Clayton-le-Moors based, wallpaper manufacturer, Surface Print are taking the wallpaper world by storm with their own luxury brand of wallpaper, 1838 Wallcoverings.
Surface Print was founded in 1990 by John Watson, whose Father and Grandfather also worked in the wallpaper printing trade, is now run by the fourth generation of Watsons – his two children James and Abigail. “We print wallpaper for many prestigious and well-known brands, it was a natural progression for the company to design, manufacture and sell our own wallpaper collections.” said Abigail. “My brother and I want to keep the business moving forward using our worldwide reputation for quality.”
The name 1838 Wallcoverings evokes a deep history, for 1838 is the year that Charles Potter of Darwen, Lancashire invented the first wallpaper printing machine a Surface Print machine. A fitting tribute to the man and a perfect name for the brand, as the craft has changed little over the years. The current 1838 Wallcoverings collections have been printed on machines that date back over 100 years. In fact, there are now only a handful of Surface Print machines left in the world – four of which are located at the Clayton-le-Moors site.
With the capacity to produce over one million rolls per year, one of the widest range of machine profiles in the world and a team of over 90 highly skilled employees, Surface Print can effortlessly blend tradition and innovation. As well as having highly talented designers, they also have an impressive archive of designs, which can be reimagined and adapted to suit modern tastes. 1838 Wallcoverings have launched wallpaper collections celebrating mix and match classic damasks, floral and flock designs with contemporary geometrics, botanical and textured designs. A new collection is due to be released in September.
“1838 Wallcoverings has expanded very quickly. With National Stockists and an E-Commerce Website, but for me, the biggest buzz has been from the International market. We are currently distributing to 58 countries worldwide from China and Russia to Europe and America, as well as emerging markets such as Brazil,” James explained. “Goods that are traditionally produced in the UK are always incredibly popular in foreign markets, showing a particular interest in the provenance of the artisan techniques and the craftsmanship needed to make our wallpapers.”
It is this unique heritage, mixed with design, craft and quality that will ensure the wallpapers that Surface Print and 1838 Wallcoverings produce continue to be in demand. The contrast between the traditional techniques and innovation is very symbolic of the generation of Watson’s taking the helm.
