Richard Allan London has recently launched a collaborative collection with Roger Oates Design, featuring three hand tufted rug designs, each honouring and reworking the original designs of Richard Allan – we caught up with Cate Allan to discuss the incredible legacy of her father’s work and the natural progression towards this collaborative collection…
Established in 1962, Richard Allan London became a defining name in the vibrant explosion of pattern and colour that defined the 1960’s. His boldly printed silk scarves emerged as iconic pieces of wearable art and today, his daughter Cate Allan has collaborated with Roger Oates Design to welcome these designs into the world of interiors – in the form of contemporary hand tufted wool rugs.
Hotel Designs: Richard Allan London was established in 1962. Could you share some background on how the brand began and what defined its early identity?
Cate Allan: My father trained in Lyons and on his return to London, he went to work for Jacqmar where he became Head of Design for ten years. In 1962 new ownership of Jacqmar was taking a path away from the more couture end of the market which prompted my father to establish his own design house, Richard Allan Scarves.
The silk scarves were a perfect canvas for him. Producing multiple colour ways of designs at the height of the sixties and seventies, his silk scarves were greatly loved and I think what set them apart was his ability to take this staple of generations and, with his use of abstract pattern and colour, make it possible for women to embrace the boundary-pushing Sixties with a just a touch of flare, bridging the divide between old-school conformity and liberated self-expression.
Image credit: Richard Allan London / Roger Oates Design
HD: What inspired you to relaunch the brand for a modern audience?
CA: Initially I wanted to do this for myself, to reconnect with something that had been lost. When the prints were met with such enthusiasm, it became clear there was a modern audience for these designs, no matter the medium. They are unique and truly timeless; it’s wonderful to see people of all ages respond to them with the same joy I feel.
One of the most rewarding parts has been seeing a new generation wearing the scarves and displaying the prints in their homes. It’s proof that this era of design still speaks across generations. Our collaboration with H&M in 2019 was another special moment which introduced my father’s work to a whole new audience and reminded me how powerful and relevant great design can remain over time.
The more time I spent with the designs, the more I appreciated their brilliance. It’s an extraordinary collection, a true reflection of its era, and reviving it has become not just a mission, but a joy.
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- Image credit: Richard Allan London / Roger Oates Design
HD: Do you have a favourite design from the Richard Allan archives?
CA: It goes without saying that I love all three designs that we have chosen for this new rug collaboration: Manhattan, Pebble and Dotty. On relaunching the company, Manhattan was the very first design I selected to release as a limited-edition print. I love its deceptive understatement – the more you look the more you see the cleverness and movement of the design. And on a personal note, following my father’s retirement, I moved to NYC where I lived for many years, a home from home and very close to my heart.
Not in the rug collection but also a very favourite is Elsa – it screams Sixties with great elegance. I found it whilst going through many, many beautiful designs and I knew this one was very special; it is a design greatly loved by our customers, scarf, artwork print and cushions.
HD: What made Roger Oates Design feel like the right partner for a rug collaboration?
CA: A shared background of British Design and British craftsmanship: rooted in heritage but driven by a contemporary outlook, I believe that Richard Allan London and Roger Oates Design are naturally aligned in design sensibility, use of colour and respect for quality. Both brands believe deeply in considered design, UK-based production and responsible material choices. Our approaches are grounded in tradition, but we’re constantly evolving, experimenting with colour, pattern and texture to create something timeless yet modern.
For both brands, inspiration flows from the natural world, art, architecture and fashion. That shared curiosity and willingness to experiment keeps their design language evolving: for us, that has brought us to a beautiful rug collection with Roger Oates, connecting our heritage pieces with contemporary interiors and ensuring that both brands remain dynamic, relevant and true to their roots.
Image credit: Richard Allan London / Roger Oates Design
HD: How do you feel the three selected designs translate into interiors?
CA: We felt these designs translate beautifully into a wide range of interiors. Geometric Manhattan sits effortlessly within modern, minimalist, or more classical spaces; Op Art Dotty adds wit and energy, while Pebble offers a softer, more organic flow. Each design is available in a variety of colourways, providing even greater flexibility from timeless, understated tones to bold, statement-making combinations.
HD: Interiors today are curated with meaning, where pieces are chosen for their story rather than trends alone. Do you believe objects and furniture in our homes should carry significance?
CA: I think the most inspiring interiors are those that tell a story. When the pieces around us hold meaning, they create a deeper connection to the space we live in. Objects and furniture chosen for their significance, whether that’s the story behind their design, the craftsmanship involved or the emotion they evoke, bring warmth and character that trends alone can’t achieve. For me, I like home to feel lived in and layered, reflecting not just my style but a sense of history and personality. When design carries meaning, it becomes timeless, something to be cherished, not replaced.
HD: And finally – what excites you most about the future of the Richard Allan London brand?
CA: What excites me most? Honestly, so much. We’re currently working on a new silk scarf collection and naturally scarves remain at the very heart of the company. We’ve also just released beautiful new Limited Edition Prints, and I look forward, in time, to a small number of carefully chosen collaborations with exceptional British makers, such as Roger Oates, whose craftsmanship, heritage and values truly compliment Richard Allan London.
I have a notebook filled with ideas for other ways our designs might be brought to life – for interiors, for clothing and beyond. It’s a wonderful part of my job to sit with a new curation of archival designs and reimagine them on another beautifully crafted medium.
Richard Allan London is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Main image credit: Richard Allan London / Roger Oates Design
