Interior Design

In Conversation With Fritz Porter

This month, In Conversation With features Fritz Porter, the celebrated Charleston textiles showroom. Led by Sarah-Hamlin Hastings, it is a Southeast destination for refined furnishings, textiles, lighting, and home accessories. Words by the wonderful Becky LaRoche and Sarah-Hamlin Hastings.

Textile Experts

How would you describe the core identity and ethos of the Fritz Porter showroom?

Fritz Porter's mission is to celebrate and promote the art and craft of the design industry - that is the root of everything we do whether it be selling textiles and wallpaper, creating custom furniture and rugs, or providing bespoke interior design services. We are always looking to tell the stories of our vendors and the designs they create.

What role do fabrics play in defining a room’s character.

Think of a movie: the role of a star and all of the supporting cast in that movie- this is no different than the role of textiles in defining a room's character, they are the essentials and are critical to the storyline. They are also the actual "set design" as they can transport you anywhere you want to go. They are the soundtrack: serene, bold, possibly a crescendo. This describes what only a textile can do.
And, we are right to remember that sometimes, one of the supporting cast takes the Oscar, and not the one who was the star!

With such a wide range of textile lines in your collection, how do you curate which brands and patterns to showcase?

So much thought goes into taking a line.
We would never "take a line, just to take a line".
The quality, the way the fabric is printed, the way it is woven, the hand of the fabric, all of these are extremely important and are taken into consideration.
It has to be unique and different; the not seen everywhere.
For someone to say, "I feel like I've seen this before" is not who we are.
Our core is supporting the creatives in the industry and telling their stories.
They are the ones who create the atmosphere of our showroom.
Fritz Porter is so much more than beautiful textiles hanging on the walls.

What’s your favourite fabric from our collection, and why?

Seaweed Woven and Woven Ribbon.
Quite literally they are beautiful and useful, as William Morris said we should nothing in our homes that is not this very thing, useful and beautiful.
In these wovens we are seeing colours our industry has not given us much of- yellows and purples, more greens, the dusty colors.
The color story in this new collection is absolutely delicious to behold.

How do you think English sensibility relates to the Southern U.S. market?

English sensibility is what most of our designers say their clients want!
The collected, the gathering of different cultures, after all- is this not the very essence of our lives? We should live with what we love. English sensibility, brings inside what is outside, and embraces the colors of our created world. Layer upon layer... when looking at an "English" room one can say- it does not look like it should make sense- but it absolutely does make sense!

How do you help designers translate fabrics into finished spaces - from concept to installation?

By listening. By asking questions. By challenging... just a bit. By saving them time. It works both ways, I have learned so very much by having the honor to work with the most amazing and talented designers.

How does being based in Charleston’s growing design district influence your creative direction and community?

Charleston is a city that deftly balances a dedication to preservation, history and architectural integrity with a progressive approach to liveability. The new Charleston Design District encapsulates that ethos perfectly with adaptive re-use of the early 20th century warehouse buildings in the former Navy Yard. These buildings are the now the home of a some very select interior design showrooms and contemporary art galleries. We are excited to be a part of this exciting venture and feel that Fritz Porter's own dedication to craftmanship and artisan brands aligns perfectly to what is happening here.