Meet our Founding Partners at Material Source Studio London - part one.
In association with:
Material Source Studio London opens on 1 October 2025.
Ahead of your visit, we want you to meet our Founding Partners - global companies supplying commercial interior and architectural products and materials, for use in your schemes.
Fabric to flooring. Wallcoverings to paint. Here are four brands with a presence across all of our Material Source Studio locations - Manchester, Glasgow, and London from next month.
See a snapshot of their expertise below.
Agua Fabrics
Agua is a four-generation family business, specialising in technical soft fabrics and faux leathers that balance form with function. All its upholstery fabrics are highly durable, fire retardant, waterproof, stain-resistant and anti-microbial.
The first waterproof and fire-retardant upholstery collection was launched by Agua in 2004, and the company now has an extensive range of over 36 collections and over 1000 different fabric choices. From all the teams' years of experience, they understand the needs and requirements of performance fabrics in demanding environments.
On becoming a Partner at Material Source Studio London, Agua commented: “We’re hugely excited to be bringing our existing very successful partnerships in Manchester and Glasgow to a wider audience in Material Source’s spectacular new London space – located in the beating heart of UK and international architecture and design - Clerkenwell.
"Front and centre will be our latest collections Oruga and Dales alongside a curated display of some of our 1,164 current well regarded performance fabric ranges. UK and international visitors can look forward to more new launches and regular display updates.”
Arte Wallcoverings
Arte is a passionate designer & manufacturer of sophisticated wallcoverings.
The company, owned by the family Desart, has been in play since 1981. Arte wallcoverings adorn the walls of both residential homes and project interiors in over 80 countries worldwide.
Every year, an in-house team of experienced designers creates several new collections. All of these new products must be innovative and trendsetting, while also being of superior quality.
A lot of time and effort goes into research: Arte is constantly looking for new production methods and quality materials. That explains why designing a new collection can easily take more than a year.
On what Members of Material Source Studio London can expect from Arte when they visit, the team said, “Arte weaves craftsmanship, creativity and sustainable quality into high-end wallcoverings that transform any space with extraordinary elegance.”
Crown Paints
With roots dating back to 1777, Crown Paints has been shaping colour stories for centuries. Today, they support architects and designers to explore what’s possible with colour — from bold statements to subtle, mood-shifting tones.
With over 1,400 colours in its fan deck, free paint samples, and colour scheme services - including support on projects that are dementia-friendly or neuro-inclusive – Crown believes colour should work for everyone.
Through Project Possible, Crown champions sustainability, reducing waste and developing products with a lighter footprint — supporting better, braver, more beautiful spaces.
“We’re proud to be part of Material Source Studio London, supporting architects and designers with the tools, insight, and inspiration to create inclusive, sustainable, and beautiful spaces through the power of colour", says Crown Paints of its partnership.
Forbo Flooring
As the leading global manufacturer of flooring solutions, Forbo prides itself on offering a truly comprehensive portfolio of leading-edge products, specifically designed to cater for every area of a project.
Ever since the company began making floor coverings, starting with linoleum more than 150 years ago, the commitment has always been the same: to create better environments in all the spaces in which people, work, live, interact, relax, heal, learn and play.
From entrance to exit, whether new build or refurbishment, Forbo’s integrated flooring portfolio can help specifiers, interior designers and facilities managers to create beautiful and inspiring - yet functional - interiors. Its dedicated and passionate team can work with you to choose the right flooring solutions for your project.
"At the new Material Source Studio London, Forbo is bringing sustainability to the forefront – supporting low-carbon specifications without ever compromising on design.
"From our very low embodied carbon Tessera Evolve+ carpet tiles to naturally climate-positive (carbon negative) Marmoleum and Furniture Linoleum collections, all achieved without offsets", Forbo's team explained as to what you can expect from them next month.
Material Source Studio London opens on 1 October at 120 Saffron Hill, Farringdon, EC1N 8TS. We'll be announcing part two of our Founding Partners next week. Keep an eye out for more details. And become a Member here.
