UCKFIELD, EAST SUSSEX, UK—Derek Crowson, founder of Crowson Fabrics Ltd. in 1978, has announced his retirement and the closure of his furnishing fabric business due to ill health, effective on April 17, 2014.

The closure marks the ending of Crowson Fabrics and its related brands, including Monkwell, Charterhouse, Dovedale, Design Archives and Hill and Knowles which were distributed   worldwide through a network of showrooms. 

Crowson Fabrics was honoured to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in 1994 and 1995.  

“I have thoroughly enjoyed creating and leading Crowson Fabrics, a company I founded in 1978 and one which has been synonymous with designer quality furnishings for the last 36 years,” Crowson said.  “During the 1980’s and 1990’s we were producing approximately ten million meters of fabric annually at our own print works partnership factories worldwide, supplying over 8,000 independent retailers and most of the major high street stores and furniture manufacturers in the UK and around the world. Our studios created our own in-house designs, with a team of designers based in the UK and worldwide.  It gave me much satisfaction and pride that our unique apprenticeship scheme led to the launch of so many careers within the Textile industry.’’

Derek Crowson added: “I’d like to thank, with deep gratitude, my loyal and supportive customers and suppliers, both at home and overseas who have shown me so much kindness over the years, it has been my privilege to have made so many strong friends within this industry.”

Crowson said his company has also built one of the largest archives of fabric designs and a substantial number of these extremely successful Crowson designs could be available to print under licence. Interested parties should contact Crowson Fabrics Ltd in writing at the address detailed below.

Crowson also said his company will continue to honor all its suppliers, staff and other creditors in full as well as giving continued Crowson support to all of its loyal customers for a period of time as there are substantial stocks still available. After that date some products will still be available for some time through its appointed selling subsidiary company Charterhouse Fabrics Ltd, based at The Pentex Centre, Bellbrook Industrial Estate, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1PH.    

 Account settlements will continue to be collected under the name of Crowson Fabrics Ltd.