Made to Measure Curtains and Roman Blinds in Colefax and Fowler fabrics

Colefax and Fowler is one of the great names of British interior design. Timeless elegance would be the first thought to spring to mind, could anything be more essentially English in the design world? Still thriving today and with a proud history, every year new collections from the five brands feature sophisticated designs in subtle colours created using advanced weaving and printing skills. There are stunning prints, beautiful linen and silk embroideries, rich velvets and weaves. The embroideries typically show influences of the Persian and Indienne, along with paisley and botanicals.

It all began in the 1930s, when Lady Sibyl Colefax started decorating among her circle of friends and acquaintances. Not only was she a talented decorator – typically stylish and comfortable rather than grand and pretentious – but she was also and extremely capable businesswoman. He designs proved to be a great success and her work was much in demand among the aristocracy and even royalty. By 1938 she asked John Fowler to join her to help expand the business and cope with the growing demand for her work. John Fowler already had a reputation as one of the up-and-coming young names in the design world and thus a great partnership evolved. In 1939, ‘Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler’ became the company name.

It was only in the 1970s that Tom Parr, leading the company after the retirement of John Fowler, diversified the business from interior decoration into the retailing of fabrics and wallpapers, with the first fabric collection launched in 1973. This was followed in 1982 with the first wallpaper collection, and the modern day Colefax and Fowler business was born. Some of the early designs by talented artist George Oakes, including the Bowood and Fuchsia chintzes, are still in production today.

The company expanded greatly under new CEO David Green from 1986 becoming a global business and listing on the London stock exchange. As well as the Colefax and Fowler brand, the group now includes Jane Churchill, Manuel Canovas, Larsen plus US textile firms Cowtan and Tout (only sold in the USA) and British furniture maker Kingcome Sofas.

The interior decorating business continues to thrive, now back under its original trading name of Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler.

We are proud to offer the full range of Colefax and Fowler fabrics.

You can read more about Colefax and Fowler at Colefax.com