How it all began... — A & H Wills

A young company supported by many years experience of its founders Adrian and Helen. Here is a brief history of their journey which led to them starting A and H Wills.

Adrian began his career in New York, way back in the early 1990's! Working for fashion textile design studio's (when not enjoying all the city had to offer!...he was 21 at the time after all!) Adrian designed many womenswear prints which sold to companies such as Oscar De La Renta, Calvin Klein and Victoria's Secret. Not to be outdone, Helen started her career in London as a fashion print designer after graduating from Chelsea School of Art. She then worked in Hong Kong for a while before ending up in New York as well. Adrian who had now been in New York for 2 years soon met Helen through mutual friends. Coincidently their parents only lived 10 minutes away from each other in Hertfordshire and the couple soon clicked reminiscing over dodgy night clubs in Watford. Adrian was soon enjoying more than just the New York night life! They settled in Brooklyn for a while, Helen missed her family though and moved back to England. Adrian quickly decided to follow..New York was fun, but Helen was special.

Back in the UK it wasn't long before the couple were married and starting a family. While Helen was by far the busier of the two raising their child. Adrian continued to work in the fashion industry working for a converter supplying many of the high street brands with womenswear prints. Helen became pregnant again and the couple decided to move to Brighton. An opportunity arose for Adrian to work closer to home for a furnishing company Crowson and Monkwell Fabrics. Here he managed a team of designers producing fabric and wallpaper ranges for a world wide customer base. During this time a third child arrived continuing to keep Helen with her hands very full!

The children are now grown up (well almost, the youngest is just about to turn 14...so only 3 teenagers to deal with then!)..and the Wills family now live in Christchurch, Dorset, where for the last 4 years they have run a soft furnishing consultancy business from a log cabin (or as one of their friends rudely described it, a Christmas bratwurst sellers hut!) at the bottom of their garden. They have been supplying designs and art direction to many brands and textile mills around the world. While still providing this service they thought it was now time to branch out with their own brand. Combining their passion and knowledge of all things textile to create a brand that offers timeless luxury that is accessible to all. Starting with a range of cushions and then seeing where their journey takes them...to be continued.