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INTRODUCTION
Established in 1970 by Tricia Guild, Designers Guild designs and wholesales furnishing fabrics, wallcoverings, upholstery and bed and bath collections worldwide.The company is headed and owned by brother and sister, Tricia Guild, Founder and Creative Director, and Simon Jeffreys, Group Chief Executive. The Designers Guild business philosophy is to combine creativity and innovation with the highest levels of quality: quality of design, product, service and people.
Value Statement: "We believe in quality of design, product and service combined with a committed and motivated team."
DESIGNERS GUILD COLLECTIONS AND TIMELINE TO PRESENT DAY
1975 Village
1976 Geranium
1977 Poppy Vase
1978 Bean, Daisy
1979 Watercolour, Spatter
1980 Mainstream, TGSF
1982 Rags, Tatters
1983 Angles, Moonshine, Rough Diamond, Doubleglaze
1984 Natural Classics, Anemone, Cotton Twist
1985 Chintz Classics, Trees, Blossom, Gardenia, Textures, Flowers
1986 Wildflower, Howard Hodgkin, Ornamental Garden, Watergarden, Waterleaf
1987 Filigree, Spring Flower, Plains, Grandiflora, Gesso
1988 Maypole, Tapisserie, Tapestry Leaves, Cassia, Damas Fleuri, Filigrana
1989 Oriental Flowers, Impressions du Midi, Castellane, Merry-go-Round, Il Veneto, Vicenza, Torcello,
- Munich Office Opened
1990 Summer House, Passariano, Bokhara, Kashgar, Astrakhan
1991 Mardi Gras, Marquetry, Abracadabra, Pergamena, Chazelles, Tarsus, Nantua, Cartiglio, Cushma Trimmings, Vinchina Cushions, Firefly
- Queens Award for Export Achievement
1992 Still Life, The Melon Patch, Harvest, Orissa, Jalna, Japonica, Katibo, Tindall, Amhara.
- Upholstery launched
- Export Award for Smaller Businesses
1993 Santa Margherita, Mahé, Puntino, Kusumam, Jalapuri, Lalitha, Kalamkari
- New Head Office in Olaf Street, London opened..
- Paris Office opened
1994 Toy Box, Gouache, Phulkari, Sujani, Kaffe's Pots and new upholstery
- Designers Guild is a winner of the European Community Design Prize
1995 Mei P'ing, Milford, Tullow, Tirupati, Sakumari, Saffa, Kashipur, Orientalis, Jhati, Tianjun.
- Bed and Bath Division launched - bedlinen, blankets and towels
- Excellence de la Maison for Bedlinen, by Marie Claire Maison Magazine, France
1996 Isika, Hopscotch, Pushpa, Dalton, Marquetry II, Oola, Karahana, Artemisia, Palazzo, Ryoshi, Diagonale, Palatino, Borghese, Brera, Vercelli
- New 66,000 sq ft Production and Distribution Centre in West London opened
- Queens Award for Export Achievement.
1997 Salsa, Granita, Bakhia, Ottavia, Emerson, Arklow, Patadar, Allerby, Rajkot, Tamarind, Ashrafi,Nyamati, Jalaja
- Tablelinen launched
- Milan Office opened
1998 Tiddlywink, Damascena, Solferino, Manjeri, Bergamo, Candassa, Tassi, Tafta, Mandriola, Torridon
- Paint collection launched
1999 Quanjin, Broadcloth, Kells, Passiflora, Kutru trims, Peshkir, Canareggio, Batiste, Orani, Velluto, Veryan
- Personal Organisers collection launched
2000 La Désirade fabrics and wallpapers, Bindi, Mistral, Brera, Cats Chorus, Kepala fabrics and wallpapers, Makasar, Fiesole, Parioli, Serang
- New Designers Guild luggage range launched.
- New Carpet range launched.
- Mail order catalogue At Home launched.
