Uncommon Threads: how Ben Pentreath recoloured the heritage world of Johnstons of Elgin

Every year sees the launch of beautiful new fabric collections that get hearts racing across the interiors world. Our new series 'Uncommon Threads' looks at the collaborations and creative processes that make the collections possible. In our second episode, we join Ben Pentreath at his Bloomsbury flat to look through his collection for the Scottish heritage fabric house Johnstons of Elgin, long famed for their tweeds, plaids and tartans. Ben's collaboration with the brand has struck out in a new direction of vivid and saturated colour, revitalising these traditional fabrics for a modern interior.
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[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

He's got an instantly recognisable style. You can spot a Pentreath & Hall room a mile off yet each is fresh and new rather than Studio McGee cookie-cutter over and over. Millions of folks DREAM of being able to make their mark on design history like this. He's wonderful. I wonder who my Alice B Toklas bell will tinkle for next? Always excited to discover real talent.

[@gnarbeljo8980]

Spot on! It's quite a rare and coveted quality to achieve, so naturally solid, confident and fun! I think an eye for color is hard to teach. You either really have it or not, and if you do it's fine tuned over time working on it. Alot of designers simply don't have the keen personal eye he does. Resulting in a collection with only a hit here or there.

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

@@gnarbeljo8980 My reply to you got deleted, how peculiar.

[@gnarbeljo8980]

@@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293 it happens, unfortunately. I've experienced some of that lately. Nevermind.

[@jimandjudyc48]

Fresh, beautiful colors in plaids, checks, stripes. What a way to highlight and modernize a traditional home!

[@soniatriana9091]

Wow! Stunning samples! Can’t imagine what it costs to upholster a couch, chair, etc!! But, I’m sure those would become heirloom pieces for many generations to come & appreciate 👍🏻🤗

[@leadoucet1432]

One of my favourite British designers. Lovely fabrics!

[@tessayanco3974]

Love this video! The music, the story, the cuts and the spirit of it all is like a colourful breath of fresh air x

[@n.c.467]

So vibrant and unique! Ben has breathed new life into these patterns and paired colors in a truly unexpected and lovely way. All ofl his extensive research in the archives informed him well!!🎉

[@bck0804]

Ben, you are such a brilliant artist! These are extraordinary-of course-and they’re lots of fun, yet still timeless. Your designs are so joyful and exciting. Your Scottish family must be thrilled! I know I am. 💚

[@KnorppandSouth11]

Beautiful! Loving the comeback of plaid and that it’s bold and colorful!

[@peggyyang6137]

Love the contemporary use and the color palettes!

[@toagoodhome46]

Gorgeous - love it all 🥰

[@jimwalker76]

First, these colors and patterns are wonderful. Second, is this guy 7 ft tall or is he sitting on miniature furniture.

[@evelynedavid9564]

I think it’s the he’s sitting on that is small. Compare the size of the wooden chair on the right.

[@evelynedavid9564]

I meant the sofa he’s sitting on.

[@sueorosz8886]

❤ magic! Reinvented and reinvested! Gorgeous patters and styling!

[@fransirahome]

Beautiful colors and pattern.

[@katecrowley1858]

Beautiful collection.

[@Chinoiserie9839]

Congratulations for being the 2023 Laureate Driehaus Prize!

[@HomeMadebyHeather]

The stripe is a dream!!!

[@tomreadsthings7145]

I just adore these videos with brilliant british designers! More of the same please 😀😀😀

[@baluvideo]

Lovely video, beautiful colors! And he seems like a genuinely nice man.

[@englishmaninmarktredwitz2228]

Great video. Please can we have more videos from Ben on this channel?

[@elegantlyknackeredstyle]

Amazing colour-ways.

[@brendaguerin1409]

I would love it if they would reduce the music volume when people are speaking, For me, it is very distracting. I love, love this collection's patterns and colours. Brilliant!!!

[@lisawilkes3952]

I totally agree. The music completely ruined this for me.

[@gozdekartal7715]

so insprining colors n patterns love them

[@belindawalker3120]

Having fun with fabric! Yes please, just up my alley!

[@MsYingyang2]

Beautiful colors and designs. I enjoyed the video very much.

[@luath5579]

Facinating! I do like the stripes (although I don't think my new kilt will be in those 1940s-inspired colours) and some of those fabrics looked good at Ardkinglass.

[@mariabanholzer5960]

I Love all of it!!!🥰😍❤️🌹💖🍀🌺🌼💐 Love from Marseilles

[@sydneykasmar]

Loved this. Beautiful colors.

[@louisesuffolk]

Amazingly beautiful fabric

[@a.mie.533]

...magnificent... =)

[@larkmurry7808]

Delicious...

[@hartleyjr]

That room at the end if such a mess of clashing clutter. I genuinely don't understand why people rate this guy.

[@JasmineYellow2]

just cool

[@ginafriend1690]

Definitely more Scottish

[@mullofcuntire58t]

Mr David Nicholls, deputy editor of ‘House and Garden’ (UK), designed a pictograph of stick-figure corpses arranged in a numbered grid of columns and rows. “Connect the Jews!” was his joke. Ask him about it. Ask him if it’s true. Because it is. That’s the kind of person who’s rating your bedsheets.

[@PS-bs8oe]

Just wanna go off dreaming of Scotland in that cosily made up bed!

[@aina2165]

These colors gives me headache 😬 But I like the patterns.

[@bmg344]

Derivative

[@spuriatube]

Do not understand what is special about these. These checks are Madras checks called so because they originate in Madras, present day Chennai where I stay currently. Go to any cotton handloom and saree stores here and you will find checks and stripes in the exact same pattern and colour combinations. Its fine to take inspiration and then build a collection but to attribute to 'imagination' is completely out of line. Designers as renowned as Ben should know better!

[@katie8325]

Madras cloth is printed in tartan patterns, amongst others. The tartan pattern itself is not unique to madras cloth. It’s found all over the world and Ben’s just recolouring it, there’s only so much you can do with existing patterns. He’s not claiming to reinvent the wheel.

[@milaalaniva775]

Johnstons of Elgin has produced these since 1797 in Scotland. Madras is just cotton and thanks to East India Company produced popular British styles as well. Let's not confuse things.

[@thomasdecarlo8543]

Interesting ….but not my thing or style …

[@indyo7]

Rather rubbish