Nudging into Spring 2025, our new flame-retardant teddy-pile upholstery fabric, Kose, gives a soft textural finish to contract furniture. With a dappled surface, the 11 sophisticated colourways provide a perfect co-ordinate for commercial environments. Tapping into the trend for cosy textures and layers, the soft surface and style of Kose, alongside a fantastic value-led price, makes this easy to add into any scheme, whether for hospitality bedrooms or large public-space areas.
Hard-wearing, achieving 100,000 Martindale rubs, Kose retains its eye-catching appearance in the most demanding spaces. This new addition to the Skopos portfolio provides a furniture fabric solution suited to all commercial environments. Kose is 100% Polyester and comes with flame retardant Crib5 Halogen free* backing (no additional FR treatment required) and provides an easy-to-use contemporary option.
A go-to option for furniture makers, end-users and designers alike, keeping interiors cosy. Kose provides a complimentary furniture solution alongside Skopos’ recently launched STUDIO prints. This vast library of printed designs can be selected for use across a wide variety of end-uses, including upholstery, bed-throws, curtains. A truly eclectic collection of design ideas, it is left to the specifier to co-ordinate the schemes and decide on a fabric-only or full-service option.
Skopos have recently been re-awarded Carbon Neutral status and are committed to providing sustainable solutions for contract interiors.
With over 50 years’ experience in textile innovation, Skopos have built up a wealth of design experience, providing flame retardant fabrics and key attributes that meet the needs of designers and end users alike. KOSE is available to order immediately with no minimums. Request loose samples via the website: skoposfabrics.com
*All backing is Halogen free except the Angora colourway
About Skopos Fabrics Ltd
Skopos has over 50 year's experience of supplying innovative statement fabrics and soft furnishings into flagship hotels, marine interiors and other commercial spaces. Working globally with designers and specifiers, the Skopos brand thrives on innovation. Skopos fabrics deliver on style but also meet the needs of customers looking for technical assurance and key attributes, such as acoustic options, impervious upholstery fabrics, antimicrobial and blackout; providing a fabric-only, or made-to-measure and installation service. Accredited as a Carbon Neutral organisation in 2023, sustainable operations go hand in hand with the development of new recycled products and the use of local suppliers.
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The new Dedar collection creates a lively rhythm of variations when it comes to materials and techniques. It juxtaposes figurative and abstract elements, until the boundary between the two becomes seemingly inexistent. It reinterprets classical practices in a new key and introduces strictly contemporary treatments.
A truly rich line of new experiments becomes part of the Contemporary Archives family. A soft figurativism, at times tinged with oriental concepts, calls into question mountains and waterfalls, clouds and starry skies, butterflies, branches and samaras. The abstract, strong and immediate pictorial imagery of the Za wallcovering opens the way to new interpretations, new materials and unprecedented contrasts.
The embroidery is enriched with heterogeneous techniques, which animate the clash between materials and bring to life accurate and enigmatic graphical elements. Other patterns, wavering somewhere between figurative narrative and abstract styles, rely on unusual techniques, between laser-burnished micro-holes and warm material textures. But even the jacquards breathe life into unexpected combinations and evoke impossible abstract tapestries, tormented incisions, furrows in the ground all reminiscent of great Italian art.
The Texturologie category continues to explore the artistic potential of the material, drawing inspiration from the Modern Movement. Decisive movements create alternating rhythms, combining different thicknesses. Streaks and special dyes animate a lively debate between saturated, pale and mélange tones. On the rich slub textures, the contest between irregularity and rigour never sees a definitive winner.
The new Plain Classics are characterised by a woollen side and a silky side. Classic traditions such as tweed, and archetypes such as the chequered pattern, allow the story to come alive. A selection of the finest wools breathe life into exuberant, natural velvets characterised by a bright shine, in which the long fibres of mohair, kid mohair or alpaca fuel a sense of voluptuousness. Wild Katia silk is the protagonist of handcrafted fabrics that seamlessly combine contemporary tradition and craftsmanship, in a rich tapestry of complex yarns, materiality and unusual chromatic variations.
Among the other unexpected solutions found in the collection, a false plain in fullsection chenille – durable and stain-resistant – and an innovative stretch bouclette, characterised by a soft touch and exceptional ease of use.
