Reviving Heritage Through Bespoke Fabric
By Alexander Maverick, 21 November 2025
At Alexander Maverick, we’re inspired by the ways history, craft, and contemporary design can come together to create something meaningful. Our work with The Red Lion Pub, who commissioned a series of bespoke prints from us, is a great example of how historical textiles can inform new design ideas. An opportunity to reconnect with a remarkable piece of Welsh textile heritage while creating bespoke prints that bring warmth and character to a well-loved community space.
A Design Story Rooted in Welsh History
The starting point for this project was an extraordinary textile discovery: the Llangorse Crannog textile, a beautifully preserved 10th-century garment found at the Royal Crannog site on Llangorse Lake. Despite being charred and waterlogged when unearthed, its fine details have survived, silk embroidery depicting birds, animals, and climbing vines enclosed within intricate borders.
Recognised by institutions such as People’s Collection Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru, and Cardiff University, the fabric is considered one of Britain’s most significant early medieval textile finds. Its artistry and craftsmanship offered a source of inspiration for our design team as we looked for ways to translate its motifs into contemporary printed textiles.
Bringing the Past Into a Modern Pub Setting
For The Red Lion, who approached us to create custom fabric prints for their space, we developed designs that echo the spirit of the original Llangorse textile without replicating it directly. Our aim was to balance heritage with usability, creating something that felt authentic, warm, and completely unique to their venue.
The resulting prints blend subtle medieval-inspired motifs with a new layout and colour palette, allowing the fabric to complement the pub’s natural textures and welcoming atmosphere. Used in upholstery or soft furnishings, the designs add a sense of depth and storytelling to the space.
A Natural Link to Treberfydd House
This project also ties beautifully to our recent collaborations with Treberfydd House, a historic estate with strong connections to the area. Treberfydd has also commissioned bespoke fabrics from us based on architectural features of the house, reflecting their own commitment to preserving and celebrating local heritage.
Working with both The Red Lion and Treberfydd highlights what we value most: thoughtful design, meaningful partnerships, and a deep respect for the stories embedded in the landscapes and buildings around us.
Celebrating Craft, Community, and Collaboration
Our work with The Red Lion Pub is more than just a design project it’s a chance to honour a remarkable Welsh artefact by giving it a new presence in a contemporary setting. We’re proud to help bring this piece of history back into everyday life in a way that feels authentic, creative, and true to its origins.
If you’re exploring ways to incorporate bespoke fabrics or heritage-inspired design into your own space, we’d love to help bring your ideas to life.
