28 March 2024, 19:30
By Furniture News Oct 06, 2020

Collins & Hayes – 150 years of winning designs

The sixth edition of The Furniture Awards, which took place at this year's January Furniture Show, saw exhibiting hopefuls put their best foot (well, new range) forward in a bid to be crowned best in class. The deserving winner of this year's Upholstery category was Collins & Hayes, for its entry, Bailey & Banks …

Since acquiring the IP rights to the heritage brand in 2017, Sofa Brands International – whose stable already comprised Parker Knoll, Duresta and G Plan – has moved mountains in a bid to recapture some of Collins & Hayes’ earlier glories.

Under the stewardship of Jo Slaven, Collins & Hayes has struck a fresh balance between traditional form and contemporary appeal, and in the year in which the brand celebrates its 150th anniversary, Bailey & Banks exemplifies this strategy.

Jo describes the Bailey sofa as “a celebration of our design versatility and our ongoing commitment to casual style”, while the accompanying Banks chair reinvents a classic design, Beagle.

A range of options is offered, from fixed to slip cover, natural fibre fabrics and soft leathers, while stockists will be supported by a consumer marketing campaign and lifetime frame promise.

“Sofa Brands International have been custodians of the Collins & Hayes brand for three short years,” says Jo. “Since then, we’ve relaunched the business and have a nationwide distribution of over 100 stockists, with a growing commercial appeal and a strong product offering.

“In our 150th year our newest ranges, Bailey and Banks, are a celebration of our values, taking the best of our archive of collections but very much looking forward to the future.”

The judges said: “Uncompromising, and near-faultless in terms of execution. Despite the extremely high quality of entries in this category, Bailey & Banks really stands out. Its exudes quality, fashionably reinventing a traditional look for the 21st century, and offering a great, welcoming sit.”

From left: Nick Garratt (MD, BFM); Rob Walker (MD, Orbital Vision); Meisha-Grace Nicely (head of brands, Sofa Brands International); Jo Slaven (sales & marketing director, Collins & Hayes); Paul Farley (editor-in-chief, Furniture News); and Cleere Scamell (event director, January Furniture Show)

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