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- TRIMMINGS: VOLUME I
  Gainsborough's newest trimmings collection reinterprets classic decorative detailing for today's interiors. Featuring nine designs, each available in versatile colourways, from cut ruche and fan edge to cord and braids, each piece adds definition, texture and a refined finishing touch to upholstery, drapery, and soft furnishings.
  
  SUDBURY EDIT
  The collection honours the beauty of past periods whilst giving the fabrics a modern twist to suit 21st century tastes. The colourways, including neutral tones, ensure the fabrics remain timeless and offer versatility to complement both contemporary and traditional interiors.
  
  BRITANNIA
  The Britannia collection by Dame Zandra Rhodes for Gainsborough, is woven using traditional weaving practices, both designs incorporate Zandra’s signature style of free-flowing patterns and prints, as well as her use of bold, captivating colours.
  
  ARCHIVE COLLECTION
  Historic designs that are made-to-order at our Sudbury Mill with a 20m minimum order.
Products
- FABRICS
  Encapsulating over a century of British craftmanship, we produce some of the world’s finest interior fabrics and play a unique role in preserving both Britain’s textile heritage and its future.
  
  WALLPAPER
  With the same attention to detail and informed by a range of historical influences, our designers have carefully reconstructed these archival hand painted paper patterns into stunning, distinct wallpaper designs.
  
  TRIMMINGS
  Manufacturers and purveyors of some of the world’s finest passementerie, sister company Heritage Trimmings share our ethos and approach to UK craftmanship and the promotion of artisanal skills.
Design Service
- BESPOKE
  Our bespoke offering means we can create an entirely new design; one that is completely unique to your vision and based around your specific needs and requirements.
  
  CUSTOMISE
  As well as creating bespoke fabrics, we can also customise existing designs. Every fabric we have ever woven is sampled and detailed within our vast design archive.
  
  RECREATE
  We still take pride in recreating fabrics of historical and sentimental significance. We have worked on several exciting projects, helping to bring historic designs back to life.
Heritage
- OUR HISTORY
  Established in 1903 by Reginald Warner, the Gainsborough Silk Weaving Company is one of Britain’s last remaining jacquard weaving mills.
  
  OUR ARCHIVE
  Gainsborough’s archive of over 7,000 designs spans the full history of our many collections, dating back to 1903, as well as historic designs dating back as far as the 16th Century.
  
  PROJECTS
  We have worked closely with designers, architects, and clients on many exciting projects, from bespoke commissions to historic recreations.
Inside The Mill
- WINDING
  Hanks of dyed yarn are transferred to our weaving shed, where the yarn is wound onto cones and pirns, if it is to be used as a weft yarn, or bobbins for warping.
  
  WARPING
  Once all the threads are ready, they are tied to the warping mill; this revolves, winding the threads around its circumference in a narrow section as many times as the length of cloth demands
  
  WEAVING
  We run three types of looms: traditional dobby, jacquard shuttle and modern rapier.
CONTACT US

Collections
- TRIMMINGS: VOLUME I
  Gainsborough's newest trimmings collection reinterprets classic decorative detailing for today's interiors. Featuring nine designs, each available in versatile colourways, from cut ruche and fan edge to cord and braids, each piece adds definition, texture and a refined finishing touch to upholstery, drapery, and soft furnishings.
  
  SUDBURY EDIT
  The collection honours the beauty of past periods whilst giving the fabrics a modern twist to suit 21st century tastes. The colourways, including neutral tones, ensure the fabrics remain timeless and offer versatility to complement both contemporary and traditional interiors.
  
  BRITANNIA
  The Britannia collection by Dame Zandra Rhodes for Gainsborough, is woven using traditional weaving practices, both designs incorporate Zandra’s signature style of free-flowing patterns and prints, as well as her use of bold, captivating colours.
  
  ARCHIVE COLLECTION
  Historic designs that are made-to-order at our Sudbury Mill with a 20m minimum order.
Products
- FABRICS
  Encapsulating over a century of British craftmanship, we produce some of the world’s finest interior fabrics and play a unique role in preserving both Britain’s textile heritage and its future.
  
  WALLPAPER
  With the same attention to detail and informed by a range of historical influences, our designers have carefully reconstructed these archival hand painted paper patterns into stunning, distinct wallpaper designs.
  
  TRIMMINGS
  Manufacturers and purveyors of some of the world’s finest passementerie, sister company Heritage Trimmings share our ethos and approach to UK craftmanship and the promotion of artisanal skills.
Design Service
- BESPOKE
  Our bespoke offering means we can create an entirely new design; one that is completely unique to your vision and based around your specific needs and requirements.
  
  CUSTOMISE
  As well as creating bespoke fabrics, we can also customise existing designs. Every fabric we have ever woven is sampled and detailed within our vast design archive.
  
  RECREATE
  We still take pride in recreating fabrics of historical and sentimental significance. We have worked on several exciting projects, helping to bring historic designs back to life.
Heritage
- OUR HISTORY
  Established in 1903 by Reginald Warner, the Gainsborough Silk Weaving Company is one of Britain’s last remaining jacquard weaving mills.
  
  OUR ARCHIVE
  Gainsborough’s archive of over 7,000 designs spans the full history of our many collections, dating back to 1903, as well as historic designs dating back as far as the 16th Century.
  
  PROJECTS
  We have worked closely with designers, architects, and clients on many exciting projects, from bespoke commissions to historic recreations.
Inside The Mill
- WINDING
  Hanks of dyed yarn are transferred to our weaving shed, where the yarn is wound onto cones and pirns, if it is to be used as a weft yarn, or bobbins for warping.
  
  WARPING
  Once all the threads are ready, they are tied to the warping mill; this revolves, winding the threads around its circumference in a narrow section as many times as the length of cloth demands
  
  WEAVING
  We run three types of looms: traditional dobby, jacquard shuttle and modern rapier.
CONTACT US

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

15 May 2025

The National Portrait Gallery reopened its doors to visitors having undergone considerable refurbishment. The cloth selected by the National Portrait Gallery is Wool Camlet which is woven by Gainsborough in 100% wool and is specially suited to the purpose.

Namely – moisture wicking, durable, sound dampening, light absorbing and forgiving when it comes to the repositioning of hooks and nails required to hang great works of art.