Art meets craftsmanship: how William Morris inspired the “MÖVE EDINBURGH” collection

In the 1860s, the Arts & Crafts movement emerged in the British Isles, initiated by a group of painters, architects and other artists. In the age of machine production, they sought a return to craftsmanship. One important representative was the painter, architect and poet William Morris, who placed great value on the joy of handcraft and the natural beauty of materials. The designs of the “MÖVE EDINBURGH” collection were inspired by William Morris’s fabric and wallpaper patterns, alongside Harris Tweed and tartans.

Inspired by William Morris, master of the Arts & Crafts movement

As the name suggests, Arts & Crafts combines art and craftsmanship – an idea that also plays a major role in today’s DIY movement. In the 19th century, industrialisation was in full swing: for the first time in history, numerous products were no longer made by hand, but by machine and on an industrial scale. Arts & Crafts, by contrast, championed a return to craftsmanship and handmade products. In particular, the decorative arts and product design were once again to be recognised as true art forms. Today, many works from the Arts & Crafts movement can be found in museums, including paintings and prints, but also furniture and even entire rooms. The movement struck a chord with the spirit of the age and provided decisive impulses for other movements such as Art Nouveau, the Vienna Secession, Bauhaus, and even today’s DIY culture.

One of the most important representatives of the movement was the Londoner William Morris (*1832; †1896), who, alongside his work as a painter and architect, was also active as a poet and engineer. Morris came into contact with craftsmanship at an early age. During his later work as an architect, he became increasingly drawn to interior design and decoration. As a wedding gift for his wife Jane, he built the Red House on the outskirts of London in the 1850s, where his design ideas first took shape. In 1861, together with other members of the movement, he founded a company which is still active today as “Morris & Company”. Furniture, wall decorations, wallpapers, carpets and stained glass were produced there. Morris’s wallpaper designs in particular, renowned for their detailed floral patterns, enjoyed great popularity far beyond Britain’s borders.

From wallpaper to towel: the collection “MÖVE EDINBURGH”

For the hand and shower towels in the “MÖVE EDINBURGH” collection, artistic all-over stripes and large flowers were woven into a high-low textured ground. A subtle mélange design with an intricate border complements the mix-and-match collection, which is available in the colourways Magnolia, Acqua, Lime and Grey – inspired by the colours of Scotland. Two velour shawl-collar robes in Grey and Acqua complete the collection:  model one in a herringbone design with piping on the shawl collar, and model two in a striped design with a back yoke.  The “MÖVE EDINBURGH” collection can be perfectly combined with plain pieces from the “MÖVE SUPERWUSCHEL” series or with high-quality bathroom accessories such as the “MÖVE TEAK” collection.