You could say Cortney Bishop‘s first fabric collection is a love note to her family. The Charleston-based interior designer recently teamed up with Holland & Sherry to create her line, Harwood House. Showcasing 16 different selections — from plaids, stripes and houndstooths — the inaugural Cardinal Collection nods to the dapper style of her late father who, serendipitously, had suits made by the London fabric house years ago. We met up with Bishop to chat about her past, the future and all things textiles.
How did you land on the name Harwood House?
My maiden name is Harwood. It was a simple decision to name the line after my personal lineage. I’m proud of who I come from and the beliefs my father, Mike, instilled in me. Harwood has stayed with me even after marrying my husband, and my son carries the name as well (it’s his middle name). Harwood House was also the name of my mother’s interior design firm many years ago.
Do you have any memories of accompanying your father to Holland & Sherry as a child?
We were living in Manchester at the time. My father was transferred with his employer to pursue a graduate degree in the U.K., and he often asked me to join him during Saturday trips around town that included visits to Holland & Sherry. Even when we went back to London during the last years of his life, I joined him on shopping jaunts–yet another memory with a lasting footprint in my heart.
How did your father’s apparel influence the fabrics for the Cardinal Collection?
Most of the traditional patterns in the collection were inspired by my father’s custom suits–both a black-and-white houndstooth and a Glen plaid suit vividly come to mind. We took the inspiration of his suits and electrified them, blending time-honored patterns in an amplified, modern-day punk craft approach that reflects my father’s boldness.
Which of the fabrics is your favorite out of the collection?
It’d probably be Pinwheel! There is something very classic about it, but when I saw the original fabric prototype, it blew me away. It’s smart and structured, but still has a craft feel that feels very personable, and even a bit witty.
What is the inspiration behind the next launch? Does it center around family?
Yes, my hope is for all of the collections to tie back to family–whether it’s my immediate loved ones, extended family, or even the lineages of people I admire or mentor. The next collection is currently being designed in spirit of my mother’s Greek heritage – bring on the Greek folklore, mythology and art!
