Howe at 36 Bourne Street is a small and surprising shop, selling a range of thoughtfully selected traditional leathers, new and vintage textiles, trimmings and wallpapers. Its dedicated team work closely with the most skilled and ethical manufacturers in Great Britain and Ireland, and in partnership with tanneries around the world. Championing both large and small-scale producers, Howe respects modern processes as well as time-honoured methods of making, mindful at every stage to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing.

Howe Leathers are vegetable-tanned the old fashioned way, with tree bark and water, before being richly dyed and finished by hand. The team celebrate the natural grain of the leather with all of its unique markings, using only full grain hides and skins, while its family-run tanneries work to the very highest possible standards of eco-friendly production.

Howe Textiles are created in collaboration with UK commission weavers and finishers, supporting the few rare and precious generations-old businesses still in operation. The team favour the use of natural fibres, enjoying the irregularity they bring to the cloth, and always limit the use of bleach and detergents in production. They strive for a range of useful fabrics with integrity and character, avoiding a mass-produced feel.

Howe Vintage Textiles are an ever-changing and diversely sourced supply of materials. The team buy what they love whenever they find it, filling every nook and cranny of the shop with unique pieces. Pay them a visit and you could unearth 18th century Dutch hand-dyed linens, ex-military tenting canvas and tarpaulins, antique flour and grain sacks, or finely woven French ticking pieces and mattress covers.

Howe Wallpapers are a growing collection of petite and colourful patterns, all proudly British made. The nostalgic yet cheerful styling lends a sense of versatility to the prints, making them equally at home in a country cottage or a contemporary city space.