14 Sep A Sprinkle of Magic
Founded in 1860, Sanderson’s archive is often referred to as a treasure trove – and this autumn it has produced a true jewel in the form of Disney Home x Sanderson, a collection whose history stretches back a century.
The decorating company first started working with The Walt Disney Company in 1928, and into the 1930s it was producing collections of fabrics and wallcoverings featuring an iconic cast of characters. Now, in Disney’s 100th year, old designs have been faithfully revived and new ones reinterpreted, with 12 fabrics and 14 wallcoverings launching at Focus/23.
The collection is full of whimsy and nostalgia, with Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and 101 Dalmations among those making an appearance alongside Mickey, Minnie and Donald Duck. For some designs, Sanderson has been true to the original – for ‘Mickey and Minnie’ (first released in 1934), the designers have not only retained the original colourway but even kept the offset registration, adding to its charm. Other designs have been blended with the florals and botanicals for which Sanderson is well known – ‘Bambi’ fabric and wallcovering depicts the titular baby deer frolicking amid a hand-painted springtime scene.
Sanderson’s showroom has been redesigned to bring a sprinkle of Disney magic to its interiors, but these iconic characters are also breaking free from the showroom for Focus/23: see them in the TALK lecture theatre for Conversations in Design; adorning the South Dome Cafe; and even scampering over the lift doors.