Layered and Tom Morris weave British textile heritage into six wool rugs

Swedish rug brand Layered and London designer Tom Morris have released 'Cloth', a collection of six handwoven rugs made from 100 per cent wool that reinterprets British textile traditions through Scandinavian craft.

The collection is Morris' first foray into product design. A former design editor and a resident of the Barbican, he left journalism in 2019 to found Morrisstudio, his London-based interior design firm. The firm's work spans private residences, retail concepts and brand consultancy — and the journalistic eye is still visible, according to Morris, in the considered, narrative-led approach he takes to each project.

Where do the six designs come from?

Morris drew on his English and Welsh heritage, using the textile traditions of the British Isles as his starting point and reinterpreting familiar historic patterns through a contemporary lens. Three contrasting colourways — Dandelion, Olwen Blue and Bardsey Green — take their cues from the bold geometric patterns of Welsh blankets.

The other three — Margarine, Betty Brown and Cooper Green — reference striped textiles found across English visual culture. The influences are wide-ranging: Savile Row tailoring, deckchairs and horse racing.

'I've always been fascinated by the quiet beauty of traditional British textiles,' says Morris. 'They carry generations of craftsmanship, and I wanted to reinterpret that heritage in a way that felt contemporary rather than nostalgic.'

How were the rugs made?

For his debut, Morris chose to experiment with traditional flatweaving techniques, with the help of Layered's expertise. The linear stripe motifs presented a distinct technical challenge: they required specialised adjustments to the handloom process to achieve crisp, straight lines.

Each rug in the collection was woven on a pit loom — one of the oldest types of hand loom. The technique produces exceptionally dense, durable and versatile rugs with a soft, tactile quality that highlights the weave's texture and craftsmanship.

What defines the palette?

Morris' design ethos has long been rooted in modernism, gravitating towards clean lines, symmetry and geometric patterns through intentionally contrasting colourways. The palette for 'Cloth' was selected as an ode to the North Wales coastline, echoing the hues of the natural landscape.

Rich, muted tones are deliberately offset by bold graphic lines and patterns. The result, according to the designer, is statement rugs that lend a calm, grounding presence to any room.

'We were drawn to Morris' modernist interior style and his confident colour palette,' says Malin Glemme, Layered's founder and creative director. 'His designs are both atmospheric and striking. This collection represents an exciting new direction for us, exploring British textile traditions through the lens of Scandinavian craftsmanship.'

Glemme's framing signals where the partnership could go next: a Swedish brand betting that British vernacular patterns, translated through Nordic handloom production, have room beyond this debut collection.