John Robshaw Textiles are hands down our favorite linens. Whenever we spot any of the pillows or bedding, we want to immediately buy them and redecorate our entire apartment based around their gorgeous hues.
The designs are fantastic and the patterns vibrant while being surprisingly neutral at the same time. We have been devotees of the bedding for some time and every night when we climb in to the crisp thick cotton sheets we feel like we sleep in a 5
star hotel.
We had to find out more about this brand we love so much, so we visited the John Robshaw Design Studio in Chelsea to get the low down. Walking in to the showroom we were astounded by the breadth of the collection. It’s not only sheets and table linens, but a vast array of beautiful handmade textiles for furniture upholstery, pillows, cushions, napkins, picture frames and drapes. There are one off pieces of furniture, rare vintage textiles and special finds that John has unearthed on his regular trips to South Asia.
We asked John how he got his start in such a unique business and the story he told us was fantastic. He was a MFA student at PRATT in the 90s with plans to enter the New York art scene upon graduation. As a way of seeing the world, he took on the job of a “sequin mule”. We laughed our tails off when he said that. He explained that he would take dress patterns from New York then pick up sequins in Paris and deliver it all to Bombay and wait a week while craftsmen turned the sequins and patterns in to couture dresses. He’d return to New York and deliver them just in time for Fashion Week.
Visiting India as an art student he was blown away. Everywhere he looked people were crafting things of great beauty, silver, block prints, clothing, he was inspired. While still a student he traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe, learning how to etch in Italy and block print in China. On a trip to India he was waiting to see a textile museum show when 3 pretty Indian girls asked him what the heck he was doing in Ahmedabad in summer. Ahmedabad was a dry
city and only foreigners could buy alcohol and they asked the cute young Western boy to please buy them some liquor and in return, they would take him to their school, The National Institute of Design. He took them up on the offer and at the Institute he learnt the traditional art of Indian block printing, it was fate.
Having graduated with a fine arts degree he set up his art studio in Soho and interiors people would come by to look at his paintings. All around his studio were the printed textiles he’d made in India and the interiors people snapped them up, hungry for more. From there is was a natural progression, everyone wanted his textile designs and soon the painting took a back seat.
Today John Robshaw Textiles sells magnificent textiles to the trade for everything imaginable. The line of bed linens, table linens and accessories, such as super cute pyjamas and aprons, are highly coveted and for good reason. It’s somehow the combination of the soft and luxurious cotton coupled with the stunning block prints. In a way, each item is a unique piece of art. Thoughtfully designed by John and his team in their Chelsea studio then carefully hand printed in India.
The linens are sold around the world in over 500 locations. In New York there is a vast John Robshaw department at ABC Carpet & Home, complete with its own rickshaw.
Much like our grandmother’s linen that’s been passed down from generation
to generation, John Robshaw textiles have that heritage quality that you’ll forever cherish.
We constantly seek out stores that are original in New York and that is why we LIKE John Derian’s two tiny stores on East 2nd Street. They are a veritable Aladdin’s Cave full of treasure that John has gathered from around the world. We poked our nose in yesterday and fell in love with everything. We wanted one of Hugo Guiness’ simple black and white art pieces and lusted after the delicate pottery with touches like tiny Eiffel towers. We desperately wanted a coffee cup that said Bonjour and longed for the chic dog bowls with French words inside them, despite not even having a dog. Don’t even get us started on the furniture and lush Moroccan rugs. We want it all, but decided to simply opt for a white resin deer’s head for $66, because hey, we all need one of those. Go poke around and find out what you can’t live without.
what we LIKE NYC 