Fruits of the loom

The Inchbald School of Design and Veedon Fleece teach students the beauty of bespoke by inviting them to design their own carpets, finds Amelia Thorpe

- Amelia Thorpe

ADAM GILCHRIST is working hard to keep the joy of bespoke alive. ‘A carpet made to any size, any colour and any design of your choice can make a room sing,’ says the founder of Veedon Fleece. ‘There’s no need to conform to standard sizes and styles—with a bespoke design, you can get the best out of every room.’

Mr Gilchrist has long lectured at design schools in the UK and US, educating interior- design students in carpet-making history and design. Addressing his concern that original design may be a dying art, he began sponsoring an annual carpet competition at the Inchbald School of Design in London. Students are invited to submit a bespoke design, with the winning entries sent off to be handmade at Veedon Fleece’s workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal. ‘It’s invaluable experience for students to develop a design and see their work morphing into something they can walk on,’ believes Inchbald principal Alan Hughes.