When looking at the opulent and intricate Warner House designs, it's no surprise that they have such a rich history. Their story starts in Spitalfields, East London, with the Protestant Huguenots who fled France to escape persecution during the 17th Century, bringing with them sought-after skills, including silk weaving and dyeing. From opulent silk dresses for the ladies of the court to intricate hangings for four-poster beds, their textile creations were popular with the burgeoning middle classes.
Following cheaper silk imports from France, Spitalfields gradually lost much of its prosperity and spark. But an attentive child who had watched his parents busy at their trade, a Jacquard maker, ensured the skills and craftsmanship he'd mastered would survive into the 20th Century. That child was Benjamin Warner, and in 1870 he bought a client list and a design book and set up his own business, a business fitting for a new century.
Warner House, then Warner Fabrics, were purveyors of high-quality woven silks, quickly establishing themselves a reputation as one of the finest silk weavers in Britain.
L: HM Queen Elizabeth visits the factory (1949), M: June Swindells reviews Queensway pattern (1952), R: Queensway being presented to Ministry of Works (1953)
Warner's designs weave through the 20th Century, appearing in the most prestigious settings and socio-cultural events. Warner's fabrics were the pinnacle of style from refurbishing the White House, providing fabric for the Titanic, and exhibiting at the Festival of Britain. Their status as a distinguished heritage brand was sealed when they wove the cloth of gold for Edward 7th, providing fabrics for every Coronation since. As a result, they were awarded a prestigious Royal Warrant in 1932 for almost 50 years of service to the crown.
Since then, Warner was taken on by several different owners, sadly moving further away from its origins each time. After years of underfunding and neglect, in 2020, Warner House was acquired by husband and wife team Lee and Emma Clarke, hoping to breathe life into this heritage brand.
“When I bought Warner, it was all very exciting because it was a heritage brand with such amazing designs. I want it to be relevant as a brand and more modern in terms of its colourations. We've kept to the original designs, the heritage designs, but we like to recolour them for today's interiors.” Lee Clarke
With an archive of over 1000 original designs, Warner House has been revived for the modern-day consumer whilst still staying true to its past.
“We don't mess with the design. When I look through the archive at what Warner has produced in the past, it was incredible then and is still incredible today. We've just tweaked some of the colourways; we're a bit more modern, a bit more relevant.” Lee Clarke
Lee has plans to grow Warner House into a lifestyle brand, not just focusing on interiors. It's an exciting time for Warner House, with lots of ideas and partnerships in the pipeline. The collaboration we're most excited about, of course, is the one with Lagom.
Partnering with Warner House is a great opportunity for us at Lagom to offer something different than our usual bright and bold designs and to work with a brand with such a rich and exciting history. It's a true heritage brand that has retained its values since it began, which is something we admire and are excited to honour. Fashions may change, but people will always appreciate good, classic design.
To view the complete collection, click here.