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FASHIONABLE FABRICS BY ROGER GRODY
THE ROMO GROUP IS A LUXURY TEXTILE COMPANY WITH A RICH HERITAGE.
INTERIOR DESIGNERS ARE rediscovering that thoughtfully conceived fabrics, for walls, furnishings or floors, genuinely transform the mood of a space. A furniture manufacturer since 1902, the Romo Group is hardly a newcomer to the specialty, and its presence in Los Angeles provides a wealth of resources for Southern California designers. Though Romo is based in the United Kingdom, it has become an international brand with showrooms in Paris, London and several American cities; its products contribute to sophisticated interiors in 70 nations.
After opening a 3,700-square-foot showroom at Pacific Design Center in 2022, the firm has acquired a keen appreciation for local sensibilities.
“I’d define New York as an urban, elegant and especially tailored market, London as a more quirky, colorful market," says Frederic Henry, CEO of Romo North America.
"Casual Southern California is influenced by its year-round sunshine and beaches. I think of a casual, relaxed luxury, like its fashion sensibility."
The company’s Mark Alexander brand—one of six labels under the Romo umbrella—sells best in Southern California.
“Mark Alexander is synonymous with natural fibers, relaxed finishes, artisanal craftmanship, understated luxury, and a multicultural but pareddown design aesthetic,” says Henry, qualities that capture the essence of the California lifestyle.
Though each Romo brand addresses a distinct clientele, they share a focus on natural textiles.
The Kirkby Design, Villa Nova and flagship Romo line offer solids that suit L.A.'s textural layering.
Romo presents Linara, a washable linen blend available in more than 360 colors, and the fanciful visions of British fashion designer Alice Temperley, expressed in tactile fabrics with saturated colors.
“Zinc is our ’70sinspired glamor brand, with a strong audience among movie industry execs,” Henry reports.
Wallpapering is making a comeback, but not the floral or chinoiserie patterns homeowners recall from their childhoods.
“Natural, textured wallcoverings have ... become a way to dress walls organically, another natural layer of the home’s aesthetic,” says Henry. They can provide a soothing, Zen-like minimalism that appeals to contemporary homeowners. “We’re not seeing a renaissance of the wallpapers from the 1980s … your pineapples, monkeys and all that stuff,” Henry adds.
The Romo brand’s Pluma wallcovering collection presents nuanced, understated, nature-inspired designs, leafy motifs that make for elegant statements.
More contemporary Kirkby wallcoverings are a collaboration with British fashion label Eley Kishimoto. One daring print evokes the maze-like patterns of electronic circuit boards; another features a structured grid of cut precious stones with a three-dimensional effect.
“We’re designing textiles the hard way,” Henry states. “To be authentic, you need to originate artwork in-house and create a color palette that’s true to the core, never settling for less than perfect.”
The Romo Group, Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.940.7666, romo.com
