attern has formed the backbone to our interiors for centuries, and just like fashion, there are colourways, motifs and emblems that prove a returning source of inspiration for designers, makers and fabric houses. Britain has absorbed a number of global influences – from India to the Far East – resulting in designs that have become part of its decorating DNA, whether chintz, damask or chinoiserie. In the late 19th century, the Arts and Crafts movement, co-led by William Morris, spearheaded the revival of British textile arts and methods of production. Today, that legacy lives on, thanks to fabric and wallpaper stalwarts, including Morris & Co, Colefax and Fowler, Bennison and Sanderson, among others. Their rich archives provide inspiration for reissues, often with a fresh twist via simplification, rescaling or recolouring. “As a nation, we have a deep relationship with pattern, so these historic designs can create a sense of security,” believes Ruth Mottershead of Little Greene, which has a number of wallpapers inspired by archive patterns from the National Trust. “They also add a layer of decoration that creates a design statement in both
