Morris and Co

Morris & Co.: 150 years of textile craft

William Morris took a taste of decoration in 1859 when he acquired and decorated his new house, Red House. In 1861, with friends, he began to create a company which goal is to make art accessible to all. Known as Morris and Co., it is known for the countless models of fabrics that it would develop for 150 years with a major Arts & Crafts influence.

The brand imagines its motifs during the late nineteenth century and reached its peak between 1880 and 1890. The floral theme is in the spotlight with an omnipresence of flowers, stems, and foliage. They are recognizable thanks to their arabesques and their very detailed finishes. Today, the textile archives of block prints by Morris and Co are taken over by Style Library. The latter advocates authenticity by striving to maintain the personality and the appearance of the original creations. Regarding colors, William Morris liked to use natural dyes that bring a visual explosion as they age.

The designer's work is often equated with Art Nouveau, an artistic movement of which he is the precursor. We find in its collections traditional artisanal elements. "Archive IV The Collector Fabrics" displays rounded lines when "Archive Weaves" gives itself a medieval touch through hand-woven jacquards and tapestries. A romantic style is in the spotlight in "Archive II Print" with its poem-inspired patterns while "Pure Morris North Fabrics" is more popular; evoking the Nordic landscape and way of life. Remakes of these designs are sometimes defined as more stylized versions which size and scale are adapted for textile support.