Founded in 1755, Axminster Carpets – a company widely credited as inventing the modern-day woven carpet – has crafted exceptional floor coverings for royal palaces (the picture above is their work for Brighton Pavilion), the finest hotels and private homes around the world. However, while its history stretches back nearly three centuries, Axminster continues to innovate in its Devon headquarters.
Axminster Carpets recently launched a bespoke offering, encouraging consumers to create art on the floor and spearheading the revival of patterned woven British-designed and British-made flooring. Those who use this service have the opportunity to see their bespoke carpet, rug or runner being woven on Axminster Carpets’ unique, world-renowned 8 pitch traditional Axminster looms.
Beyond royalty and hospitality, Axminster has collaborated not just with private customers, but also with British tastemakers including House of Hackney, Alice Temperley and, most recently, influencer Greg Penn – perhaps better known as @manwithahammer on Instagram – on his restoration of Admirals House in Plymouth (pictured below).
Recently, Axminster Carpets has also moved back into the aviation and automotive markets (historically, Concorde's carpets were woven by Axminster). A recent project for fellow Walpole Member Aston Martin showcased these original designs within the select DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition. With highly regarded accreditations and prestigious bespoke automotive projects for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Bentley within the archive, Axminster Carpets is well placed to further unlock the luxury woven transportation market.
When it comes to sustainability, all Axminster carpets are custom-made and woven using the finest sustainably-sourced British wool, allowing the company to closely oversee quality and care while also supporting British farming. Wool is not only 100% renewable and biodegradable, but also offers an array of naturally occurring benefits: it is hypoallergenic, naturally insulating and fire retardant.
There are currently around 35 people working at the Axminster Carpets factory in Devon. However, with many of the brand’s sourcing and production processes taking place elsewhere in the UK, the company indirectly impacts much wider employment across the country.
"Representing British manufacturing at its best, Axminster Carpets has been a byword for beautiful British carpet weaving and quality craftsmanship since 1755," said Gary Bridge, Design Director for Axminster Carpets (pictured below), when asked why the company should win British Luxury Brand of the Year 2022.
"Our design and weaving team, based in Axminster, Devon are proudly embracing the reason the Axminster weave was invented: to achieve intricate and colourful pattern. Each individual piece is steeped in Axminster’s history as we continue to weave in the same town where the Axminster weave was invented by Thomas Whitty 267 years ago."
And what would it mean for Axminster Carpets to win the highest accolade at the Walpole British Luxury Awards 2022?
"Winning the British Luxury Brand of the Year would be a great honour for our design and weaving team in Axminster," says Bridge. "Recognition of our commitment to British quality, design, sustainable craftsmanship and innovation. Supporting our ambition to build on our British heritage brand status and asserting our credentials as a sustainable British luxury brand. We are proud to weave the finest carpets in the world at our factory in Devon."
The Walpole British Luxury Awards 2022 takes place at The Dorchester in London on Monday 21 November 2022. More information here.
