Highgrove by Sanderson

Heritage British brand Sanderson has partnered with Highgrove and The Kings Foundation, to create a quintessentially British collection of exceptional fabrics and wallpapers, proudly bearing the Royal seal of approval. Sanderson Design Group's Design Director Claire Vallis and her team of seasoned artists dedicated countless hours exploring the gardens at Highgrove, drawing inspiration from the rich array of flora and fauna for which the estate is celebrated.

The collection, made up of toiles, damasks, embroideries, tapestries and block prints pays homage to the King’s commitment to preservation, conservation and sustainability at his residence in the Gloucestershire countryside.

It was a privilege to speak with Claire, offering us a rare insight into the collaboration, her experience working alongside The King’s Foundation and His Majesty King Charles III, and what this means for Sanderson as a whole.

How did the collection first come about?

As Royal Warrant Holders, we work closely within the criteria set by the RWHA (Royal Warrant Holders Association) to ensure our work is aligned with the values of the royal households. For Highgrove, conversations began at a QEST event (The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust), and through our work with QEST we were introduced to The King’s Foundation, a global charity founded by His Majesty King Charles III, which is built around a philosophy of harmony and an ethos to build and support communities where people, places, and the planet can coexist in harmony. Lisa Montague (CEO of Sanderson Design Group) and I were honoured to be invited to Highgrove for its annual Christmas Fair, where we met the King, and the collaboration blossomed from there. Excuse the pun!

How involved was His Majesty King Charles III?

The King set up The King’s Foundation 35 years ago to bring to life his values of living in harmony with nature. Highgrove by Sanderson is the embodiment of those values. The partnership was very collaborative, speaking to our values and those of the Foundation, which is also the custodian of Highgrove Gardens. We are honored to tell the story of these wonderful gardens through an interior design perspective, and we worked closely with Highgrove and the King’s Foundation team to achieve this.

What was the creative process like from start to finish?

Joyful. We worked closely with The King’s Foundation. We had a very open, creative dialogue, sharing designs and sending packages of fabrics and wallpapers over, with the stories of each design, for consideration. Every name and colorway has been considered to reflect Highgrove, its surroundings, and location. This back-and-forth, the exchange of ideas, and the constant open communication have been one of the biggest joys for everyone, seeing the collection come to life in the vision of Highgrove.

The gardens are very personal, with many stories, so it was incredibly inspiring to experience them and tell them in such a visual medium. We used our archive to pull out documents to share with Highgrove and The King’s Foundation team so they could understand our creative vision for the collection and the process of connecting the past with the present and future through our archive.

It is so wonderful to get an insight into Highgrove Gardens and all its stories. How important was that to convey?

Highgrove Gardens is split out into rooms, such as The Arboretum and Kitchen Garden, each with their own unique character and story. The idea of the gardens as rooms has such appeal because, of course, we traditionally design for rooms as a design brand. Each garden's layers and complexities were wonderful elements to work with, as there were so many details to focus on. I think the overarching theme of the abundance of Highgrove Gardens shines through in this collection, as well as the diversity and the cultural references. Highgrove Gardens is not one theme; it is a world of themes that all connect harmoniously, and our job was to tell that story through fabric and wallpaper.

This collection is so varied, it includes toiles, tapestries, embroideries and more. What can you tell us about the materials and techniques used?

Everything was considered to tell these individual design stories in the best way. We referenced toiles and tapestries from our archive and adapted them into different techniques – The King’s Foundation team was very open to this kind of influence. Something that we understood as very important was that as much of the product as possible be made in the UK. As part of Sanderson Design Group, we manufacture all of our printed fabrics and wallpapers here in the UK at our own factories, Anstey Wallpaper Company and Standfast & Barracks, so we produced a large proportion of this collection here in Britain. And, of course, our design studio is right here in Chiswick, London, in the original building built for Arthur Sanderson in 1902.

The collection features a mix of archival designs subtly infused with a Highgrove touch, alongside fresh creations, resulting in a distinctly Sanderson-esque aesthetic. How did you approach blending the old with the new?

It is what we always do. Our design team take influence from the past to propel us into the future, making Sanderson relevant for today.

Our archive has documents dating back to the 1600s. Highgrove has a significant restoration history and the merging of global influences to tell various stories, so we had an incredible source of natural inspiration. The layouts and techniques in our archive are timeless. We introduce contemporary techniques and lighter touches for today’s designs for a freshness and enduring appeal. What has been really special about this is that so much of Sanderson’s archival designs and Highgrove Gardens’ storytelling have fit together organically. We combined the enchantment of Highgrove Gardens with Sanderson’s distinct handwriting for a natural yet unique collection.

Were there any unexpected influences that shaped any of the designs?

Each garden at Highgrove feels unexpected when you walk in. Each space is so detailed and transformative. I think part of the charm of this collection is the abundance of unexpected gifts it brings to interiors. Rebecca Craig, our lead designer, recalls being taken aback by the Arboretum's seasonal transformation and how visiting in February and again in May gave such different perspectives on the garden in bloom. The influence of how each garden comes to life throughout the year was an inspiration.

We all came away with a more profound respect for the King and his creative vision. To design a garden, you must have such a strong vision, especially to create a garden that is abundant, diverse, and true to each individual space and influence.

How would you love to see this collection used?

Highgrove by Sanderson has been designed for all to enjoy, just like the gardens. It doesn’t need to be in the grandest of homes; these fabrics and wallpaper fit harmoniously into your own private palace. We always intended for the collection to be beautiful but accessible.

The joy of this collection and its many designs is that there is something for everyone to interpret in their homes. Whether they loved the density of a traditional tapestry style piece or a more delicate, whimsical take on design, the collection offers it all.

What is your favorite design from the collection and why?

It is so hard to pick from such a rich collection. Highgrove Toile is such a storytelling piece, though. I particularly love toiles and think they will have a moment. This design tells such an incredible story with many hidden references. It’s subtle yet distinct. Referencing a 19th-century document in our archive, Highgrove Toile is layered with garden elements, including the yew tree hedge and the bust of His Majesty King Charles III, reflecting the King’s humour.

Shand Gate is another very cool design, and we were surprised and delighted when it was chosen for the collection. It’s a fantastic new take on a classical design style, and the technique is very interesting and different. It was very unexpected in this collection, and I think people will love it.

What does this launch mean to you both personally, and to the brand creatively?

Personally, it's been the pinnacle career moment—my parents are so excited! When I met the King and returned home, I went to see my parents, who started curtseying! It’s been a very special journey.

For the whole team, it has been an inspiring and wonderful project to work on. It’s a royal seal of approval, but so much more, as these designs, this whole collection, will go back into the archive—it’s a legacy and a story for the next generation.

Finally, what are your top 3 styling tips for using Highgrove at home?

1. My first tip would be not to be afraid of being eclectic with your own style. Find a pattern that you love and layer it. There are so many ways to layer design in this collection. The  Pergola wallpaper and Rose Pergola fabric designs are a great example. Across fabric and wallpaper, you can create a really beautiful interior that takes iterations of one archive document and translates them in different ways for really beautiful results.

2. We always say to find what you love about a design and use that as your base for your interiors. We’ve also designed a set of stripes to complement Highgrove by Sanderson. Find the patterns that you love and mix in a simple yet beautiful stripe to bring the scheme together.

3. Finally, there should be no rules when creating your own decorating story; bring together what you love.

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