Threads of India

Rediscover the timeless charm of an 18th century cotton tent hanging from the V&A collection and bring echoes of the grandeur of Mughal artistry onto your furniture. Originating from Masulipatam, north of Madras, on the so-called Coromandel Coast, this 18th century textile design has been reimagined for contemporary spaces. Our fabric design takes inspiration from the ageless Mughal motif of a flowering tree enclosed in an arch, infusing it with a fresh twist that seamlessly merges the past with innovation.

This fabric is a modern homage to a border detail from a magnificent ceremonial banner created in the 14th century. The 600-year-old ancestral cloth, which has been preserved for decades in a local clanhouse on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, bears witness to India's extensive trade links with the area. The original block-printed composition, based on western Indian manuscript decoration, is a stylised representation of interlocking trees in a densely forested landscape. Our interpretation of this intricate striped pattern is a contemporary tribute to ancient splendour.

This fabric draws inspiration from an intricate 19th century brocade, known as kamkhwab or kinkhwab, from Varanasi or Baharampur. Cherished for its splendour and rarity, the fabric was popular in the Mughal courts. Kamkhwab is known for its extensive deployment of golden and silver thread, to the point where occasionally the silk background is hardly discernible. Rediscover the artistry that once adorned ceremonial robes and hangings and elevate your interiors with a touch of opulence.