The FR fabrics offer is substantial. A vibrant and sophisticated jacquard, moved by a syncopated rhythm and looseness of the structure, is accompanied by a delicately textured satin, as well as a variety of small seating designs, all resistant and washable as well as fire-retardant: rich, textured jacquards, slightly opaque, in which damiers and metallic hints, twisted and slub yarns, and chromatic weaves combine to create a strong style characterised by a practical spirit.
Is there life in space? We turn our gaze to the distant stars, allowing ourselves be overcome by the wonder and dizziness of the infinity stretching out before us. How Soon Is Now? interprets astral elements enriched by the magic of colour, following artists – from Kandinsky to Fontana – who have infused white canvases with their pictorial gestures. A precious and difficult satin stitch embroidery, threedimensional and textured, glides on the linen chintz: an abstract décor and a galaxy of different interpretations come together.
Ichi-Go Ichi-E, “an opportunity, an encounter”: an invitation to cherish the unrepeatable nature of the moment. A deep and saturated colour, which immediately makes an impact, expresses an equally immediate gesture. An instinctive brushstroke characterised by a pure artistic flair is made of hand-laid flock. Oscillating between painting and calligraphy, with imagery reminiscent of Yves Klein and Anish Kapoor, the surface, delicate to the touch and intense to the eye, creates a sharp contrast with the textured and luminous Aristotele background, in which the weaves emerge strong and three-dimensional.
An original insight invited a hand-laid artisan flock to bring its caressing stroke to an irregular surface: it paints mountains or waterfalls, Japanese clouds, an Indian ink landscape, in a floating frame that awakens different emotions in each person. The contrasts running through the Lilaz fabric are resolved harmoniously, like sea currents that oppose each other and then come together. The compact feel of the chequered-printed fabric is structured, yet infused with softness. The Minima Mirabilia background, a natural-looking basket weave, vibrates with colours and delicate metallic accents, while the gold imbues everything with an Art Deco flair.
Logical and at the same time random. Implacable and persuasive. A graphical pattern in a dense and irregular yarn draws imaginary itineraries on a uniform, shiny surface. In the undulating Cornely technique embroidery, corners and threads diverge and converge again, in an unresolved dispute between rigour and freedom. The labyrinth-like pattern characterising the Metametodo fabric embodies both the rule and the exception. The fine design with a decidedly Modern inspiration, and the elegant draping of the satin in fine and densely woven Aplomb merino wool, make it perfect for elegant and refined spaces.
An abstract and geometric tapestry: a fantastic, “impossible” artefact, as if it were a gift from a parallel and hypothetical art history. The careful study of the tonal passages of a 17th-century original has filled the forms of a composition closely inspired by the experience of the early 20th century artistic avant-gardes. The print, characterized by a very large ratio, unfolds on a textured and full-bodied weave. The result is a fabric with a soft and smooth feel, versatile to be used for seating, curtains and decor.
A boxing-themed narrative, between the figurative and the abstract, sculpts fragmented lines similar to incisions on a full and compact velvet. Faces, muscles, fists, jubilant gloves stretched out to the sky. A drawing whose story emerges only gradually, showcases all the agility and strength of boxing. Soft and dense, Goodfellas invites a cotton mélange thread and natural-toned linen into the ring. Like a modern Pompeian fresco or a jacquard transposition of Scorsese's Raging Bull, it reconciles an aggressive soul, refined workmanship and a strong artistic temperament.
Countless soft eyelets chase each other on the surface in a graphic glissando, capturing the light. A jazz rhythm made up of segmented strokes conjures an imagery of hands that run freely over the keys of a piano, to then give way to fleeting caresses. The technique used to create the small holes has left their outlines burnished, giving the fabric a chiaroscuro effect of unexpected depth. When backlit, its special magic offers itself boldly to the gaze. A Love Supreme, on an Aplomb background, drapes impeccably, like a Coltranean cascade of sound. Its refined character combines Art Deco echoes, futurist suggestions and references to the Russian avant-garde.
