Marvic Company Profile
ICON RADFORD TAKE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF MARVIC TEXTILES IN AUSTRALASIA. THE QUINTESSENTIALLY BRITISH FABRIC HOUSE IS RENOWNED FOR OFFERING QUALITY AND ELEGANCE TO THE WORLD'S TOP INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Marvic is proud to be a privately-owned British company creating fabric and wallpaper collections of a superlative quality and enduring appeal, working with the finest manufacturers around the world and selling to the international design elite.
Claire Drake, Managing Director of Icon Radford says “We are very excited to be the distributor for Marvic in Australia and New Zealand. When I had my design business, Marvic was one of our favourites, and it continues to be so today. The range offers a different colour palette and look for Icon Radford and we believe this will be a real benefit for our customers”
Company Heritage: Past and Present
Marvic was founded in 1938 by Victor Afia, a Turkish emigre. He began his career in London continuing the family tradition of selling antique Persian rugs. Soon he added antique textiles to his stock, and it wasn't long before legendary decorator Syrie Maugham, among others, would wait on Victor's doorstep to see what finds he had brought back from the Paris flea markets.
In the 1950's Marvic imported opulent luxury fabrics and unusual specialities including Genoa velvets, damasks and brocades from Italy and France. Many of these fabrics remain in the line today, including authentic Regency-style linen moire stripes and plains which have been used on furniture in the Victoria & Albert Museum; Toiles de Jouy and Toiles de Nantes are also a hallmark of the company. Rich and luxurious hand-crafted crewels from Kashmir and other striking embroideries have been added to the line in recent years together with new, cutting-edge textured linens and weaves for which Marvic has become renowned.
The Marvic design studio often takes design inspiration from the Marvic archive of antique textiles documents many of which date from the 18th/19th century but overall presents a quintessentially classical English style re-interpreted for contemporary taste. Top interior designers tum to Marvic's fine fabrics for their quality, distinctive look and timeless identity.
Palaces, Stately Homes and Hotels
The firm is famous for its bespoke service and has developed original designs for many of the country's most celebrated historic houses such as Althorp, Chatsworth, Holyrood, and Stratfield Saye. HM The Queen has selected Marvic for both Buckingham Palace and Sandringham.
Marvic also has a long history of supplying fabrics for prestigious, international 5-star hotels such as The Lanesborough, Claridges, Le Bristol Paris, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Kempinski Hotels, Rocco Forte Hotels, Red Carnation and Firmdale Hotels for which they have often adapted current Marvic designs to meet the particular specifications of individual projects.
Marvic in New Zealand
The Marvic style and colour palette fits perfectly into the Icon Radford stable of beautiful textiles and wallcovering brands, all with their unique and rich heritage story. The Marvic style complements heritage buildings but is equally at home in more contemporary settings, especially the many textured plains and semi plains which are now in the range.
Icon Radford launch Marvic in Australia and New Zealand this September. You can explore the collection here.