- Emily Todhunter brand launched Tuileries fabrics and wallpapers.
2001 Pontalba fabrics and wallpapers, Izapa, Estrêla, On Your Marks, Zandanechi prints, Colour Book Wallpapers, Cozenza silks, Nurata weaves
- New furniture designs launched.
- William Yeoward brand launched Notebook fabrics.
- Two new mail order catalogues At Home and Designers Guild Kids
- New carpets and tufted rugs
- Tablelinen
2002 Cristobal fabrics and wallpapers, Habanera, Tejeda, Over the Moon, Inessa, Pavlovsk, Trezzini
- William Yeoward Fabric & Wallpaper second collection Sketchbook
2003 Imari, Shibori weaves, Masuda Weaves, Shibori WP, China Rose, Saraceno, Rosalina, Mezzola Stripe
- Jasper Conran Fabric and wallpaper.
- Move to brand new Headquarters- 3 Latimer Place.
2004 Mirabeau, Rousillon, Veran, Arezzo WP, Mantova, Mezzola Maggiore, Bokashi outdoor, Hide&Seek, Companions, Chinon, Naturally, New Paint collection, Rugs. Amaranth, Breganze, Ombrione, Coromandel, Varese, Mezzola Twill and Tweed,
- Fragrant Home collection launched with three scents: First flower, Green Fig and Waterleaf
2005 Cherry Orchard Fabric and Wallpaper, Merindol weaves, Banon printed stripes, Mezzola Bellusco, Cabannes Outdoor, Callian fabrics and Wallpaper, Cherry Orchard Braids, Samarkand prints, Foscari silks, Brocatelle weaves, Bukhara flock prints, Pallanza textured plains and Bukhara Wallpapers
- New Fragrant Home products: Shanghai Rose and Summer Vine.
2006 Gran Paradiso prints, Panama wallcoverings, Arlanza weaves, Najasa wide width linens and silks, Catalan, Conway and Brera. Portobello, Etoile, Ruzzini, DG Essentials. Sarafan prints and Wallcoverings, Coromandel wallcoverings, Anastasia, Monplaisir weaves, Mezzola Repino, Indian Summer Archive collection, William Yeoward Ranakpur Collection.
2007 Oriental Garden prints and wallcoverings, Kibushi weaves, Kashima, Essentials: Shima, Hoxton, Rossano, Ribera, Kaya. Amalienborg prints & wallcoverings, Quarenghi weaves, Taillandier silks, Kasimir weaves, Ferrara Trevira CS weaves, Mezzola/Mezzola Lusso faux suede, Brescia, Bamberg.
- Jasper Conrans second collection Sackville Street.
- Paris Showroom expanded.
- Tricia Guild awarded the Homes and Gardens Lifetime achievement award
- Limited edition candles Peony and Limeflower, Capucheen and Guirlande
2008 Florimund prints and wallcoverings, Racine velvets, Correze sheers, Roquelaire silks, Arzino taffetas, Tsuga Essentials (new colourways) Satinato Essentials, Primrose Hill prints and wallpapers,Orsetti trimmings, William Yeoward Delacroix Collection. Arabella prints and Arabella wallcoverings,Monteverdi velvets, Ariana silks, Alisede wide width sheers, Ruggiero plain velvets, Chambord silks and Milano Trevira CS weaves which significantly expands the company's contract offer.
- Festival and Hayward furniture models launched.
- Collaboration with Laduree Paris with three specially designed DG boxes for their famous macaroons.
- Giacosa candle launched.
- Tricia Guild awarded an OBE for services to Interior Design
- The Royal Collection of fabrics and wallcoverings launched, produced and distributed worldwide on behalf of the British Royal Household and inspired by the Royal Palaces, with worldwide launch events at the Queens Gallery Buckingham Palace in the Ambassadors residence, the British Embassy Paris. Copyrighted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
- New website and online bed and bath shop launched
- Designers Guild awarded 22nd place in the Sunday Times Pricewaterhousecoopers profit track 100, for Britain's fastest growing privately owned firms. Also awarded the Microsoft prize for best use of technology.
