Eleanor Pritchard

Eleanor Pritchard weaves her optically-inspired creations at a traditional mill in West Wales, pairing British craft with mid-century-oriented pattern. Her blankets, rugs and cushions bring graphic calm to modern interiors. Browse the Eleanor Pritchard collection at Heal's today.
  • Purlin Recycled PET Rug Warm Grey 170cm x 240cm Purlin Recycled PET Rug Warm Grey 170cm x 240cm
  • Spindle Recycled PET Rug Warm Grey Spindle Recycled PET Rug Warm Grey 170cm x 240cm
  • Purlin Recycled PET Runner Warm Grey 80 x 250cm Purlin Recycled PET Runner Warm Grey 80 x 250cm
  • Oar rPET Rug Oar rPET Rug 170cm x 240cm
    By Case
    Oar rPET Rug
    From £550
  • Spine rPET Rug Beige

    Eleanor Pritchard is a British textile designer based in Deptford, London, whose woven blankets, rugs and cushions are produced at a traditional mill in West Wales. She trained at the Royal College of Art and has built her practice around honest craft and optically-inspired pattern. Her work is regularly exhibited at the V&A.

    Pritchard's textiles are woven at a family-run mill in West Wales that has been weaving for over 200 years. The partnership preserves traditional British weaving skills while producing thoroughly contemporary designs. Every piece is made using British wool from named UK flocks.

    Pritchard works primarily in British wool, occasionally blended with cotton or linen for specific textures and performance characteristics. The yarns are undyed where possible, letting the natural shade of each fleece sit alongside carefully chosen dyed tones. This keeps the palette earthy and calm.

    Pritchard's blankets work particularly well draped over armchairs and sofas in living rooms and studies, while her cushions and rugs anchor bedrooms and reading corners. The mid-century patterning pairs easily with contemporary furniture in oak, walnut and tubular metal. Avoid crowding multiple strong textile patterns.

