From coronations to red telephone booths, Watts 1874 is a textile brand intertwined with British history

Watts dates back to the late 19th century, when three architects banded together to start a company that made fabrics and decor for both the church and residential use. Over the course of the next 150 years, Watts’ history would be intertwined with Britain’s—it produced garments worn during the coronations of Edward VII, Elizabeth II and Charles III. Today, it’s also a modern fabric and wallcoverings brand, sold to designers all over the world.

On this episode of the podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to Watts’ creative director Fiona Flint and its managing director Marie Severine de Caraman Chimay (better known as “MS”) about how the company has survived a century and a half by staying nimble, the ups and downs of doing business in America, and how they walk the line between celebrating their history and looking to the future.

This episode is sponsored by Four Hands and Surya

LINKS
Watts 1874
Dennis Scully
Business of Home