Kirkby Design
Kirkby Design is a UK-based luxury textile brand within The Romo Group, designing and distributing contemporary fabrics, wallcoverings, rugs, and accessories to interior designers, retailers, hospitality specifiers, and consumers across Europe and North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1902
- HeadquartersSutton In Ashfield, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kirkby Design does
Kirkby Design is a UK-based luxury textile brand operating as part of The Romo Group, a family-owned parent company with more than 100 years of textile industry heritage that comprises six complementary interior brands (Romo, Black Edition, Kirkby Design, Mark Alexander, Villa Nova, Zinc Textile, and Omexco). The brand designs and distributes contemporary fabrics, wallcoverings, rugs, and accessories (cushions and throws) across patterns, plains, outdoor, sustainable, and contract collections, with technical capabilities spanning fire-retardant treatments, EasyClean performance finishes, OEKO-Tex 100 certified materials, and recycled-polyester constructions.
The product portfolio emphasizes modern graphic design and includes exclusive collaborations such as the Underground series with Transport for London (reinterpreting historic London Transport archive artwork) and an ongoing partnership with Eley Kishimoto for fabrics and wallcoverings. Recent launches such as Nova FR, Cord FR, Loop II, and Flax highlight a strategic emphasis on recycled and responsibly sourced inputs, including solar-energy-produced linens and PET derived from waste plastic bottles.
Kirkby generates revenue through a multi-channel model combining a dedicated trade account portal with sample services and project pricing, a network of 16+ company-affiliated showrooms across Europe and North America, a global stockist and distributor base, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. It serves interior designers, specifiers, retailers, hospitality/contract buyers, and residential consumers, with no public revenue disclosure and full ownership retained by Romo Ltd.
Kirkby Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kirkby Design
- Legal name
- Romo Ltd
- Website
- https://kirkbydesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1902
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Kirkby Design is a UK-based luxury textile brand within The Romo Group, designing and distributing contemporary fabrics, wallcoverings, rugs, and accessories to interior designers, retailers, hospitality specifiers, and consumers across Europe and North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kirkby Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Interior Textiles
- NAICS
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Carpet and Rug Mills (31411)
- SIC
- Carpets & Rugs (2273)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pile Fabrics & Terry Cloth Mills (Velvet/Corduroy/Terry) (IMAOABAF)
Keywords
Where Kirkby Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sutton In Ashfield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices17 records
Markets served
Kirkby Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Textile and Wallcovering Sales: Kirkby Design generates revenue through the direct sale of its fabric, wallcovering, cushion, throw, and rug collections. Products are sold to trade customers (interior designers, specifiers, retailers) through trade accounts and to consumers through the company website and stockist network. The company operates both B2B and B2C channels.
- Trade Account Services: Trade customers with valid account numbers receive access to online services including full product library access, sample ordering service, real-time stock information, technical and price information, and access to current sale items.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Kirkby Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kirkby Design designs, manufactures, and sells luxury modern textiles including fabrics (patterns, plains, outdoor, sustainable, and contract lines), wallcoverings, rugs, and accessories (cushions and throws). Products feature on-trend graphic designs, sophisticated patterns, and modern textures with proprietary performance features including fire retardancy (FR), EasyClean finishes, recycled materials, and OEKO-Tex 100 certification. The brand operates under The Romo Group and distributes through a global network of showrooms, stockists, a trade portal, and direct e-commerce.
Product overview
Kirkby Design is a creative textile brand offering luxury modern fabrics, cushions, and wallcoverings with a fresh, modern direction. The company's product portfolio is organized into four core categories: Fabrics (including Patterns, Plains, Outdoor, Sustainable, and Contract collections), Wallcoverings, Rugs, and Accessories (Cushions and Throws). The brand is known for strong graphic designs, sophisticated patterns, and modern textures in ultra-contemporary, progressive colour combinations. Key recent collections include the Underground Vol.III (third collaboration with Transport for London featuring reinterpreted archive designs), Nova FR (recycled FR velvet from plastic bottles), Cord FR (recycled textured velvet), Loop II (textured semi-plain weave), and Flax (wide-width 100% linen). The company also produces sustainable collections using recycled materials and has collaborated with Eley Kishimoto on wallcoverings and fabrics. Kirkby Design is part of The Romo Group, which encompasses six established interior brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fabrics
- Wallcoverings
- Rugs
- Accessories
- Trade Account Services
Companies that use Kirkby Design
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kirkby Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Kirkby Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Transport for London (TfL)coreThird collaboration between Kirkby Design and Transport for London (TfL) on the Underground Vol.III collection. Kirkby has reinterpreted and recoloured eight archive designs historically used across London Transport lines from the 1910s to present day, originally commissioned by Christian Barman who was London Transport's Publicity Officer from the 1930s. Designs were originally created by artists including Marion Dorn, Norbert Dutton, Enid Marx, Paul Nash and Marianne Straub.
