The colourfully stitched flowers and decorative patterns which feature on our cushions and bags date back to the years between the wars in Britain when there was a revived interest in many traditional crafts, including needlework. Embroidering tablecloths, napkins, tea cosies and tray cloths, known as Duchesse sets, was a popular hobby at a time when afternoon tea was still a regular part of the day.
The quality of embroidery from this period is often very high but largely anonymous and neglected. Alongside thousands of china tea sets, vintage embroidery is often considered impractical and archaic in the 21st century, relegated to the loft or forgotten in a cupboard.
We wanted to breathe new life into these wonderful, colourful, beautifully hand stitched heirlooms. By carefully incorporating them into our textiles we hope to give them a new lease of life, bringing them back into everyday use and allowing us to appreciate the talents of the women who made them so many years ago.