- New Munich Showroom opened in the heart of the city.
2009 Whitewell prints and wallcoverings, Tsuga wallcoverings, Adelphi silks, Maitland weaves, Manhattan prints, Rinzu, Bilbao and Bassano Essentials, new Orsetti trimmings. William Yeoward Aurelie.Darlyprints and wallpapers, Roumier weaves, Valadier silks, Quinto weaves, Cali, Cascina and Black and White Essentials and Carlu wallpapers.The second Royal Collection fabrics and wallpapers collection. The launch of a new FR collection Santiago
- Designers Guild is awarded a place for the second year running in the Pricewaterhousecoopers Profit track 100, for Britain's fastest growing privately owned firms.
- Designers Guild Inc launched to handle all bed and bath accessories in the USA.
- New USA shop online website launched.
- New furniture models launched the Orbit and Domino
- New larger three wick candle Darly is added to the fragrant home range.
- Portier wallpaper is awarded Best Wallpaper by the UK Homes & Gardens Fabric Awards
2010 Pavilion prints, Nabucco wallcoverings, Cassan weaves, Nantucket weaves, Barcelona prints, Tiana Outdoor. Designers Guild Essentials collections: Brera Alta, Brera Lino, Kellas and Tiber. Nash grasscloth wallpapers and William Yeoward Aranjasa.
Zephirine prints, Zephirine wallcoverings, Bernardini weaves, Trevelyan silks, Cecilia Trevira, Moray
Moray Essentials, Brenan Essentials, Arno Essentials, Nabucco Essentials, Royal Collection Fabrics and Wallpapers Campanula.
- New furniture models launched at Maison et Objet in Paris: The Julep, Cosmopolitan, Gibson, Soho and Brooklyn
- New Homestore open on Marylebone High Street in early April 2010.
- Tricia Guild publishes new book, 15th to date A Certain Style (Autumn 2010)in 7 languages.
2011 Sofienberg prints and Linneaus wallcoverings, Borgholm weaves, Trasimeno weaves, Lauzon wide width sheers. Designers Guild unlimited collections: Miami prints, Deltona weaves and Oxbridge wallcoverings. Designers Guild Essentials: Brera Rigato, Allia, Salso, Piave and Mezzola (relaunch with new colourways) New DG kids collection: Around the World prints and wallpapers.
- William Yeoward Polperro collection of fabrics and wallpapers.
- The Iconic international luxury brand Christian Lacroix launches its first collection for the home under license to Designers Guild - Arles prints and weaves and accessories.
2012 For Designers Guild: Kimono Blossom prints, Kasuri wallcoverings, Perreau weaves and Mazan wide width linens. For Designers Guild Unlimited: Country prints, Havana prints, Brera wallcoverings and Fleuve taffetas. For Designers Guild Essentials: Brera Quadretto, Tickings, Salerno and Aviano. Five new furniture models launched: Ellipse, Button, Stitch, Flute and Harper. William Yeoward launches two new collections: Exmere and Manton as well as accessories Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild launches fabrics, wallpapers and accessories. 'The Royal Collection Fabrics and Wallpapers' adds new accessories to the range for spring 2012, including a special cushion to commemorate the jubilee of Queen Elizabeth.
- Designers Guild voted 'Best British Brand' for the second consecutive year by readers of Elle Decoration UK
STRUCTURE
The Designers Guild Group employs over 280 people in the UK and overseas offices in Munich and Paris. 250 are in the UK, with a store and showrooms in Kings Road and Marylebone High Street, London, a 66,000 sq ft distribution centre and 16,000 sq ft purpose built head office, both in West London.