A satin made of the finest carded wool of Australian origin and Italian manufacture, characterised by an unmistakable feel. The exceptional quality of the superfine yarns (17.5 microns), and the seven processing steps that follow the weaving, give it an extraordinary softness. The wide range of colours extends from classic wool shades with a sartorial touch, to more decisive options with a Modern flair. A practical fabric, also thanks to its water-repellent properties. Ideally used for curtains, thanks to its light and elegant draping, as well as for seating, by virtue of its resistance characteristics.
If every fabric has its very own soul, Millais has two: between conjuring an open smile and evoking a penetrating gaze, it thrives on the edge of roughness. The quality of British wool and the elegance of Belgian linen combine in a compact basket weave. The mélange of the double piece dyeing accentuates the depth of the colours, between natural tones and extremely novel stitches. But above all, Millais stands out for its unique feel: the long processing steps have tempered the rigour of the material and infused a soft touch, finding a refined point of balance between the pleasant and the sustained nature of the fabric.
Extensive research has led to the development of an irresistible fabric. It has the personality of a fur, but it is not fur: it relies only on harmless and considerate shearings. Kid mohair, an exceptional quality yarn, bursts with exuberance and offers a great sense of pleasure. Velvet has angelic feel and a “philosophical” ability to transform spaces. The 7 cm long-pile allows the colours to pop, from pure white reminiscent of a lamb, to novel and bright shades. The two “sister” fabrics are equally voluptuous: Nonstop Ethereal Bliss, a white, dishevelled mohair with a long, curly pile, blends minimalism and seduction; Serene Splendour, a compact, informal alpaca, brings a subtle opacity to a pure natural white.
Irregular, full-bodied threads in multiple colours give life to an artisanal tweed made up of complex silk yarns and characterized by a strong textured quality. In the hand-spun Katia silk weave – a wilder tussah – the colours fade into each other within a single thread. In the cotton warp, space-dyeing gives a sense of depth to the colour. Like the other textured silks in this collection, Malesherbes is ideal for curtains: Serein, a streaked shantung characterized by a rather lively craftsmanship; Nicomaco, with its hints of modern jacquard geometries; Memorando, a delicate silk/wool checkerboard with a soft draping quality; Days Like Now, another shantung, bright and offering a crisp feel.
A strong and assertive jacquard fabric blends refined materials and techniques in a slub weave of thick ondé thread and a two-tone fil-à-fil cotton/linen warp. The rigorous texture, characterised by a sober and natural taste, boasts a rich personality animated by a textured chequered design, with a modern soul, and the rhythmic variation of the warp threads that creates the background movement. The fabric is made of high-quality fibres, with an entirely Italian supply chain: from the yarns, to the weaving, to the finishing process. It is characterised by a consistent, textured feel and a neutral colour range. It is excellent for seating designs.
In the FR offering of the new collection, a jacquard with a strong personality stands out, in which twisted and slub yarns come together. Imbued with a genuine artisanal spirit, it is a refined fabric, capable of thrilling those who love to discover exciting rarities. It expresses an authentic exoticism, like that of certain precious hand-woven rugs. The weave is characterized by an irregular rhythm that resembles a syncopated musical riff. The looseness creates further vibrations, moving the surface with plays of colour. Made of recycled fibres, fire-retardant, washable and durable, Aoxomoxoa is ideal for intense sitting use.
About Dedar
Founded in 1976, Dedar is a family-run fabric house located close to Como, in the heart of a manufacturing district. Dedar experiments and innovates to attain product perfection through an ongoing dialogue with those craftsmen and textile specialists who are most familiar with the techniques employed in the production of excellent fabrics. Characterized by seductive colour palettes and unexpected patterns, Dedar’s fabrics combine precious yarns with research into fiber technology to offer various solutions for curtains, upholstery and wallcovering of timeless elegance.
Here at Linwood, we have long been singing the praises of wool as a robust, eco-friendly fabric that defies passing trends. For our latest wool collection, we are thrilled to be using Romney wools. A centuries-old British breed, Romney sheep are renowned for their soft, strong fleeces that are used to make premium wool products that are guaranteed to stand the test of time.
Our new collection of upholstery weaves represents the best of British, from the quality of the wool to the finest spinners, dyers, weavers and finishers in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Romney sheep are ‘long wool’ sheep, producing fleeces that are lustrous, strong and hardwearing, yet incredibly soft. The evolution of the breed over the centuries has resulted in the sheep developing fleeces that remain healthy in harsh weather, producing wool fibres that are perfect for both clothing and homewares. Another huge plus is that the fibre is predominantly white, so it can take any form of dye beautifully.
