Mid-century inspired fabric collection by Manchester designer Collette Costello.
As a child, my kitchen was decorated with the most amazing 1970s retro pattern wallpaper. Our living room was full of what is now classic retro 1960s furniture, including a teak G plan sideboard. This collection is inspired by these mid-century interiors.
Dinner Party Night
Dinner party night, Buddy Holly is playing on the record player. Cocktails are served in curved glasses. The dancing in full swing, everyone is a jiving and a bopping.

Office Business
The phone ringing in the office, appointments to be made. Wood veneer cladded walls, shag carpet and classic Eames chair. Time to do business, the clock is ticking, deals to be made.

Mid-century Days
Open plan living is all the rage, floor to ceiling windows let in so much air and light. Days are easy spend lounging. A morning trip to the supermarket, pop dinner in the microwave, jobs are quickly done.

Bursting to the Stars
Out with the old and in with the new. Everyone crowds round the television in excitement, to watch the space race. Could it be true that a man could really step foot on another planet, step foot on the moon?

Mid-century Britain
Below is a story of a women living in Mid-century Britain. Based on true stories and facts. That inspired the fabrics above.
Linda has just left school at 16. She will be starting her first job as a secretary in an office on King Street in Manchester. Linda attended the local comprehensive school. She did not pass the 11+, so grammar school was not an option. Even so employers came to meet her and the other girls at school. Keen to offer them jobs, to fill the booming jobs market. They were offered jobs in offices and even in developing computers at Siemens.
Trained in touch type at school, Linda would do basic administrative work. Only men became managers. Linda would only work until she got married and had children. Then she would lose her job and become a housewife.
Now she did have a job, she had freedom. Linda could rent a room in a boarding house, away from her family. Go dancing at the “Ritz” and “Stella Maris”. Jiving to live bands and records. She loved rock and roll stars such as Buddy Holly, Elvis and Cliff Richard.
When it was time to marry, Linda dreamed of a new style house, with large windows and garden. Maybe one of the “Sunshine Houses” on Irlams o’th height. Or a newly build home in the “Garden City”, in the suburbs of Wythenshawe. She would fill the house with new, modern furniture. No old style, heavy drab, Victorian furniture. Instead bubble chairs, starburst clocks, Emas style furniture and her own telephone. Life would be good, she felt her future was bright.
Retro 1970s Fabric U.K
My childhood home was decorated with 1970s patterns. Curtains, wallpapers with bold, yellow and orange prints. The living room was packed with mid-century style furniture and the bathroom had an avocado suite.
I was actually born in the early 1980s, yet remember people still dressing in 1970s style fashion. Flared trousers, corduroy skirts, dresses made in psychedelic floral prints. Pattern was everywhere, textile designers such as Shirley Craven. Made bold, geometric, abstract prints, popular in 1970s Britain. Boutiques like Biba sold dresses that has bellowing sleeves and gathers. Designed in romantic styles. Like those found in clothes worn by bands, such as Fleetwood Mac.
The 1970s style I always loved, even before it became cool again. As a teenager I dressed in 1970s style fashion and listened to 1970s funk music. Shopping in Manchester’s northern quarter and Affleck’s Palace. For vintage style fashion, made in exciting 1970s printed fabrics. These bold patterns inspired me to go on to become a textile designers. Now designing my own collections of vintage style, retro fabrics. Like 1970s prints, my fabrics are bold, fun and colourful.
1970s retro dressmaking fabrics have had a revival in recent years. Due to loose fitting 1970s style baby doll dresses, becoming in fashion. Independent designers such as Dream Jeanie” have followed this trend. Creating original 1970s retro dressmaking fabrics. By up-cycling old curtains, quilts and table clothes. To make retro style dresses.
Orla Kiely made retro upholstery fabric in the U.K fashionable again. Her bold geometric fabric prints, in mid-century colours. Brought colour and pattern back into U.K homes. The “70s House Manchester”, by Estelle Bilson. Sell amazing reproduction, 1970s retro upholstery fabric. The “70s House” is not just a on-line fabric shop. Owner Estelle Bilson is a designer, that lives and breathes the 1970s. Her home is decorated purely in original 1970s decor, which she rents out for photoshoots and events.
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