It’s fair to say most interior designers have more than just a casual interest in textiles. In fact, the category tends to be a passion for creatives who want to elevate the spaces they design and add the perfect accent. Be it new or vintage, an expertly chosen textile can lend a level of sophistication, comfort, joy, history, home… any sensation one is looking to evoke.
The hunt for memorable textiles can take one around the globe for adventures wandering the aisles of the Paris Flea Market or Istabul’s Grand Bazaar, or seeking the perfect block print in Rajasthan. And let’s not forget the colorful, curated collections found from coast to coast stateside. To bring you the best, aspire polled our designer readers to learn their favorite places, near and far, to source the unique, historic, and reliable textiles they love to bring into their projects.
R/Terior Studio for the 2023 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Photo by Chris Considine
Saana Baker | The Textile Eye
While I love to meander away an afternoon in a flea market, my expertise is not in vintage textiles but in fabrics that are in current production—and I am passionate about fabrics that are made in the same way that they were hundreds of years ago. The French brand Prelle is an eternal favorite. The family-owned company has been weaving silk in Lyon since 1752. Their Paris showroom is full of atmosphere and history. You can also see their silks in their jewel box in New York. It always gives me a creative lift to be in the presence of such exquisite fabrics, and to see how they will continue to reinterpret the past.
Sara Malek Barney | BANDD/DESIGN
Perigold allows me to spec trade textiles quickly all in one place.
SUPPLY Showroom is local to Austin, but has amazing small-batch textile lines.
The Round Top Antique Market and other flea markets are perfect for finding amazing current and vintage textiles by the bolt.
Rydhima Brar | R/Terior Studio
There are so many amazing places around the world renowned for their beautiful and unique textiles, each offering something distinctive in terms of heritage, style, material, and craftsmanship, it is hard to choose. But If I had to pick, it would definitely be India. Known for its rich textile heritage, India offers a variety of fabrics like silk, cotton, and wool, and is famous for intricate embroideries, vibrant colors, and diverse patterns. Regions like Varanasi for silk, Rajasthan for block prints, and Kashmir for Pashmina are particularly gorgeous. South Indian textiles are celebrated for their exquisite craftsmanship and vibrant colors, and are particularly known for their silk sarees, like the luxurious Kanjeevarams from Tamil Nadu. These fabrics often have intricate designs and are woven using traditional techniques passed down through generations, making them not only beautiful garments but also pieces of cultural heritage.
Mark Cravotta | Cravotta Interiors
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Textiles have been a lifelong fascination for me, I used to be a weaver, so I have always paid attention to their intricacies. Wherever I travel, I make a point to seek out exceptionally crafted textiles, most of which end up being vintage. During my recent trip to Istanbul, I found a bunch of vintage textiles in the Grand Bazaar. For me, there’s an unparalleled allure in the exquisitely handcrafted pieces of yesteryears; they have a high level of craftsmanship that modern creations often lack. The dealers at the Grand Bazaar are established and have been there for generations but are still primitive in the way that they don’t advertise. You can’t just find these pieces on your computer, you have to be there and really commit to the hunt. It’s incredible to have access to textiles from Eastern Europe all the way through Eastern Asia.
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Brittney Ferguson | Brittney Ferguson Interiors
Supply Showroom– SO many amazing international lines. I just had a wallpaper imported from Australia.
Schumacher– Good ole faithful! There is nothing they can’t do. From solid velvets to unique prints.
Phillip Jeffries– My favorite grasscloth wallpaper.
Samuel & Sons– Super unique tape trims.
Stout– The biggest bang for the clients’ buck!
Jennifer Fisher | J. Fisher Interiors
For textiles in Texas, it’s George Cameron Nash. They have the best selection and the showroom is beautiful and organized well. Every time I go, I find what I’m looking for.
Lina Galvao & Erin Coren | Curated Nest
We have our go-to vendors, which we shop for almost every project: Kravet, Fabricut, Schumacher; Kasmir… Then we have smaller textile houses which are more specific and artisanal – these we use on most projects too, but it depends on the overall style we are trying to achieve – Zak and Fox, Somerselle showroom (has various smaller lines), Rebecca Atwood, Kelly Ventura, Savannah Hayes, Perennials (indoor/outdoor fabric).
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Heather Humphrey | Alder & Tweed
We often source our textiles from design showrooms that bring together collections from premium woolen, linen and natural fiber mills. Some of our favorite textile brands include Rosemary Hallgarten, Elitis, Moon, Dedar, Omexo, and Holland & Sherry, each renowned for their exceptional quality and ability to elevate our design vision with their diverse range of textures, patterns, and colors. Elitis and Omexo also produce luxury wall coverings that can add that extra layer of pattern or texture to a space. Rosemary Hallgarten’s exquisite line of fabrics comes in a range of colors, prints and wovens that can be used in a variety of spaces to add that finishing touch. Whether it’s adding a pop of color through a throw pillow or wrapping an accent chair in a rich mohair to add some sophistication to the space, with these vendors, we’re able to elevate our clients’ living spaces for truly inspiring rooms.