We are hugely excited to announce the launch of our Romney British Wool collection that combines the excellent qualities of Romney wool with the talents of the finest spinners, dyers, weavers and finishers, all based in Yorkshire and Lancashire. ‘The wool has been finished to give it a luxuriously soft texture, making it the perfect choice for upholstery as well as curtains,’ says Warrick Gloyn, Sales Director of Linwood. He continues, ‘It’s durable, eco-friendly, stain- and fire resistant by design, and it has been piece-dyed to provide an alluring array of colours.’
Products made using Romney Marsh wools contribute to a sustainable lifestyle as the wool is readily renewable as well as being entirely biodegradable, and it is ethically produced. ‘British wool textiles are affordable, practical and environmentally responsible,’ notes Warrick, adding, ‘As a British firm, we want to support British farmers and the industry – and so do our customers.’
Tactile, sustainable and British through-and-through, our new collection is a must for any interior, adding a sense of refinement and quiet luxury that people will never tire of.
The collection has been certified as 100% British wool by British Wool, and we are thrilled that it bears the coveted Shepherd’s Crook Mark.
Watch our video, which shares the story of this collection.
There are 23 colours and it is priced at £99.90 a metre (rrp).
About The Linwood Fabric Company Ltd
Linwood draws on classic English style and imbues it with a contemporary spirit, producing exclusive collections of fabrics, wallpapers and cushions that brim with personality and charm. The brand’s artistic vision is an individualistic one – they don’t offer a specific Linwood look: rather, every collection that they produce – be it pleasing small-scale prints or quintessentially English botanicals; informal plain linens or sumptuous printed velvets – is driven by a desire to captivate and delight, bringing a playful, distinctive style to all manner of interiors. Please visit us at our London showroom: Studio Two, Worlds End Studios, 132-134 Lots Road, London, SW10 0RJ
Launching this Winter, URSA from Skopos truly flies the flag for texture in hospitality interiors. A deep-pile velvet upholstery fabric, URSA brings a decadent feeling of comfort into hospitality spaces. Latin for ‘Bear’, Ursa wraps itself around furniture shapes to bring a stunning tactile fabric to the forefront of hospitality interiors. With a sumptuous deep pile and an incredible softness rating, this upholstery velvet shouts luxury, whilst still meeting all of the requirements for safety and durability in commercial spaces.
Available in 12 gorgeous tones, Ursa comes with flame retardant Crib5 backing (no additional FR treatment required), achieves 100,000+ Martindale rubs, for severe contract, and provides luxurious, eye-catching drama for relaxing spaces. 75% Polyester, 25% Cotton, URSA also works for furniture scatter cushions to provide pops of colour to break up interior spaces.
With over 50 years’ experience in textile innovation, Skopos have built up a wealth of design experience, providing flame retardant fabrics and key attributes that meet the needs of designers and end users alike.
URSA is available to order with no minimums. Request loose samples via the website: skoposfabrics.com or speak to your account manager about a shade-card for your binder.
Skopos is embracing Autumn and Winter 2024 with some exciting news, which supports and strengthens our printed fabric offer. With over 50 years’ experience, Skopos have built up a wealth of design experience, bringing template designs into hospitality, cruise, office, healthcare and student spaces. Known especially for our eye-catching florals and providing interior solutions from both fabric collections and also via our specialist Bespoke design team, the Skopos designers are ready to open up the doors to the Studio a little further, and invite the specifiers in. An ever-growing library, Skopos Studio is a collection of amazing designs that have been developed from archive ideas, document artworks, with current and new/ exciting artists; and ideas based on trend research. The concept of Skopos STUDIO awards each design in the studio equal status, rather than presenting a traditional, co-ordinating collection. Through this concept we want to simply let the specifier determine how to bring things together, rather than suggest a scheme…after all, that’s what they do best!
Designs within Skopos Studio will start to appear on the Skopos website this Autumn, so keep checking back on skoposfabrics.com/studio-prints and a physical binder of designs will also be available shortly, updated regularly, as fresh new ideas are launched. Skopos Studio aims to delight and inspire you, stir your imagination and allow you to bring ideas to life for your customers, creating statement contract interiors? Skopos Studio is about letting our customers explore deeper into the hearts and minds of the Skopos Design Team.
