Bernard Holdaway, Shirley Craven and their sons Marcus and Max, seated on tomotom chairs (circa 1966). Ferens Art Gallery, Hull Museums
Exhibition: Revolutionary Post-War Fabrics and Furniture, Shirley Craven and the Hull Traders, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, October 3 2009 – January 3 2010.
Iconic Swinging sixties fabrics and furniture from the Hull Traders company will go on display this autumn, opening on figurehead Shirley Craven's 75th birthday.
Hull Traders (1957-1980) was home to a wealth of design talent, including Craven and her husband Bernard Holdaway, Britain's first and most distinguished black textile designer Althea McNish, Eduardo Polizzi and photographer Nigel Henderson.
Golden Harvest, hand screen-printed cotton, designed by Althea McNish, produced by Hull Traders (1959). Private Collection. Ferens Art Gallery, Hull Museums
The company was established in 1957 by entrepreneur Tristram Hull, set up to promote good design and inviting a huge range of talented young artists to contribute.
The exhibition will showcase more than 30 fabrics by Craven, who revolutionised post-war fabrics with her dramatic and unconventional designs.
An eclectic range of designs by an array of gifted young artists who burst onto the scene after the war will also feature, including McNish, who designed Hull Trader's bestselling Golden Harvest design.
Cloverleaf table and chairs, part of tomotom range designed by Bernard Holdaway for Hull Traders (1966). Ferens Art Gallery, Hull Museums
Although the company was best known for its textiles, they also launched the tomotom furniture collection at the 1966 ideal Home Show. Designed by Shirley Holdaway, tomotom was made from cardboard tubes and chipboard and painted in colours aimed at making it stylish and fun. Even George Best owned some.
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