Fortuny Fabrics Influencing Southern Style

Can you spot Fortuny’s influence on any of these patterns? / Photo: David Hillegas
Recently, we rounded up six of our favorite Southern textile designers in the August issue’s Southern Made: Hand-Printed Fabrics. More than one of these new artisans described their designs as “Fortuny-like.” For those not in the fabric world, Fortuny is an Italian company best known for creating some of the world’s finest fabrics.
Over a century ago, Mariano Fortuny invented the secret and meticulous printing method that the company still uses today. Each bolt is printed by a photographic process, hand-painted, and then dusted with gold and silver powders for added shimmer. Imagine our delight (and the great timing!) when Fortuny Interiors, a new book from Gibbs Smith out this month, came across our desk. The book tells the company’s history and is filled with photos of homes adorned with Fortuny’s sumptuous fabrics.
Always on the hunt for instant heirlooms, Southern decorators seek out Fortuny’s patterns for their beauty and their timelessness. The fabrics can be reworked time and time again or passed down to younger generations. Check out our sneak peek into four fine Southern homes from the book — each one all done up in its Fortuny best.

Designer, Stiles Colwill didn’t miss a beat creating the lavish dressing room in his Maryland guest house. He covered the walls and trimmed the lampshades with Fortuny’s “Granada.”/ Photographs by Erik Kvalsvik from Fortuny Interiors by Brian D. Coleman. Reprint permission by Gibbs Smith Publisher

Interior designer, Jeff Lincoln, pairs Fortuny’s fine fabric (Bittersweet and white texture Pergolesi) with raffia covered sofas for a casual-luxe look in this Palm Beach living room. / Photographs by Erik Kvalsvik from Fortuny Interiors by Brian D. Coleman. Reprint permission by Gibbs Smith Publisher

Jeff Lincoln does the fresh casual-luxe look again, elevating rattan bar stools with divine upholstery (Fortuny’s “Tapa”). Photographs by Erik Kvalsvik from Fortuny Interiors by Brian D. Coleman. Reprint permission by Gibbs Smith Publisher

In a Virginia farmhouse, designer Barry Dixon lines a built-in china cabinet with Fortuny’s “Malmaison” to match the dining chairs and highlight the yellow and brown transferware collection. / Photographs by Erik Kvalsvik from Fortuny Interiors by Brian D. Coleman. Reprint permission by Gibbs Smith Publisher

Designer Matthew Carter livens up this Lexington, Kentucky guest room with a fresh mix of folk art, hot pink walls, and bright blue bed coverings (Fortuny’s “Tapa Stripe”). / Photographs by Erik Kvalsvik from Fortuny Interiors by Brian D. Coleman. Reprint permission by Gibbs Smith Publisher

Fortuny Interiors / Reprint permission by Gibbs Smith Publisher
For a copy of your own Fortuny Interiors, head over to Gibbs Smith to purchase.

Robert Montgomery ran the Interior Design Department at Miller’s Department Store in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was a great pal of Elsie McNeill Lee (the Countess Gozzi) having known her from her early days in Tennessee. Working at Miller’s in the early 70′s, I saw many wonderful rooms filled with Fortuny fabrics, work originally done by Mr. Montgomery. The city also boasted support for his clothing. Ellen McClung Berry, Mrs. Thomas H. Berry, was married wearing a gold and white fortuny gown. I have a picture of Mrs. Berry standing in the terraced water gardens on her parent’s estate on the day of her marriage. Stunning!!! Her husband’s aunt was the Princess Chigi, who lived in Rome surrounded by Fortuny. There are indeed many Southern connections to Fortuny. Robert A. W. Jones, NYC
This is just beautiful! I have been purchasing pillows made from Fortuny fabrics for years for my shop and they have always been exquisite! We still have a few and I am talking to my workroom about several others….you just can’t go wrong with Fortuny or with anything Southern….it’s always a great design mix!
Robert, I can’t believe that you have a link to the Countess herself! I agree, Carolyn. You can’t go wrong with Fortuny!
I too am fortunate to have a taste of Fortuny in my dining table cover and chairs – what a joy to behold for the last 49 years and still as beautiful as ever.
June Bentley
Bellevue, WA
Well – I’m not from the Southern USA but from South London – there are some curious similarities, I assure you!
Unlike June Bentley, I consider my taste for Fortuny somewhat “unfortunate” in that a craving that can’t easily be fixed is never a good thing!
For those who love Fortuny as much as I do, visit:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/shesimplyhandmade?ref=si_shop