Gainsborough – Celebrating Bentley’s Centenary

In July this year Bentley celebrated their centenary by unveiling their vision for the future, the Bentley EXP 100 GT.

As you would expect from the world’s most sought after luxury brand, Bentley have created a concept car filled to the brim with advanced technology. The Bentley EXP 100 GT is an all-electric, zero emissions car with fully autonomous technology and artificial intelligence. As with the Grand Tourers of the past, there is an abundance of luxurious style and an interior that has been expertly curated using some of the best of British craftsmanship.

A range of like-minded artisans were selected to provide handcrafted materials for the car’s interiors. Gainsborough were honoured to be chosen to create a completely bespoke fabric for the door linings, floor and bulkhead.

Bentley’s Colour and Trim team worked closely with Gainsborough’s Head of Design, Dominique Caplan to create a cotton damask with a unique, organic look inspired by the markings of an old cracked leather chair.

Gainsborough’s Dye House Manager of twenty years, painstakingly matched five colours from a hand-painted paper swatch. It was essential that they complemented the colours used across the rest of the interiors, not a simple task when you consider the diverse textures and properties of the wool, innovative bio textiles and natural leathers that had also been specified.

There was also the challenge of creating an ombré effect from the back of the car to the centre which was produced by mixing the colours of the yarn within the weft and the warp to create the perfect graduated effect.

Of the six individual handwoven pieces of fabric created for the project, Dominique also had to ensure that each piece could be pattern matched perfectly within the car, creating a seamless mirrored effect from the panel of the door to the panel on the floor.

An exceptional blend of British craftsmanship, Gainsborough’s fabric sits alongside 5,000-year-old solid riverwood, Scottish leather, Cumbrian crystal, British farmed Rare Breed wool carpet and hand tooled saddle leather.

For more information on the Bentley EXP 100 GT please click here.

To find out more about Gainsborough’s bespoke capabilities please visit the Gainsborough website here.

You can also find them at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, within the newly opened McKinney & Co. showroom.