All sales networks are supported by a fully computerised customer service facility and b2b website which handles over 1000 orders, deals with queries and provides full technical information. Linked to this, are stock control and purchasing systems, which process over 2 million metres of fabric and wallpaper a year. Rapid deliveries are guaranteed through a network of couriers and orders can be despatched anywhere in the UK, Europe and worldwide within 24 hours. Designers Guild operates in over 40 markets.
The management of the Company flows from a corporate strategy, using planning, communication and management information systems. The Designers Guild philosophy includes equity participation and communication at all levels of the Group and the Company enjoys tremendous commitment from its staff, who are aware and kept informed of strategic developments and performance.
MARKETING
Turnover has grown rapidly over the past 20 years to over £50 million selling to interior designers, department stores, retailers and the hotel and contract market. The largest market is the UK. Sales overseas are through local Designers Guild operating centres in France, Germany and Italy and agents & distributors in the rest of Europe and world-wide. Designers Guild operates in over 40 markets worldwide. Of total sales, over 60% is overseas, with Designers Guild represented in over 60 countries. There are Designers Guild showrooms in Paris and Munich with further Designers Guild areas in over 60 showrooms across the world including all of Europe to New York, LA, Tokyo and Sydney. .
Advertising and promotional campaigns are worldwide with extensive coverage in the UK, Germany, France, and the rest of Europe, Australasia and the USA. New ranges are launched at Decorex and London Design Week in London, Heimtex in Germany and Scènes D’Intérieur in Paris.
DESIGN AND PRODUCT RANGE
FABRIC & WALLPAPER
Extensive investment is made each year in new product. The studio, headed by Tricia Guild, has produced designs from such diverse inspiration as Eastern decorative art, Italian architecture and classical documents.
Tricia Guild has written fifteen inspirational books on the subject of colour and design, from soft furnishings to flowers, gardens and city living. In 1989 Tricia Guild was awarded the Textile Institute's Gold Medal for Design Contribution and in 1994 Designers Guild was a winner of the European Community Design Prize.
The Designers Guild range currently has nearly 9,000 fabrics and
2,000 wallpapers including printed floral and geometric fabrics;
plains, checks and stripes, jacquards, tapestries, silks, velvets,
trimmings and children's collections. The highest qualities of
cloth are sourced; from combed Egyptian cottons and Scottish linen
unions to Swiss woven damasks. Printers and engravers use state of
the art technology and strict quality control systems are applied
both in-house and at our suppliers.
DIVISIONS OF DESIGNERS GUILD FABRIC & WALLPAPER
As well as the Designers Guild principal collections, there are six different subdivisions that are designed to appeal to more specific customers:
An extraordinary collection of thousands of plain and semi plain fabrics that span a variety of textures and uses - plain cottons, linens, silks, velvets, satins as well as wide width sheers and high tech fabrics that are suitable for every eventuality.
A growing division of DG, Unlimited celebrates designs for the young and young at heart - edgy, graphic, colourful and fashionable, these products have an unmistakeable modern edge in true DG style.
Gorgeous collections for children of all ages- fun motifs, educational themes and a wide colour palette make them a destination for nurseries, bedrooms and play rooms everywhere.
In 2008 Designers Guild launched a new brand The Royal Collection of Fabrics and Wallcoverings, on behalf of the Royal Household, which is a series of collections inspired by the interiors of the Royal residences, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle and the first licensing agreement of its kind. A second collection was launched in September 2009 including a brand new collection of tie-backs and trimmings and a third collection followed in 2010 Campanula.
In 2001 the company substantially increased its fabric and wallpaper division to incorporate William Yeoward Fabric followed by wallpaper in 2002 and continues to launch regular collections under this brand.
In 2011 Designers Guild launched the first collection for the iconic international luxury brand Christian Lacroix under license to Designers Guild - Arles prints and weaves and accessories went live at Maison et Objet in Paris January 2011.
Designers Guild is also the exclusive distributor in Europe of
Ralph Lauren Fabrics and wallcoverings.