Adam Hunter | Adam Hunter Inc.
One of our favorite destinations for luxurious textiles is Quintus Los Angeles. There is always a diverse range of indoor and outdoor textile collections that are consistently inspiring and innovative.
Kiley Jackson + Aileen Warren | Jackson Warren Interiors
We love Carol Piper Rugs in Houston for sourcing vintage textiles – Carol and her expertly trained protege have an excellent eye for rare and hard-to-find textiles from around the world.
Design by BANDD/DESIGN. Photo by Molly Culver
Ryan Gordon Jackson | Studio Jackson Inc.
Thomas Lavin – A cross-section of what is new and next at the highest level of textile.
Kneedler Fauchere – The standard of high-level design. Where luxury fabrics have and will likely always be.
Holly Hunt – Timeless and effortless luxury is found here.
Mia Jung | Kligerman Architecture & Design
Virginia Di Sciascio /Antique Textiles in NYC – Virginia has been collecting and making pieces out of antique textiles all her life. Her collection is amazing and her work is superb.
Laetitia Laurent | Laure Nell Interiors
Paris: the 6th, 7th and 2nd. Between Nobilis, Pierre Frey, Elitis, Zimmer Rhode and Dedar your choices are plentiful. And if you want to depart the interior design trade you can head over to the Marché Saint-Pierre and really get lost in options.
Melissa Morgan | M Interiors
Galerie Leyla in the Saint Ouen Paris Flea Market. She always has the most beautiful and eclectic mix of fantastic textiles from all over the world. It’s a little treasure trove where you will be amazed at what you can find.
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Rebecca Rivers | Hacin
When it comes to textiles, I can’t get enough of the globally-inspired collection Zak Profera has curated at Zak + Fox. Their prints feel simultaneously grounded in the past and refreshingly unfamiliar at the same time. They recently opened a new showroom in New York which is a fantastic treat to visit. It’s like stepping into an amazing intimate oasis – I could spend all day there!
Vani Sayeed | Vani Sayeed Studios
When I travel, especially to India, I purchase swaths of fabric, be it saris or just yards of fabric for a particular project or for future use. We have also had custom handblock textiles fabricated by textile artist Sharmila Taneja in India for projects. I don’t want to play favorites because I love them but we shop almost all the lines at the Boston Design Center and showrooms in New York.
Jessica Shaw | The Turett Collaborative
Romo is my go-to. Representing so many fabulous lines, curated in a way that aligns with my aesthetic, spending time in the showroom is often the starting point for project inspiration. From solid colors to rich textured patterns, the textiles they offer are always inspiring and fresh.
Dedar fabrics are in a unique category of luxury and innovation, marrying traditional weaving and textile manufacturing with state-of-the-art technology. A recent favorite of mine is their Kotakot Collection; it’s an enticing blend of leather and cotton that looks and feels incredible.
Design by Alder & Tweed
Ryann Swan | Ryann Swan Design
As a New York girl, the D&D will always have my heart. I’ve spent countless hours in some of my favorite showrooms: Holland & Sherry, John Rosselli, Schumacher creating beautiful palettes for my clients. I also love some of the smaller fabric showrooms in the city: Studio Four and Temple Studio. Outside of NYC we also love Fritz Porter in Charleston and Hive in West Palm Beach.
Tess Twiehaus | Tess Interiors
Pierre Frey, Robert Kime, and De Le Cuona are some of my favorite textile vendors. Pierre Frey has the most incredible variety, from modern to classic. I especially love their tapestry-style fabrics. Robert Kime has gorgeous prints that are the perfect scale for pillows and lampshades. De Le Cuona is my go-to when I need a lot of different textures.
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Jeffry Weisman | Fisher Weisman Brugioni
Kathleen Taylor in Sausalito has the most extraordinary offerings of vintage textiles, we can always walk in and find the perfect accent that makes a great room that much better.
Alina Wolhardt | Wolf in Sheep Design
Una Malan is my go-to for textiles. I love the fabric lines they carry; especially Designs of the Time. They offer textile lines that are unique, rich and luxurious without being too pretentious. Their curation is wonderful and they are very knowledgeable about their vendors which is also a great selling point for understanding the backstory of these textile companies.
Featured image photographed by Frank Frances. For more textile recommendations, be sure to check out our 2024 spring issue textile guide here.
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