Designs in Skopos Studio have been developed to work hand in hand with our beautiful accent collections and upholsteries for a cross-section of projects. All of our printed designs are offered on a vast choice of base-cloths including blackout fabrics, dimouts, velvets and impervious upholstery qualities. Base-cloth shade cards are available to demonstrate the full offer. If you require something unique, our Bespoke service can offer custom colour options for a minimum meterage.
With a locally based print facility in Yorkshire, our relationship with print is now even stronger in 2024 than it has ever been over our 50 year history, allowing us to deliver outstanding with a low carbon footprint. Having achieved Carbon Neutral status in 2023, knowing our Carbon footprint has also allowed us to effectively invest in future-proofing initiatives which can offset our emissions and give something back to our environment.
As a business we are setting our goals high in order to substantially reduce our Carbon emissions over the next 2 decades, however we recognise that, as a manufacturing business, though there are many steps we can take, we still need to find the balance in managing the carbon we do emit. Our measures of our current position help us to find initiatives which balance out our effect and take full responsibility for our operations.
Complimenting other flame-retardant velvets in the Skopos collection, Dove offers a luxurious cotton-look matt velvet with a soft handle and gentle reflection. Offered originally in trend-inspired colours, ranging from calm neutrals to bright berry tones and botanical greens and blues, this collection is perfect for elegant upholstery (passes Crib 5 tests over 50kg foam), drapery, cushions and bedding within contract interiors.
In-line with the enthusiasm already demonstrated for this timeless collection, since its’ launch in 2021, Skopos has now enlisted 22 sumptuous new colours, displayed on a new single card, which slots neatly into the current binder. Tones which embrace the trends for earthy terracotta and spice colours, sit in a cosy envelope around brave Celtic inspired greens, blues and hot pink hues. With a current choice of over 50 shades, this multi-use collection is specifier’s scheme-board ‘got to’.
100% FR Polyester, and washable to 40∘C, the collection provides a perfect solution for contract soft furnishings within hospitality, leisure and luxury care environments. As with all Skopos fabrics, Dove has been tested to ensure compliance with British Standards for contract fabrics. Visit skoposfabrics.com for free samples and to order a shade-card.
The collection meets the requirements for Flame Retardancy standards across the UK and Europe and meets IMO standards confirming suitability for marine/cruise-line interiors. Available immediately, with short lead-times for larger order quantities, Skopos are pleased to add this collection into their Accents range. For a copy of our full Dove shade card or the new insert of colours, contact our customer service team: [email protected], or for free samples of our collections, visit our website: skoposfabrics.com.
Adding to the family of impervious contract upholstery solutions from Skopos, Encanto provides a burst of colour and texture into commercial spaces. Marrying the key attributes: antimicrobial, impervious, soil and stain resist, the 3 designs offer amazing performance without compromising on style. Following in the footsteps of Chamonix, Moritz and, most recently, Chamonix Deuxième, the choice within the collection is designed to compliment a range of different interior schemes. With 23 completely new Skus, and 13 hot colours from our Cuba quality, each design works beautifully alone or in combination, to create simple, contemporary and stylish contract furniture pieces.
The fractured herringbone, Onda, injects a familiar yet unique texture, alongside a flexible small-scale check and our familiar Cuba linen design. The palette provides pops of colour or a choice of classical neutrals.
The three designs are provided are Halogen-free, Oeke-tex 100 compliant, Reach compliant, with Crib 5 Flame Retardant backing, the designs achieve 50,000 Martindale rubs, offering a beautiful choice for any contract interiors, whether office, education, care or high-end hospitality and cruise interiors. Along with many other Skopos upholstery fabrics, this collection comes under the Skopos Protect+ banner. Perfect for flagship interiors, with colours that compliment Skopos drapery and bedding designs, the full palette can be viewed on-line.
The collection meets the requirements for Flame Retardancy standards across the UK and Europe and meets IMO standards with the added benefit of the MED wheelmark, confirming suitability for marine/cruise-line interiors. Available immediately, with short lead-times for larger order quantities, Skopos are pleased to add this collection into their Accents range. For a copy of our Encanto shade-card pls contact our customer service team: [email protected], or for free samples of our collections, visit our website.