FURNITURE
An exclusive range of contemporary upholstered furniture designed in the Designers Guild studio. The pieces are manufactured to high standards in the UK and Italy and distributed throughout Europe and in many of our overseas markets. Two models launched in Autumn 05: The Sketch and Easy Chair were designed by British designer Rock Galpin for Designers Guild and won the 2005 Laurent Perrier Design award. They were followed by the Festival and Hayward furniture in autumn 08 and in autumn 09 the Orbit and Domino designs. Spring 2010 saw the furniture profile significantly expanded with 5 brand new models - the Gibson, Cosmopolitan, Julep. Soho and Brooklyn and the Spin followed in Spring 2011.
HOME ACCESSORIES
Designers Guild offers an ever expanding collection of rugs, cushions, blankets, throws, quilts, towels, bags and home fragrance with every collection launch, offering superb quality, beautiful design and the very best materials with an extensive colour palette.
BED AND BATH
The Designers Guild Bed and Bath range of printed, woven, embroidered and appliquéd bedlinen is made from finest 100% pure cotton and is complemented by a range of pure cotton towels, wool and cotton blankets and quilts. This division was launched in January 1995 and products are available through leading stores and retailers and through the online shop.
RETAIL
Retail showrooms are on the Kings Road and Marylebone High Street in London and act as a showcase where fabric and wallpaper collections are shown alongside bed and bath, fragrant home, upholstery and many imaginative accessories and innovative one-off pieces.
In 2008 we launched the UK online shop, offering bedlinen and a selection of home accessories-cushions, blankets, throws and rugs. Early 2009 saw the launch of Designers Guild Inc to handle the bed, bath and accessory division in the USA and a USA online shop. From that date, the full range of Designers Guild bedlinen and home accessories were available to buy and could be delivered anywhere in the USA for the first time.
LICENSING
In addition to the Bed and Bath collection, the Designers Guild Licensing Division deals with a variety of top quality companies to manufacture additional ranges of household products including tablelinen and china, a paint range of 98 exciting paint colours and an extensive range of accessories that are all designed in our studio. In 2004 the Fragrant Home collection of scented candles, room sprays, and bath and body lotions was launched and continues every season.
DESIGNERS GUILD AND TRICIA GUILD O.B.E - ACHIEVEMENTS / AWARDS
1989 Textile Institute Gold Medal for her outstanding contribution to International Textiles, UK.
1993 Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Art, London, UK.
1993 Honorary Master of Arts Degree from Winchester School of Art, UK.
1994 A winner of the European Community Design Prize.
1995 Excellence de la Maison for Bedlinen, by Marie Claire Maison Magazine, France.
1997 Home Tex Design Award, USA.
1999 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology, Loughborough University, UK.
2002 Elle Decoration International Design Award for Best Fabric Design. IT
2003 Elle Decoration award for best wallpaper USA
2007 The Homes & Gardens Classic Design Award Lifetime achievement
2008 Tricia Guild awarded the O.B.E from the Queen for services to interior design.
2010 Best British Brand awarded by Elle
Decoration UK.
1991 Queens Award for Export Achievement.
1992 The Export Award for Smaller Businesses.
1996 Queens Award for Export Achievement.
2008 Pricewaterhouse Coopers Profit Track 100 Britains fastest profit-growth firm: Designers Guild awarded 22nd place and secured a place in the following year in 2009 as well.
HEAD OFFICE
DESIGNERS GUILD
3 Latimer Place, London, W10 6QT, United Kingdom
email - info@designersguild.com
web - www.designersguild.com
For Tricia Guild and Simon Jeffreys profiles,
William Yeoward and Christian Lacroix profiles, further
information, image or product loans please contact The Press Office
in London.
Amanda Back, Hannah Liddle and Chloé Bawden - Email:
press@designersguild.com / Tel: +44 20 7893 7400