Long before “handmade” became a trend, William Morris was proving that beauty belongs in everyday life. In 19th-century Britain, he wasn’t just watching the Arts & Crafts movement unfold—he was helping lead it. Teaching himself everything from embroidery to natural dyeing and block printing, Morris mastered the kind of detailed craftsmanship most people assumed belonged to the past.

In 1861, he launched what would become Morris & Co., then called Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. His mission was clear: push back against the mass-produced sameness of the Industrial Revolution and bring soul back to the things people lived with. For Morris and his collaborators, reviving traditional techniques wasn’t about nostalgia—it was about raising the standard of design itself. Every pattern, every textile, every detail carried the mark of genuine artistry. To understand where our story begins, you only need to look at the man who started it all.