Stories

Industry insights, trusted partners and general news.

Industry Insights: John Blakeman & Chloe Pendlebury, John Dixon & Associates

Industry Insights: John Blakeman & Chloe Pendlebury, John Dixon & Associates

Established in 1979, John Dixon and Associates is a leading design practice in hospitality and leisure. We speak to team members, John and Chloe, about the company’s approach, the key to designing a pub and why the future isn’t just about sustainability

Three things we learned in 2023

Three things we learned in 2023

From the time-honoured appeal of a trade show, to the surprise fabric hits of the year, these are lessons we’ll take in 2024

High performance faux leather vs real leather

High performance faux leather vs real leather

Real leather might have its benefits, but for real-world, day-to-day use, nothing beats Agua’s intricate collection of vegan-friendly faux leathers

Industry Insight: Will Kelly, co-founder, Pattrn

Industry Insight: Will Kelly, co-founder, Pattrn

With over 35 years industry experience, Will Kelly knows a thing or two about workspace design. With his new business, Pattrn, co-founded with Simon Blair, he designs innovative offices with a people-first approach. It might be his most dynamic venture yet

When is a fabric considered a ‘technical fabric’?

When is a fabric considered a ‘technical fabric’?

There’s no one definitive definition for what makes a fabric ‘technical’, but at Agua, we’ve got a pretty good idea of what this entails...

Industry Insight: Jayne Crampton, founder, JAEs Interiors

Industry Insight: Jayne Crampton, founder, JAEs Interiors

Jayne Crampton, founder of JAEs Interiors talks us through the decision to start her design consultancy, the importance of ‘deep diving’ into a client’s business and culture, and how psychology should feed into workspace design


Why we like to do one thing well

Why we like to do one thing well

Our director, Josh Ralton, reflects on some of the things that set Agua apart, from our focus on performance fabrics, to our colour palettes, to our DNA as a family business

What to look for in contract upholstery fabrics

What to look for in contract upholstery fabrics

We know a thing or two about sourcing and selecting the right contract upholstery fabrics. When it comes to choosing some for your own project, these are the first things to consider