From luxury bedding and furniture to premium apparel, every Hainsworth fabric begins with a deep understanding of both the market and the customer. As International Sales Manager for Interiors & Apparel, Lauren Hill works closely with brands across the UK and overseas, helping them find the right fabrics for their collections while sharing the heritage and craftsmanship that make AW Hainsworth unique.
With more than 20 years’ experience spanning interiors, textiles and retail, Lauren combines commercial expertise with a creative eye, making her a trusted partner for customers looking to develop premium products. We sat down with Lauren to learn more about her career, what inspires her, and why building lasting relationships is at the heart of everything she does.
I’ve worked in the interiors industry for more than 20 years. I started my career in London as a Buyer’s Assistant for Furniture & Lighting with a high street retailer, and since then I’ve held a variety of buying and sales roles across the sector.
My degree is actually in Fashion Styling, so I’ve always brought a creative perspective to the commercial side of the industry. Most recently, I led the own-label sales team for a bedding brand, developing bespoke collections for major retailers.
Bringing together my experience across interiors, textiles and fashion makes my role at Hainsworth a natural fit. I love building long-term relationships with customers and working in partnership with them to develop fabrics that truly add value to their products.
No two days are ever the same, and that’s one of the things I enjoy most about working at Hainsworth.
When I’m at the mill, I spend time with colleagues across design, marketing and manufacturing, developing my product knowledge and collaborating on bespoke customer projects. I also work closely with our production team to understand exactly where customer orders are in the manufacturing process.
Some of our fabrics go through more than 20 individual processes before they’re finished, so understanding every stage of that journey helps me provide customers with the best possible advice and support.
Alongside this, I regularly speak with our agents in Italy, France and Japan, helping to develop opportunities across our international markets.
The highlight of my role, though, is visiting customers. Whether I’m meeting a UK bed manufacturer or a luxury fashion brand, it’s always rewarding to see how much people value Hainsworth’s heritage, craftsmanship and reputation for quality.
I’m excited to help grow both our interiors and apparel businesses.
Within interiors, I’m working closely with our design team to develop beautiful new textured fabrics for the luxury bed and furniture market. It’s incredibly rewarding to collaborate with customers as these collections evolve from an initial concept into finished products.
I’m also looking forward to strengthening Hainsworth’s presence within the global fashion industry, particularly across Europe and New York, where heritage, provenance and craftsmanship are highly valued.
One of Hainsworth’s greatest strengths is its storytelling. Every fabric has a history and helping customers bring those stories to life through their own collections is something I’m incredibly passionate about.
What is your favourite fabric and why?
My favourite fabrics are Ren Khaki and Navy Serge from our True Heritage Collection.
I love the rich texture and beautiful handle of the heavyweight 100% Merino wool, but it’s the story behind these fabrics that makes them truly special.
In 1899, Hainsworth was approached by the British military to develop a less conspicuous uniform cloth for troops on active duty. Following extensive colour research, we created the original Khaki Serge. While other mills have since produced serge fabrics, Hainsworth remains the inventor and sole producer of the genuine article.
What I find fascinating is that these fabrics are not simply part of our history—they continue to inspire luxury fashion today. They’re now used by some of Italy’s leading fashion houses in their Autumn/Winter collections, proving that heritage and innovation can exist side by side. That’s what makes the True Heritage Collection so unique, and it’s a story that very few mills can tell.
I’m particularly looking forward to attending the National Bed Federation Bed Show in September.
I’ve attended the show in previous roles, and it’s the leading event for the UK bed industry, bringing together manufacturers, retailers and suppliers to showcase the latest innovations.
This year feels especially exciting because Hainsworth is now a member of the NBF and, to the best of my knowledge, we’re the only woollen mill within its membership.
We already work with many of the UK’s leading bed manufacturers, but the exhibition provides a fantastic opportunity to meet retailers, introduce our latest fabric collection and demonstrate how premium British-made Merino wool fabrics can enhance luxury beds and furniture.
Stay curious.
If you’re interested in design, immerse yourself in it. Read interiors and fashion magazines, visit exhibitions, follow brands you admire and keep an eye on emerging trends. Understanding why trends emerge and how consumer tastes evolve is just as important as understanding the products themselves.
I’d also encourage anyone starting out to gain as much hands-on experience as possible. There are so many opportunities to learn from manufacturers, designers, retailers and mills, and every experience helps build your understanding of the industry.
Although I studied Fashion Styling before moving into interiors, I discovered that interiors offered fantastic long-term opportunities while still allowing me to be creative. My advice is to find the area of the industry that genuinely excites you. If you’re passionate about what you do, that enthusiasm naturally comes across.
Outside of work, life is wonderfully busy! I have two daughters who are both passionate about musical theatre and dance, so you’ll usually find me taking them to rehearsals, dance classes and performances or searching for costumes for their latest productions, whether that’s Annie, Legally Blonde or something completely different.
Whenever I get the chance, I also love travelling, visiting art galleries, listening to live music and spending time at festivals. I’m always inspired by creativity, whether it’s through fashion, interiors, architecture or the arts, and I often find ideas that I can bring back into my work at Hainsworth.
At AW Hainsworth, building exceptional fabrics is about more than the manufacturing process, it’s about understanding our customers, anticipating market trends and creating lasting partnerships. Lauren’s blend of commercial expertise, creative thinking and passion for storytelling helps bridge the gap between our heritage and the evolving needs of the interiors and apparel industries.
Whether she’s collaborating on a bespoke fabric development, representing Hainsworth at industry events or introducing customers to the rich history behind our cloth, Lauren plays a key role in ensuring every partnership is built on quality, knowledge and trust. It’s this commitment to collaboration that continues to shape the future of Hainsworth’s interiors and apparel business.