    • Designers On Lockdown: One Nine Eight Five's Eleanor Nadimi
      BrandsDesigners
      Designers On Lockdown: One Nine Eight Five's Eleanor Nadimi
      In the fifth instalment of Designers on Lockdown, we spoke to Eleanor Nadimi, founder of One Nine Eight Five. Lockdown has affected everyone and all our brands and designers have dealt with it differently. As an independent maker, Eleanor had to adapt quickly to lockdown, read on to discover more. Hi Eleanor, tell us a little bit about you and One Nine Eight Five… Hello, my name is Eleanor Nadimi and I’m the founder of One Nine Eight Five. One Nine Eight Five is an ethical British homeware brand that specialises in really bold, colourful printed velvet cushions, tassel cushions and recycled fibre throws. How is lockdown treating you? I have to say, it has been a tricky time as I’m sure it has been for many others. For example, adapting to new ways of living and working. The work life balance and trying to get that right took quite a lot of time. I’m living with my family who are all on furlough and in the meantime I’ve been trying continue trading and that took a bit of time to get in place. But it has actually been an extremely positive experience. I’m a big believer in needing to go through certain hurdles and challenges to move forward and grow. This has definitely been the time for that. It is also a time of reflection that highlighted certain areas of the business that needed attention or tweaking. Luckily, I’ve now had the luxury of time to be able to address these areas. Being able to slow down and do this has been great. How has your business adapted to social distancing measures? As an independent maker I run the business completely on my own. When it comes to routine there isn’t one, every day is different. So, I could be designing for a few hours, followed by some PR, accounts and packing orders. There are so many different things within a day so to have that slow down a little was really helpful. It has also allowed me to work on all the ideas I’ve had in my head for the longest time. I’ve been painting, I’ve been drawing, I’ve been researching. One thing I have really missed is being able to go to galleries. I’m just so thankful that most galleries have moved all their exhibitions online. Thanks to the internet you can still feel incredibly connected and find lots of resources for research. A lot of the ideas are turning into reality now and I’m so excited to show you them. I hope once you see them, you’ll be just as excited as I am. How has lockdown shifted the way you design? The way that I design has definitely shifted. That’s partly because you can’t travel to a location or outsource things since everything is closed. So, problem solving and innovating from home has been a challenge. But it’s bought out results that I never expected. For example, I’ve roped in my family to help with any jobs that involve more than a pair of hands. We created a beautiful photoshoot in the garden which I’ll be releasing soon. It’s taken turns that I didn’t expect to happen and I’m grateful for these outcomes. I do enjoy a bit of the unexpected and I work well under pressure. So, I find bouncing around different ideas and innovating really inspiring. How have you stayed motivated when working from home? One thing that has been a challenge at home is motivation, as I’m sure most people can appreciate. Something that has helped keep me grounded is living with my family and getting them involved. It bought us closer together and as they see what I do every day they value it a lot more. They understand more about the processes of things and I’ve enjoyed sharing that with them. Also, with my friends from afar it has bought us all closer together and created a much better support system. Another thing that has kept me motivated and grounded is my dog Lulu. We enjoy going for long walks and I’ve discovered loads of places on my doorstep that I didn’t know existed. It’s also bought me much closer to my local community. In times of uncertainty when you have no control, it’s so powerful when people come together. I’m so thankful for my neighbours and the acts of kindness people are doing locally and afar. It’s so inspiring, motivating and grounding. It has made the future feel a lot less scary to me, and for that I am really grateful. For me, life moves so fast. I’m always late, always running to the next thing. To be able to take a step back and stop is such a special thing. Slowing down whilst still being productive has been a really humbling experience. Like what you see? Shop One Nine Eight Five. Want to know more? Read Meet the Designer: One Nine Eight Five. https://youtu.be/RhTnaiKj4Ow
    • How To Spot A Fake Eames Lounge Chair
      Buying Guides
      How To Spot A Fake Eames Lounge Chair
      As one of the world’s most iconic chairs, it probably comes as no surprise that the Eames Lounge Chair is the victim of untold inferior copies. In fact, fake Eames Loungers sit unknowingly, or knowingly, in peoples’ homes across the globe. Maybe you’re looking to buy a vintage Eames Lounge Chair online. Or perhaps you’ve seen a new one in a shop but aren’t convinced it’s authentic. It’s completely understandable that you want to make sure it’s authentic before splashing out on it. To help you decide, we’ve compiled some of the ways you can tell a real Eames Lounger from a fake. These sure-fire ways to spot a fake Eames Lounge Chair should help you make this important decision. Read on to find out. The size of an original Eames Lounge Chair Aside from a taller version introduced in 2010, the Eames Lounge Chair hasn’t changed sizes since it was designed in 1956. That means you can tell an original Eames Chair from its size. Fake Eames Lounge Chairs tend to have completely wrong proportions. So, if the size is off, then the odds are that it’s a knock off. If you’re buying an Eames Lounger from a second hand or vintage shop, then get your tape measure out. A classic Eames Lounge Chair measures 84cm tall, 84cm wide and 91cm deep with a seat height of 38cm. A tall Eames Lounge Chair is 89cm tall, 84cm wide and 92cm deep with a seat height of 38cm. Labels on an authentic Eames Lounge Chair Whether your Eames Chair is vintage or brand spanking new, it should have a label to prove its authenticity. When looking for a label on an Eames Chair, we tend to start with the base. It will normally be at the point where the base connects with the chair’s shell. If it isn’t there, then try sliding off the chair’s cushions and you may find a label underneath. Once you find it, a label should have one of two names, Hermann Miller or Vitra. To European and Middle Eastern audiences, Vitra is renowned for making Eames furniture. If you’re buying the chair here, then that’s what you should expect to see a Vitra label. However, Hermann Miller was the original manufacturer of the Eames Lounge Chair in the USA and even commissioned it in the first place. Of course, some Vitra loungers will have made their way across the Atlantic and vice versa. So, don’t be surprised if it has a Hermann Miller label attached to it. Whether it’s a Hermann Miller or a Vitra tag, either tag should guarantee its authenticity. Both brands have gone through a wide range of labels since the chair was first produced. That means there are many different labels that could be on your chair. It could be a small metal plaque, a sticker with Charles Eames’ signature or a roundel. If you can’t find a label on your Eames Lounger, then don’t despair. If the chair’s old and the right size, with all the quality fixtures and features then it’s probably just missing a label. How much does an Eames Lounge Chair move? An authentic Eames Lounge Chair should swivel 360° in a fluid motion. That is, the shell swivels on the base itself. If the base has wheels or castors, then it won’t be an original. Many people think that this type of chair is a recliner, but it isn’t. Yes, an Eames Lounger will tilt slightly when you lean back on it, but it’s no reclining chair. So, if the chair in question reclines far back or has mechanisms to help it recline, then it isn’t an original. An Eames Lounger’s premium finish Always remember the prestige reputation manufacturers like Hermann Miller and Vitra have. Not to mention the exacting standards of Charles Eames himself. That means original Eames Chairs are always finished to the highest possible standard. All authentic Eames Lounge Chairs are made up of three wooden shells. That’s one for the seat, one for the back and one for the headrest. Then there are two shells that make up the armrests. The shells all appear as though floating with no visible screw or bolts. The only place you may spot a screw is on the armrests and original ones will be black. Effort has been made to ensure the design is structurally sound whilst concealing the screws. So, if screws stick out like sore thumbs, it won’t be an original. The base of an Eames Lounge Chair The chair’s base is also a tell-tale sign. It should have five legs and be made using die cast aluminium. Since they’re made using this technique, the base should be one solid piece of aluminium, rather than having individual legs screwed together. Each leg will have a slight angle and taper off into a rounded end, rather than a squared end. The base isn’t always the same finish, in fact, expect to see it polished, chromed or matte black. So, if there’s less than five legs and steep angles on the base, you’re probably looking at a fake. How much does an Eames Lounge Chair cost? The price of an Eames Lounge Chair differs depending on the leather and wood finishes that you choose. But needless to say, the price tag that comes with them reflects the work that goes into making them perfect. That isn’t to say it’s a walk in the park to create a replica. The many elements of an Eames Lounger’s design means that a new replica could still cost upwards of £1,000. However, a used replica will set you back a few hundred pounds. So, if the price is substantially lower than those advertised by Vitra or Hermann Miller then it’s likely a fake. Interested in buying an original? See our authentic Eames Lounge Chairs here.