Rhoda Parry explains how to successfully use this timeless material.
Wool upholstery fabric has ‘slow design’ superpowers. Totally natural, renewable, biodegradable and with a hardwearing longevity, it reigns supreme to keep us and our homes warm, cool (yes, you read that right), moisture free, and, above all, uber fashionable.
It’s all down to the sheep breeds that for generations have grazed highlands and downlands. Their naturally grown fleeces are sheared annually, cleaned, carded, spun and woven to create a unique wool cloth that is the epitome of timeless and beautiful upholstery, window treatments and accessories. Each breed brings with it its own unique yarn signature, from short and dense to long and crimped.
At Linwood, we believe in only the best for your home. Our pure wool fabric collections and blends are second to none; paying homage to the fact that interiors should be created elegantly, thoughtfully and responsibly. Come with us to understand wool’s comforting and durable qualities and its many designs, how to use it in a range of interiors’ projects, plus its easy care and maintenance.
Why does wool make the ideal choice for fabric upholstery? Well, its ‘beautility' (that’s short for ‘beautiful utility’ as coined by The Sunday Times recently) is all thanks to four key reasons…
Firstly, durability and longevity. Wool fibres are made up of a protein called keratin that results in a strong and complex structure. Woven wool fabric lasts for years as a result, making it ideal for high-traffic seating, such as lounge and dining chairs or sofas, or as curtains. According to British Wool, ‘Wool can endure wear and compression, and its natural bulk allows resistance to crushing and matting providing better appearance retention and resulting in less frequent replacement and waste.’ Shown here is Tay fabric, from the new Balvenie pure wool collection, a hard-wearing pure wool weave available in 19 hues.
Secondly, everyday resilience. Thanks to its inherent water-repelling DNA, wool upholstery is naturally stain resistant. Piling on the fabric is rare. Reassuringly, it is also slow to burn because of its high moisture and nitrogen content.
Comfort and insulation are the third reasons for opting for wool fabric on upholstery or other soft furnishings. Wool fabric has a natural ability to regulate temperature, providing heat-trapping properties in winter and cooling ones in summer. ‘Wool not only naturally absorbs humidity and moisture within the home but also common airborne pollutants such as formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (known as VOCs),’ adds British Wool.
And, finally, conscious consumption is an important deciding factor. Favour wool fabric for its eco-friendly attributes, including its renewable source, biodegradability and role in regenerative agriculture. There are also recycled fabric options, such as Lana that is spun from soft Italian wool and available in a rainbow of beautiful plains.
The beauty of wool fabrics lies in the multitude of designs on offer. The weave technique dictates the pattern result: a relaxed tartan check, such as Beachcomber Southerness, is made up of varying horizontal and vertical bands of width and colour; while a smart melton is a fabric made in twill form with a diagonal pattern; a tailored houndstooth is a two-colour broken check; and the distinctive herringbone is a zig zag column design, such as Foss.
It pays to consider fabric weight and texture. Some wools have a heavy and chunky handle and thus hang fluidly and crease-free on curtains (there may be no need for a lining thanks to their density); others are softer-to-the-touch, perhaps better for lounge seating and cushions (try Faroe with a touch of cotton and linen in its blend).
People often assume that wool fabrics are limited to the classic light and dark neutral colourways, such as grey, black, navy, brown and sand. These are handsome choices that will stand the test of time and work as good foils for more elaborate patterns, but you can also up the tempo and add transitional season refreshes with feel-good lime, cerise, tangerine orange and azure too.
Think creatively about how and where to use wool fabrics. Statement furniture, such as sofas, armchairs and headboards are your first ports of call. Just like a forever suit, smart wool fabric, such as herringbone, tartan or check, is a good investment and will always look at home on a classic buttoned or scrolled armed sofa or armchair. Add contrasting piping for a bohemian edge – think grey or navy as the hero fabric with a pop of red perhaps. Look too to woven fabric headboards with dashing silhouettes, from curvaceous to regal; finished with chrome or brass studs. Ottomans and dining chairs are the perfect spots for unexpected patterns, so head to an eye-catching wool fabric to bring bravado into a scheme. Shown is Kumo Flame from the Odyssey collection with its jazzy jacquard design.
