For design followers of a certain age, the 1970s and ‘80s were dominated by two women who brought the English country look to the forefront of home design: Laura Ashley and Lillian August. While Laura Ashley’s influence has faded, the talented Lillian August is still producing fabrics, furnishings and wallcoverings.
Calico is featuring a New Traditional fabric collection by Lillian with our stores showcasing 60+ designs. We talked with Lillian and her granddaughter, Eliza Weiss, Marketing Director of the Lillian August company, about this family business now in its third generation.
Lillian August with granddaughter Eliza Weiss
Q: Lillian, you started making a name for yourself with English Country House collections. Where did those influences originate?
A: When Queen Victoria came to the throne, Britain became about the family, and a woman’s point of view dominated home decorating. In the early 1980s, the "English Country House" was romanticized internationally—and I identified with how it positioned women as homemakers and decorators.
As an interior designer in the South, I realized there was a void in textile design. I was a mother and a sewer myself, and I had workrooms make draperies and slipcovers. When British design took off, I started thinking about making products for the home.
The cabbage rose print is Sandhurst in Sage/Spa Blue, also shown on the host chair.
Q: Lillian, how did you make the leap from interior design to textile design?
A: As an interior designer, I was always textile and color driven. Our first branded fabrics were designed for quilt makers, which led to wallcoverings and the American Country trend. Everything changed when we created 54” decorative fabrics and our own furniture line.
Blues reign! The damask print on the chair is Lisbeth in Blue Kiwi.
Lillian: I am so pleased to have my fabric designs at Calico! I hope to inspire home decorators to use our fabrics on furniture and interiors. Custom fabrication makes all the difference.
Three generations of design talent: Dan Weiss, Lillian August and Eliza Weiss.
Q: Lillian, how do you account for your family’s longevity in this industry?
A: We are a family business of creatives! I am fortunate that my children—and now my grandchildren—have a natural inclination and love for design. They have the talent and drive to adapt to an ever-changing business environment.
Blush pinks and herbal greens are a classic combination in these designs from the Lillian August collection.
Q: Eliza, what are a few important things you learned about the design process from your family?
A: One of Lillian’s famous catchphrases is, “You’re only as good as your references.” She is a master of research, constantly ripping pages from magazines and putting together mood boards. My father instilled a sense of business acumen and fosters manufacturing relationships to grow the brand.
Marketing Director Eliza Weiss joined the family business after receiving a Master’s from Pratt Institute.
Q: What makes this collection stand out?
Eliza: It offers a fresh perspective on traditional and coastal design. The patterns are whimsical, adding joy to a decorated home. Lillian is a master of color, and the palette works seamlessly to create a curated home.
The seashell pattern Paradise View creates a happy room inspired by a Palm Beach aesthetic.
“The New Traditional Collection was something Lillian and I had been working on—a new perspective to traditional decorating. We were seeing a resurgence among young designers who were not afraid of color and pattern.” — Eliza Weiss
Swivel chairs covered in the ikat go-with print Moselle in Green.
Q: What makes “New Traditional” new?
Eliza: New Traditional takes classic elements like cabbage roses and damasks and updates them with fresh colors to make the collection feel relevant for today’s customer. It’s fun to go back to the beauty of traditional design!