- Eley KishimotocoreOngoing collaboration between Kirkby Design and Eley Kishimoto on wallcoverings and fabrics. The partnership has produced multiple editions including Kirkby Design x Eley Kishimoto II Wallcoverings featuring designs like Flash, Jagged Roses, and Solid. Eley Kishimoto is known for their distinctive print patterns and the collaboration brings experimental design approaches with innovative print techniques and materials including natural raffia.
- The Romo GroupcoreKirkby Design is part of The Romo Group, a family-owned company comprising six established interior brands: Romo, Black Edition, Kirkby Design, Mark Alexander, Villa Nova, Zinc Textile, and Omexco. The group provides shared infrastructure, distribution networks, and marketing resources across its brand portfolio.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kirkby Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mark Alexander (Romo Group): Premium Romo Group brand with a focus on artisanal weaves, velvets, sheers, and wallcoverings. Comparable to Kirkby on luxurious textile positioning and global showroom reach via the Romo Group network.
- Zinc Textile (Romo Group): Romo Group brand offering prints, weaves, wallcoverings, leathers, and accessories with a tactile, textural focus. Comparable to Kirkby on multi-product premium positioning and shared trade-channel distribution.
- Jane Churchill: UK designer of fabrics, wallcoverings, and trimmings sold through independent retailers and interior designers. Comparable to Kirkby on mid-premium positioning, designer-to-retail distribution model, and product breadth across patterns and plains.
- Pierre Frey: French heritage textile house producing luxury fabrics, wallcoverings, and rugs for residential and contract interiors. Comparable to Kirkby on premium positioning, archival/collaborative design content, and global showroom distribution including North America.
- Mulberry Home: UK luxury fabric and wallcovering brand with a strong archive heritage, distributed through designers and stockists in the UK, Europe, and North America. Directly comparable to Kirkby on pattern-led design language, premium positioning, and trade-channel distribution.
- Designers Guild: UK-based luxury designer of fabrics, wallcoverings, and home accessories sold through trade and retail channels globally. Closest direct comparable to Kirkby Design in product mix (patterned and plain fabrics, wallcoverings), trade-account distribution model, and design-led premium positioning.
- Villa Nova (Romo Group): Sister brand under The Romo Group with a younger, more design-led positioning covering prints, weaves, wallcoverings, and a children's collection. Closely comparable to Kirkby on design-led premium fabrics and shared global distribution through the Romo Group network.
- Black Edition (Romo Group): Dark-toned, contemporary Romo Group brand offering prints, weaves, wallcoverings, and outdoor collections. Comparable to Kirkby on contemporary design language and performance-oriented product extensions (outdoor, FR).
- Osborne & Little: UK designer and wholesaler of fabrics, wallcoverings, trimmings, and accessories sold through international stockists and showrooms. Highly comparable business model to Kirkby's trade-and-stockist distribution architecture and product breadth.
- Romo (Romo Group): Sister brand within The Romo Group, producing fabrics, wallcoverings, trimmings, rugs, and accessories. Direct peer by virtue of shared parent, shared distribution infrastructure, and overlapping product categories — Kirkby's positioning is the 'modern graphic' complement to Romo's core line.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kirkby Design social profiles
Digital presenceKirkby Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kirkby Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kirkby Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kirkby Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kirkby Design
What does Kirkby Design do?
Kirkby Design designs, manufactures, and sells luxury modern textiles including fabrics (patterns, plains, outdoor, sustainable, and contract lines), wallcoverings, rugs, and accessories (cushions and throws). Products feature on-trend graphic designs, sophisticated patterns, and modern textures with proprietary performance features including fire retardancy (FR), EasyClean finishes, recycled materials, and OEKO-Tex 100 certification. The brand operates under The Romo Group and distributes through a global network of showrooms, stockists, a trade portal, and direct e-commerce.
Is Kirkby Design a public or private company?
Kirkby Design is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Kirkby Design founded?
Kirkby Design was founded in 1902. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Kirkby Design based?
Kirkby Design is headquartered in Sutton In Ashfield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kirkby Design make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Textile and Wallcovering Sales are the primary driver. The others are trade Account Services.
Who are Kirkby Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mark Alexander (Romo Group), Zinc Textile (Romo Group), Jane Churchill, Pierre Frey, Mulberry Home, Designers Guild, Villa Nova (Romo Group), Black Edition (Romo Group), Osborne & Little and Romo (Romo Group).
Does Kirkby Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kirkby Design.
What industry is Kirkby Design in?
Kirkby Design's product category is Luxury Interior Textiles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOABAF, Pile Fabrics & Terry Cloth Mills (Velvet/Corduroy/Terry). Its NAICS code is 3159 and its SIC code is 2273.