Ian Mankin

When you enter Ian Mankin on Regents Park Road, you are met by hundreds of rolls of natural fabrics- checks, plain, striped and patterned fabrics for making curtains and upholstery. They also have a selection of cushions, using their recognisable vintage fabrics and a section of cheaper offcuts which they suggest using for tea towels or making toys.

The staff are very helpful and were happy to talk to me about the history of the fabrics and where they came from.

A stunning and old-fashioned fabric store located a bit tucked away in the Regents Park Road. I love the idea that all their fabrics are made 100% natural materials and most of them are made in their own cotton mill located in UK.

They are obviously very passionate with the fabrics and I have to say that they are the highest possible quality and they have a truly beautiful selection. Least I seem to have forgotten how much you can do with cotton as it is a strong and complex fibre, maybe slightly unfashionable, but definitely under estimated.

I love their idea of vintage cushions that are created from old fabrics. I must say that is a genious idea from a fabric store!

Ian Mankin was much feted by style writers in the 1980s-these days it hardly ever seems to get a mention in the interior design columns-which is a great shame as its extensive range of thick cotton drills and ticking remains unrivalled.
The imposing dark wood interior of the shop with its massive bales of materials is a feast for the eyes. Mankin specialises in wonderful ginghams and stripes in arresting combinations-cornflower blue and scarlet, dusky grey and pink-all in slightly muted tones that work perfectly in period homes, or, more fashionably, with the current Scandinavian look.
The prices are surprisingly reasonable and compare very favourably with the London department stores' plain cottons.Even better, there is always a stock of offcuts for sale at knock down rates.I bought enough striped material (top of the range) to cover three small dining chair seats for an amazing £5.40 only a few months ago.
Well worth a look-especially if you like to make your own curtains and blinds.