Interior designers are mad for wool fabric window treatments, bed canopies and pelmets right now. Consider navy blue four poster curtains for a five-star bedroom; a cosy checked cottage-style door curtain; and dapper herringbone Roman blinds edged with leather trims for city apartments. Applying wool to walls as an alternative to wallpaper creates a true cocoon-like experience – perfect for a snug, library or movie room.
Accent wool fabrics in plains, textures or contrasting patterns are dashingly refreshing. Swap in tartan wool cushions for a seasonal living room update, plump for a bed-scape of decorative tweed pillows and bolsters or sew bench and banquette cushions for kitchen diners. Finally, to add further dimension and warmth, adorn a much-loved table lamp with a textured wool shade and layer up with blankets and throws.
Follow these daily care guidelines to keep wool upholstery in tip-top condition. Shown is the pretty Westray Lavender.
- Vacuum wool fabric upholstery regularly to stop dust from collecting. - Follow the care instructions. Dry cleaning only is recommended for wool. - Keep upholstery fabrics out of direct sunlight, excessive moisture or heat to avoid any adverse effects. - Turn cushions and pillows regularly to maintain their shape and reduce need for cleaning. - Blot any spills immediately and call-in professional cleaning services if needs be.
We hope this article has helped you appreciate the aesthetic and functional benefits of wool fabric for upholstering furniture, fashionable curtains and seasonal soft furnishings. For a blend of comfort, style and sustainability, explore Linwood’s new Balvenie fabric collection for inspiration. Woven in Lancashire using 100% pure wool, Balvenie takes its colours from the serene, ageless hues of the English countryside making it the perfect range to start your design journey.
About Linwood
Our Hampshire-based family business puts excellence at the heart of everything we do. We straddle the worlds of creativity and innovation to produce distinctive collections of fabrics, wallpapers and cushions that are bursting with fresh ideas, while retaining the quality and artistry we are renowned for.
Deborah Franklin, Design Manager and Special Projects Manager at Skopos Fabrics, has given her insights into the industry. With more than 50 years of specialist design and manufacturing experience, Skopos provides high-quality flame-retardant fabrics and soft furnishings to the contract market.
Offering full-service (design, measure, make-up and install), or fabric-only options, Skopos specialises in innovative flame-retardant fabrics which lead the way in the contract sector. Fabrics meet the requirements of various sectors with attributes, such as antimicrobial, acoustic, soil and stain-resist and new recycled fabrics. With a Bespoke design and colour matching service Skopos can provide customers with the opportunity to create unique statement solutions.
Defining signature styles of flagship hotels and cruise-liners, working with key brands within the commercial sector, Skopos prides itself in leading the way in fabric innovation.
Skopos was started in the early 70’s by Art College students, Stephen Battye and David Richards. Skopos began by hand-printing Greek inspired geometric designs onto lengths of cotton fabric. It wasn’t until a couple of years later, when joined by a third partner, Bernard Thomas that the company decided upon the name Skopos, roughly meaning ‘design’ or ‘range’ in Greek.
In the mid’ 70s the company started making up curtains and in the late 70’s developed a process to produce fabrics that were flame retardant, initially, specifically for the healthcare market. The first export market for the company was the Middle East, with project teams wanting to specify British product.
In the 80s Skopos explored the retail sector. Roll ends and small leftover quantities were sold here to ensure nothing was wasted. Until 2015 Skopos wet-printed fabrics on site at Providence Mills. Now printing takes place down the road, all via the transfer print method.
Skopos’ fabrics, and expertly made soft furnishings, provide the finishing touch to interior design projects across the globe. Providing flagship schemes for hotels, cruise-liners and a vast array of commercial environments, Skopos are the leaders in textile design, bringing new ideas and innovations into interiors. Designs are not limited to collection fabrics. With the offer of Bespoke Design, the Skopos team are ready to create something new and unique for brands that like to stand out. Designers can specify Skopos fabrics with the knowledge that style comes hand in hand with quality: beautiful fabrics that meet stringent technical requirements and soft furnishings produced by a skilled team of craftsmen.
