ELLE Decoration (UK)

COLEFAX AND FOWLER

BRAND TO KNOW

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The story of this esteemed English fabric and wallpaper brand begins in 1938, when a young artisan, John Fowler, was invited to work for interior decorator and socialite Lady Colefax at her Bruton Street shop in London’s Mayfair (in 1944, the head office moved to Brook Street). World War II and difficult times followed, and the company may have floundered had American heiress Nancy Lancaster not purchased Sibyl Colefax’s shares in 1944. She made Fowler a partner in the company and so began a collaborat­ion that, while notoriousl­y combative, was hugely creative. Working on the interiors of some of the country’s finest residences, they popularise­d the country-house style that put comfort on a par with elegance.

In 1960, interior decorator Tom Parr came on board as a partner and commercial­ised the business, helping it to launch its first fabric and wallpaper collection­s. Floated on the stock market in 1988, Colefax and Fowler continues to launch at least one collection a year and currently has showrooms in London, New York, Paris, Munich and Milan. 110 Fulham Road, London SW3 (colefax.com)

Founded in the 1940s, this company’s speciality is classic English fabrics and wallpaper in a sophistica­ted colour palette

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