Designers Guild enters administration as Sanderson secures brand licensing deal

Designers Guild Limited, the British luxury interiors company founded by designer Tricia Guild, entered administration on 24 September 2026 after failing to secure new investment amid difficult trading conditions and rising costs. Rick Harrison and Howard Smith of Interpath were appointed joint administrators, with the company ceasing trading and 93 jobs affected.

Founded in 1970, Designers Guild developed into an internationally recognised interiors business specialising in furnishing fabrics, wallpapers, upholstery, furniture and home accessories. The company operated retail and wholesale distribution channels and produced collections under its own name as well as through collaborations with brands including Christian Lacroix Maison, Ralph Lauren Home and John Derian.

The administration followed several months of efforts to attract investment and stabilise the business. The company had recently closed its flagship London showroom and was exploring restructuring options before concluding that it could no longer continue trading. Most employees were made redundant, with a small team retained to assist the administrators in winding down operations and realising the company's remaining assets, including stock.

The collapse comes approximately 17 months after British home furnishings retailer Dunelm acquired the Designers Guild brand and design archive in April 2025. Under that transaction, the brand was licensed back to the existing operating business, allowing it to continue trading independently. The arrangement separated ownership of the intellectual property from the trading company now in administration.

That distinction has enabled the brand to continue outside the insolvency proceedings. Shortly after the administrators' appointment, Sanderson Design Group, which owns brands including Sanderson, Morris & Co. and Zoffany, announced a ten-year licensing agreement with Dunelm granting it exclusive worldwide rights to design, manufacture and distribute Designers Guild fabrics, wallpapers and paint.

Sanderson plans to resume production of popular Designers Guild collections through its UK manufacturing operations and distribute the products using its existing international network. The agreement does not include the company's previous collaborations with third-party brands, although Sanderson has indicated that it remains open to discussions about their future.

The licensing arrangement provides a route for the Designers Guild name to remain in the market without a rescue of the insolvent operating company. Interpath remains responsible for realising the company's remaining assets for creditors, while Sanderson will manage the brand's future product development and distribution under its agreement with Dunelm. Financial details of the administration, including the extent of creditor claims and expected recoveries, have not yet been disclosed.