When The British Blanket Company teamed up with designer Clarissa Hulse, it felt like a natural meeting of minds. Both share a love of colour, nature and craft, so it’s no surprise their new woven collection brings all three together in a fresh and joyful way. We sat down with Bethan John, co-founder of The British Blanket Company, and Clarissa Hulse to hear the story behind the Clarissa Hulse x The British Blanket Company blanket collaboration.
The design process started with the beautiful selection of recycled cotton yarns, which Clarissa skilfully arranged into beautifully blended ombré backgrounds for the blankets
How did the two of you first meet, and what sparked the idea for a collaboration?
Bethan: We met at Clarissa’s studio in North London a few months ago. Within ten minutes we were talking non-stop about colour, nature, and the creative process. I knew instantly we could create a collection together that both our customers would absolutely love.
Clarissa: Yes, we connected immediately as soon as Bethan walked into the studio! We were guided by the gorgeous colours on the shade card as a starting point, and luckily the ideas we put forward for the blankets were warmly received right away.
What drew you to each other’s work – was there an instant creative chemistry?
Bethan: Completely. I’ve admired Clarissa’s work for years. In fact, I featured her designs in magazines back when I was a stylist and interiors writer, long before The British Blanket Company existed. Her use of colour is so energetic, and I’ve always loved how she brings the natural world to life in her designs.
Clarissa: I was aware of The British Blanket Company as I had been following them on Instagram for years. I love the fact that the blankets are made in the UK and also the wonderful array of colours. When Bethan suggested a collaboration, I jumped at the chance, as finding the right mills that make good quality products at a fair price is really difficult. I knew that together we could make something really special.
Over a table covered in printed design ideas, fabric swatches, yarn samples, Bethan, Clarissa and her designer Rose gradually brought the five blanket patterns to life
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the prints featured in this collection?
Clarissa: All my designs are inspired by the beauty of the natural world. I am an avid collector, and even if I am just out for a morning stroll in the local park, I will be taking photographs or collecting seedheads. You can see many varieties gathered from my UK wanderings in the ‘Seedheads’ design. ‘Indian Summer’ has a more eclectic approach with ferns from the tropics mixed with grasses from the Mediterranean. Finally, ‘Kaleidoscope’ features ferns photographed on a plant hunting expedition to Costa Rica, where I visited the primeval cloud forests.
What was it like translating these designs from print to woven textile?
Bethan: That was where the magic really started to happen. Weaving is such a different medium to print, so we had to be thoughtful about how to preserve the essence of Clarissa’s artworks while adapting them for the loom. Our jacquard weavers in Lancashire were amazing, and they were able to weave with incredible detail, without needing ink or paint. There’s something so intriguing about seeing a design emerge thread by thread. The results have so much richness and depth, every blanket really does feel like a work of art.
Making the blankets in cotton jacquard looms enabled The British Blanket Company to translate Clarissa's flowing and curved botanical designs to life in woven blanket form
Tell us about the colours – how were they chosen, and what do they bring to the collection?
Clarissa: I love the look of plant silhouettes against sunsets, which is where my fixation with ombrés originates. The beautiful shade cards of yarns Bethan gave me were a dream to work with, as the colours almost chose themselves! I am known for my use of vibrant jewel tones, but I also love mixing them with more neutral shades. We had to be mindful that the designs needed to be reversible, so that was in our minds throughout.
Where are the blankets made, and what makes the production process special?
Bethan: The blankets are woven at a jacquard mill in Lancashire with a long heritage of textile craftsmanship. They form part of our Cloud Cotton range, made from recycled cotton and brushed for extra softness. Every piece is carefully woven and hand-finished with a blanket stitch edge, combining beautiful design with sustainable materials and an absolutely gorgeous feel.
Every blanket contains thousands of strands of cotton thread. The Clarissa Hulse x The British Blanket Company blanket collection is made from recycled cotton, so they are both beautiful and sustainable
How did you find the creative process of working together – any surprises along the way?
Bethan: We met at Clarissa’s studio, where she’d laid out a range of design ideas and full-scale prints across a big table. We spent hours looking at the patterns, holding them up, swapping them around, and imagining how they’d translate into weave. We pored over the yarn shade cards too, carefully choosing colour combinations that would work beautifully when reversed.
Clarissa: It was really fun actually! I enjoyed having Bethan’s input, as working with woven jacquards is very different from prints. Luckily I had some experience, having designed quite a few towel collections, but it was still pretty technical and we had to ask the mill lots of questions as we went along. It was also fascinating how much the designs change once they are brushed. The biggest challenge we had was narrowing down all the options, as we had too many ideas!
How did you ensure the collection felt cohesive, while still reflecting both brands’ styles?
Bethan: The aim was to showcase what people love most about both brands. The softness and quality of the blankets are unmistakably British Blanket Company, but the design language and colour story are all Clarissa Hulse.
Clarissa: I feel this came very naturally. We both just did what we know best, and I think it shows in the blankets, which are gorgeous (if I may say so myself!).
Clarissa's gorgeous cats supervised closely as she and Bethan worked on the design concepts for the blankets!
Do you each have a favourite piece from the collection?
Bethan: For me, it’s Seedheads in Midnight. It feels really grounding, and the rhythm of the design has such a calming quality. Just like lying in a meadow and looking up to the sky.
Clarissa: Somewhat surprisingly for me, I am going for the shell pink Kaleidoscope, as I think the soft powdery hues suit the deliciously fluffy blanket so well. The sample looked so amazing on my bed, I think I will have to keep it there!
What do you hope customers will feel when they wrap themselves in one of these blankets?
Bethan: I want people to feel their blanket is something to truly cherish. To fall in love with the comfort and colour, but also feel that connection to the craft.
Clarissa: I hope that people will value the care and effort that has gone into making a truly unique piece, and that they will feel uplifted by the colours. I would love them to be treated like heirlooms and kept forever.
The five Clarissa Hulse x The British Blanket Company collaboration blankets are on sale now
Shop the Clarissa Hulse x The British Blanket Company Collection
This collaboration brings together Clarissa’s eye for bold, nature-inspired design with the softness and quality of The British Blanket Company’s craft. Each blanket is a celebration of colour, texture and tradition, designed to be treasured for years to come. Explore the full collection and find your favourite.