, she spent weekends visiting textiles fairs and seeking out specialist dealers to add pieces to her collection as well as travelling far and wide in search of designs.
Today, the archive includes over 550 design documents and is a source of inspiration for the designs in the Blithfield collection.
THE FINE CELL COLLECTION
Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a charity and social enterprise which works in thirty prisons across the UK to support rehabilitation of those serving prison sentences by teaching sewing skills, enabling them to earn money and promoting self-belief.
In 2015, Blithfield collaborated with FCW, Kit Kemp and the late Melissa Wyndham to develop a range of needle point cushions, which has since become a long term partnership.
Blithfield’s flagship showroom, No 13, opened in 2020, a place to house and display the brand’s full collection of textiles and wallpapers.
A selection of fabrics and wallpapers from the collection can also be viewed at George Spencer showroom, Chelsea Harbour.