Innovations within textile design, production and supply, mean that fabrics are a key part of the interior architecture of any space. Designers can knit together schemes knowing that they have on-hand knowledge including acoustic properties, light reflective values, thermal properties etc…to make informed decisions when creating schemes. All Skopos products are flame retardant as standard, without the need for extra treatments. The contract fabrics sector is ever-evolving and an exciting and key part of the design industry. Skopos’ purpose is to assist the role of the specifier, offering design and colour, enabling the creation of beautiful and functional interiors.
Our next day sampling service is a core tool for designers. Fabrics are tactile and therefore mood-boards with textures and surfaces are a key precursor to decision making or confirming any fabrics or soft-furnishings order. We provide designers with key tools, including sample books and cards or swatches for their library and via our website we allow fabric swatch downloads or the tools to visualise patterns and designs on 3D models…. a bit of a try before you buy idea. Our website also provides designers with downloads of ready-made surfaces that can be adopted straight into AutoCad or other 3D modelling software models.
In 2023 Skopos achieved Carbon Neutral status as an organisation, recognising the business’ commitment to supporting our environment. A lot of effort has been made to reduce carbon emission and set achievable goals for the future, offsetting any remaining emissions, to assist worthwhile environmental projects in the UK and overseas. Everything is measured. Every journey, whether person or product, is recorded, to ensure we are realising those efforts for a cleaner future. Alongside Skopos’ wider sustainability drive we are focussing on new recycled product, as a key part of the portfolio ongoing. New recycled fabrics, which re-engineer waste products are a key part to our portfolio. Skopos also make an effort to utlise local suppliers to minimise the carbon footprint of their products. Skopos is an ISO 9001 company, focussed on delivering the best for its customers.
Customers are increasingly aware of sustainability, but also the need to create designs which can be owned by a brand. There are a huge variety of textures being requested. Customers are also keener than ever to understand the architectural qualities of fabrics. Elements which are a consideration in the interior architecture of a room. Colours are a little braver with straight neutrals becoming warmer and used alongside stronger yet muted tones.
We are also seeing an increased use of bolder, brighter colours and the injection of more pattern, with brands striving to reinforce their identities.
There are some exciting trends running side by side at the moment. The maximalist look is still very much apparent, with an abundance of textures and layers in a room filled with colour and the contrast of dark and light. Texture is a big part of the finishing touches. Higher piles with a natural woolly look sit alongside metallics, velvets, woods and stone. Biophilia is still very relevant, bringing the outdoors in, goes hand in hand with sustainability. Shapes in print are often irregular and organic, yet bold and confident.
We are working on an exciting new project for later in the year, with the idea that we are virtually inviting the specifier to have a peek into the Skopos studio, to choose from a special library of prints for a variety of end uses.
The SBID Industry partnership gives us access to a broader scope of people in the industry. Designers who have previously concentrated on more domestic projects are branching into commercial challenges, rather than limiting their talents. We are ready to take the challenge and embrace SBID members and work with them to realise their visions.
We are delighted to introduce a new collection of small-scale, geometric designs that builds on the success of our recent Small Prints and Bibi launches.
These 5 designs are printed onto tumbled, 100% linen cloth with a relaxed, soft touch. Perfect for curtains, blinds, fixed and loose upholstery.
The free-flowing and tonal movement of this stylized coral, which was inspired by a small section of a traditional chintz from the 1800s, give it an endearingly natural appearance.
LF2398C / LF2427FR Available in 7 colourways
This pattern is derived from 17th-century domino paper used as book endpaper. The Linwood design team successfully blended a contemporary aesthetic into the design. Through its gentle, delicate flow, Helter Skelter celebrates the natural feel of the stylized fern.
LF2399C / LF2429FR Available in 19 colourways
With the immutable quality of a traditional block print, this basketweave pattern has a dynamic movement created by its multidirectional lines and varied tones.
LF2395C / LF2425FR Available in 9 colourways
With scalloped edges redolent of passementerie, Waltzer has an informal feel that captures the enchantment of sound waves.
LF2397C / LF2427FR Available in 7 colourways
This lively, casual stripe is presented on pure linen fabric and is based on an old Indian pattern discovered by the design team during their travels.
LF2396C / LF2426FR Available in 4 colourways
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