May Design Series – taking place from 18-20th May at London’s ExCeL – will host a Fabric Pavilion for the first time.
The dedicated area within The Furniture Show at May Design Series will showcase no fewer than 36 hand-picked, top-quality textiles specialists displaying their latest spring collections around a central Champagne Bar.
Furniture retailer Heal’s will present the long-awaited collection of the store’s own brand of fabrics, named 1810 after the year that the store was founded. Heal’s will be showcasing three designs including Trees by Cressida Bell, a highly-decorative design depicting lush forestry in a style heavily influenced by 1930-40s trends, and the Stripe series by Paul Vogel, two striped fabrics that incorporate creativity with a contemporary approach to colour, both of which were influenced by the photography of Miles Aldridge and illustrations by David McKee.
Pia Benham, head of fabric and design at Heal’s, comments: “Building on our heritage of working with and promoting emerging and established designers, our 10 exclusive designs celebrate colour and individuality. This is the first textile collection that we've developed since the 1970s, and we're thrilled to be exhibiting in the Fabric Pavilion."
Also taking part in the Fabric Pavilion will be Swaffer Fabrics, which will be introducing its Austen collection of print, weave and chenille fabrics at the show. Comprised of three prints – Pemberley, Netherfield and Rosings – the collection was inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The floral collection features a spectrum of colours from vivid violets to blush pinks, combining the epitome of traditional English design with striking modern colour.
Pedroso & Osorio will be exhibiting with the Fabric Pavilion, and will be presenting its new On The Road textile collection, inspired by Barbara Osorio’s travel experiences and observations of different cultures.
Abraham Moon & Sons, one of the few remaining totally vertical wool mills in the UK, takes the initial design through the process of dyeing, spinning, and weaving to create a truly premium product, which will be available to buyers at May Design Series. The company aims to create a balance between modern design and traditional craft, as is evident in its collections of Lambswool and Pure New Wool fabrics.
Hailing from Alicante, fabric specialist Alhambra Internacional will debut two collections at the Fabric Pavilion. The first, named Rhapsody, brings together classic design with contemporary textures to create a timeless, sophisticated finish in opulent shades of gold, silver and ivory. In contrast, Alhambra will also be showing its Spicy collection, which delivers a hot colour palette of reds, greens and purples applied in combination with light neutral shades.
British textiles designer Barker & Barker will bring its Premier collection – from 100% silk fabrics with lustrous sheen to superior cotton blends, the designs themselves incorporate burnt oranges to deep blues and subtle amethyst, with each fabric available in an array of complementary and co-ordinating plain designs.
Other names set to take part in the Fabric Pavilion include Ian Mankin, The Isle Mill, Busby Fabrics, Dandylion Fabrics, Juliet Taylor at Newlyn Harbour Design, Essente UK, Kobe UK, Blendworth International, Abbortsford, Panaz, Tres Tintas Barcelona, Robert Allen, Clarke and Clarke, Jim Dickens, Eijffinger, Woven Art Company and Art of the Loom.
