Sustainable Fabrics & Wallpapers
Beautiful fabrics, thoughtfully made
Our approach to sustainable fabric design
At Linwood, sustainability does not come at the expense of design. Original artwork, colour, pattern and performance remain at the heart of every collection, with thoughtful environmental decisions made throughout the design and manufacturing process.
Our upholstery and curtain fabrics are designed to last, both in quality and aesthetic, encouraging a more considered approach to interiors. Designed for upholstery, curtains and blinds, our fabrics are made to perform in everyday interiors while maintaining their colour, texture and character over time – reducing the need for replacement and supporting a more responsible approach to interior design.
We work closely with trusted mills across the UK and further afield to refine how our products are made, balancing craftsmanship with a responsible approach to sourcing and production.
We are steadily increasing the use of recycled and natural fibres, minimising additional chemical finishes, and prioritising processes that reduce environmental impact – without compromising the richness and individuality that define Linwood.
Decorative sustainability
Within the interiors industry, many sustainable fabrics are limited to plains and neutrals. Our approach is different – creating pattern-led, colour-rich fabrics that bring together design integrity and responsible production. From hand-painted prints to richly textured weaves and luxurious velvets, our collections prove that decorative fabrics can also be thoughtfully made.
Fire-retardant performance, considered from the outset
At Linwood, fire-retardant performance is considered from the outset of the design process, rather than added as an afterthought.
Wherever possible, we prioritise fabrics that achieve the required standards through their construction, using naturally and inherently fire-retardant fibres with performance built into the material itself. This reduces reliance on additional chemical treatments while allowing fabrics to retain a softer handle and more natural appearance.
Many of our fire-retardant fabrics meet the required standards without added FR chemical finishes. Where fire-retardant finishes or back coatings are required, we work closely with our mills to achieve the necessary level of performance while balancing safety, fabric handle and design integrity.
Sustainable materials: recycled and natural fibres
We are steadily increasing the use of recycled and responsibly sourced fibres across our collections, combining material innovation with long-term performance.
Recycled yarns
Selected collections, including Omega velvet, incorporate recycled polyester, helping reduce waste while maintaining exceptional durability, rich colour and luxurious handle.
Repurposed materials
Our leather collections are made using offcuts from the fashion industry, giving new purpose to existing materials.
Recycled wool blends
Collections such as Lana use a high proportion of recycled fibres, combining natural performance with reduced resource use.
Natural linen
Linen is naturally durable, breathable and derived from flax, a crop that typically requires less water and fewer pesticides than many alternatives. Its timeless appearance and longevity make it a natural choice for curtains, blinds and upholstery.
Sustainable printed fabrics:design from original artwork
Every Linwood design begins as original artwork in our Hampshire studio, allowing us to create printed fabrics that combine decorative richness with a considered approach to materials and finishes.
From small-scale prints to more expressive designs, our printed linens and fabrics bring decorative storytelling into interiors –
offering an alternative to the neutral, texture-led direction often associated with sustainable textiles.
Sustainable velvet: performance with a considered footprint
Velvet remains one of the most versatile upholstery fabrics. At Linwood, our approach to velvet combines exceptional performance with thoughtful material choices and a more considered approach to production.
Velvets such as Omega incorporate recycled content, non-fluorocarbon stain-resistant finishes and durable construction, offering a balance of practicality, longevity and reduced impact – supporting our philosophy of “luxury you can live with – and feel good about.”
Reducing chemical impact in fabric production
We actively minimise the use of additional chemical finishes across our fabric collections, prioritising processes that support both performance and environmental responsibility:
Many fabrics achieve the required performance standards without added chemical treatments
Non-fluorocarbon stain-resistant finishes are used where possible
Selected collections meet OEKO-TEX Standard 100 requirements
All products comply with REACH regulations
Responsible wallpaper printing and packaging
Our wallpapers are printed in the UK using water-based, solvent-free inks, reducing environmental impact during production.We continue to refine our packaging, using recycled and recyclable materials wherever possible, and ensuring all printed materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Energy and operations
At our Hampshire headquarters, solar panels now generate approximately 70% of our electricity, reducing our annual carbon emissions by over 30 tonnes.
Reducing waste in the interiors industry
We work with partners such as Haines to give discontinued fabrics a second life, helping to reduce waste within the interiors industry.
Through our partnership with Feefo and Ecologi, customer feedback also contributes to tree-planting initiatives.
A considered future
This is an ongoing process — one of continual refinement rather than fixed claims. We continue to explore new materials, processes and technologies that allow us to reduce environmental impact while maintaining the quality, colour and character that define Linwood.
Our aim is simple: to create sustainable fabrics and wallpapers that are not only beautiful but made with care – for the homes
they sit in, and the environment beyond them.
FAQs: Sustainable fabrics
What makes a fabric sustainable?
Sustainable fabrics are designed to minimise environmental impact through responsible sourcing, thoughtful material choices, reduced chemical use and long-lasting performance. At Linwood, this includes increasing the use of recycled and natural fibres, carefully considered finishing processes and fabrics designed to last.
Are printed fabrics sustainable?
Printed fabrics can be a sustainable choice when design and material selection are considered from the outset. At Linwood, every printed design begins as original artwork in our Hampshire studio, before being produced on carefully selected base fabrics.
We select the fabrics we print onto with both aesthetic quality and environmental impact in mind, using controlled finishing processes to reduce additional treatments. The result is sustainable printed fabrics that combine decorative richness with long-term usability.
Are velvet fabrics sustainable?
Modern velvet fabrics can be a more sustainable choice when produced using recycled fibres, durable construction and non-fluorocarbon stain-resistant finishes. Linwood’s velvets combine durability, colour depth and performance with a more considered environmental footprint.
Is linen an eco-friendly fabric?
Yes, linen is widely considered one of the most eco-friendly fabrics due to its low water usage and minimal need for pesticides. It is a natural choice for curtains, upholstery and soft furnishings.
What is non-fluorocarbon stain resistance?
Non-fluorocarbon finishes provide stain resistance without the use of harmful PFAS chemicals, offering a more environmentally responsible solution for performance fabrics.
What does fire-retardant fabric mean?
Fire-retardant fabrics are designed to resist ignition and slow the spread of flame, helping fabrics meet required fire safety standards. At Linwood, we prioritise inherently and naturally fire-retardant fabrics wherever possible, building performance into the fibre itself and reducing reliance on added chemical treatments.
Can fabrics be fire-retardant without chemical treatments?
Yes. Many fabrics can achieve fire-retardant performance without added FR chemical treatments, using naturally fire-retardant fibres or inherently fire-retardant yarn technologies.
Do all fire-retardant fabrics contain added chemicals?
No. Fire-retardant performance can be achieved in different ways. Some fabrics rely on naturally or inherently fire-retardant fibres, while others achieve the required standards through applied flame-retardant treatments. At Linwood, we prioritise constructions that reduce reliance on added chemical treatments wherever possible.
What is the difference between inherently FR and back-coated fabrics?
Inherently fire-retardant fabrics have flame resistance built into the fibre itself, so their performance is permanent and does not rely on added finishes. Back-coated or dip-treated fire-retardant fabrics achieve their performance through an applied flame-retardant treatment, either as a back coating or by passing the fabric through a bath of FR chemicals.
While highly effective, these treatments may subtly affect the fabric’s handle or drape. At Linwood, we favour inherently and naturally fire-retardant fabrics wherever possible, while using finishes or back coatings where they are needed to achieve the required performance.