Below, we look into the history of this interior design powerhouse – and discover its latest innovations.
The beginning
In 1902, Robert Mould, who named the company by combining the first two letters of his own name, started a small-scale furniture manufacturing business in Nottingham, England, a city in the Midlands. By the 1930s, the company had become wholesalers to the upholstery industry, supplying fabrics and components for the manufacture of furniture.
The next step
Romo continued to evolve until eventually the upholstery manufacturing side of the business ceased completely and the supply of furnishing fabrics became the company’s primary focus. In the 1980s Romo started its own in-house design studio, injecting a more creative approach. Designs were made up in the studio in Nottingham but produced by artisans based all over the world.
Romo in the US
Romo fabrics were first sold in the United States in 1995 through a US distributor. As demand for European products and sales continued to grow, Romo eventually set up its own operation in the US in 2005, opening their first corporate showroom in New York’s prestigious D&D Building in 2007. Romo USA headquarters are in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. It now has more than 30 direct employees and flagship showrooms in seven cities (New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami & Washington DC) with further showrooms in the pipeline for 2022. Romo products are available throughout the US through a network of partner showrooms.
Romo today
The Romo Group is currently managed by the founder’s great grandson, Jonathan Mould, along with his own children: Felicity (creative marketing director), Emily (design director, above) and Jordan (brand director). It has over 350 employees based in the UK and overseas. Based in the market town of Sutton-in-Ashfield, in Nottinghamshire, the company now occupies 250,000 sq ft of warehouses. In 2017, Romo was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the second time, in recognition of its success in international trade. With an extensive network of international showrooms and distribution, Romo Group products are now sold in over 80 countries worldwide, with exports totalling around 70% of sales. Renowned for the high quality of product and design, the company has six in-house fabric and wallcovering brands. These include: Romo (opens in new tab), a collection of classic and contemporary designs and versatile plains which have distinctive British design at the heart of each collection. Black Edition (opens in new tab), a luxury collection including a blend of sophisticated textures, pioneering weaving techniques and artisan effects with a unique color palette. Kirkby Design (opens in new tab), which has playful and contemporary designs alongside a selection of plain fabrics that work for both residential and contract schemes. Mark Alexander, (opens in new tab) a mix of artisanal craftsmanship and contemporary couture which results in collections of paired back designs in a sophisticated color palette. Villa Nova (opens in new tab), wallcoverings and accessories in contemporary prints and versatile weaves, ideal for those looking for a trend-focused palette in a rural-inspired aesthetic. Zinc Textile, (opens in new tab) which is known for its original, quirky and unpredictable designs for smart, contemporary interiors. Recently Romo has expanded its product offering to include interior accessories such as cushions (opens in new tab), rugs and throws. Launched twice a year, in spring and autumn, Romo’s brand collections are available to see in 70 countries worldwide. A number of notable international hotels feature Romo fabrics and wallcoverings including the Ham Yard Hotel in London by Kit Kemp and the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire by RPW Design (opens in new tab). Romo’s showroom in the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, London Romo’s New York showroom at 979 3rd Ave #1703 Design Director Emily Mould behind the scenes at Romo, the fifth generation of the family to work for the firm. Black Edition from the 2021 collection One of Rome’s best-selling fabrics: Sahara Collection from Kirkby Design Mark Alexander 2021 collection Linara by Romo is a perennially popular plain which comes in a range of colours Romo’s 250,000 sq ft warehouse in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire One of the most recent additions to the Romo Group—a line of accessories including cushions Villa Nova’s 2021 collection Zinc Textiles 2021 collection
The designs in situ
Launched twice a year, in spring and autumn, Romo’s brand collections are available to see in 70 countries worldwide. A number of notable international hotels feature Romo fabrics and wallcoverings including the Ham Yard Hotel (opens in new tab) in London by Kit Kemp and the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire by RPW Design (opens in new tab).
