Holland & Sherry SF Showroom Opening
Since 1836 Holland & Sherry has supplied prestigious tailors and luxury brands some of the finest cloths in the world. The head office of their apparel division is on Savile Row and in 1998 they expanded forming Holland & Sherry Interiors. Beyond their renowned wools, Holland & Sherry developed collections of rugs, wall coverings, trim, leather, hardware, and an exquisite bespoke embroidery line. Holland & Sherry makes a noble commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Their Crossville Mill in Tomé, Chile is vertically integrated, housing the full textile production from the dyeing of the wool fiber, spinning of the yarns, and weaving to finishing all at their own mill. Complete control over the entire production process, allows Holland & Sherry to exercise sustainable practices and oversee the ethics of their company in an industry rampant with pollution, human rights violations, and unethical work conditions. Their mill generates its own energy, maintains strict water purification standards, and utilizes all fiber and yarn waste by over-dying and reusing the materials or donating them for use as filling in furniture and bedding. It is admirable to see a luxury brand taking these steps and minimize their environmental impact and it is essential that such influential companies use their power to change the standards of an industry with such a wide environmental and social reach.
On February 27, 2020, Holland & Sherry celebrated the opening of their elegant new interior design showroom at 135 Rhode Island Street in San Francisco, with a warm reception for the interior design community. Their new showroom features their own products and represents 27 other lines. The gathering was a wonderful opportunity to visit the new showroom, meet the creators of the lines represented by Holland & Sherry, and to get a personal introduction to their products.
Elizabeth Eakins flat weave rug samples. Polaroid (left to right): Rebecca Bradley, Victoria Hayes, Ayesha Baporia Ismail, and Elizabeth Eakins.
Lauded San Francisco interior designer Rebecca Bradley graciously arranged a pre-party introduction for her design team including designers Ayesha Baporia Ismail and myself to meet her dear friend and artisan legend, Elizabeth Eakins, who’s hand-made rugs featuring natural fibers, unparalleled quality, devotion to sustainability, and traditional craftsmanship, have long been coveted by designers. It was clear why Holland & Sherry, known for luxury and commitment to environmental responsibility, would find a successful partnership with her company.
Elizabeth Eakins walked us through her collections, enthralling us with the most carefully considered designs. She shared that she often uses a mélange technique to create dazzling effects through the weave and color variation in the yarn. Mixing dyed and undyed fibers together produces a “heathered” look that brings depth and the variation to each piece resulting in a unique rug that is truly one of a kind.
Elizabeth and Rebecca reminisced about the early days of her business when Elizabeth delivered her homemade rugs to clients in Manhattan on her own bicycle. Now her eponymous company has a flagship store in South Norwalk, Connecticut and she is also represented at eight Holland & Sherry showrooms across the US and in Paris. In speaking with her it became apparent that her commitment to quality has not diminished as her business expanded. Her passion is still as strong as ever.
Originally trained as a textile designer, it is no surprise that she extended her offerings to include fabrics, which are also in all-natural fibers such as linen, wool, and hemp. She also offers a Private Reserve Collection of rugs, typically in natural, undyed colors, which I was delighted to learn is woven from the wool of sheep from her own farm in Kansas. She shared stories of her beloved sheep, Mike, Ike, and “Teen Mom.” She is incredibly funny, passionate, and delightfully energetic. It was such a treat for Rebecca to arrange this introduction.
Ephraim Paul of Galbraith & Paul displaying his collection of hand-block printed fabrics and rugs
Throughout the reception, we met with other lines represented at the showroom. We delighted in the vibrant rainbow of hand-block printed fabrics from Galbraith & Paul, produced by artisans at their studio workshop in Philadelphia. Although they offer a standard line, each fabric is printed to order. It begs designers to customize with an offering of 38 patterns, 6 grounds, and over 150 colors. Each fabric was individually engaging, but it was an incredible visual experience to view full collection of fabrics hanging on a single wall. The collection is mesmerizing, and it just makes you want to design rooms around the playful patterns. I have always been especially drawn to their patterns that blend from one color into another. I appreciate that the hand-blocked process isn’t perfectly controlled and the bleeding of color results in a unique variation that you can see across the pattern repeats. Ephraim Paul of Galbraith & Paul showed us his line of rugs designed exclusively for Holland & Sherry and he shared the full custom capabilities of their printed wallpaper collection.
Dmitry & Co. Decca Sofa
David Feldman of Dmitriy & Co. also walked us through his collection of entirely hand-made luxury upholstery. The company’s origin dates back three generations on New York’s Lower East Side, and their atelier now focuses on modern bespoke designs. I have long been drawn to the aesthetics of their designs, but their commitment to European craft also sets them apart from many furniture lines of less rigorous standards. David shared his love for Italian twine in the construction of the 8-way hand-tied springs, which he lauds for its superior strength and workability over synthetic alternatives. His devotion to traditional craft is exemplified by his refusal to use tack strips on his pieces, which the upholstery industry relies upon to eliminate hand sewing. David also pointed out that he pays particular attention to the way the back pillows nestle the contours of the seat cushion. His discerning eye and masterful execution elevate his furniture line above others.
I feel that Dmitriy’s furnishings are extremely versatile. Their pieces share a clean simple modern aesthetic that allows them would fit effortlessly into any interior, but the beauty of each design can certainly stand alone. Their collections are always top of mind. I find that their more classic pieces such as the Seine III sectional and the Dmitriy daybed with delightful French mattress detail are great pieces for imbuing more traditional San Francisco residences with casual sophistication.
I am grateful to Holland and Sherry for the opportunity to tour their beautifully appointed new showroom and meet the creators of their artisan product lines. They are a valued resource for quality furnishings and inspiration.