About

Profiles

Geoffrey Bennison (1921-1984)

Geoffrey Bennison is regarded as one of England’s most influential interior designers, known for his theatrical sensibility and masterful layering of antique textiles with his own fabrics. Defying conventional notions of style, he created atmospheric interiors for a discerning clientele, blending scale, pattern, and colour in inventive shades such as the evocative Red Riding Hood Red and Prussian Blue. From his early days at the Slade School of Art, a background in antique dealing during the swinging sixties, and his later career as interior designer, Geoffrey earned a reputation for sophisticated originality.

Though initially known only to the cognoscenti of the decorating world, Bennison’s influence and fame steadily grew. He is now known as one of the greatest interior designers of the twentieth century. His legacy continues not only through his interiors, but through the fabrics that bear his name, which remain synonymous timeless style.

Gilly Newberry

Founder

Gilly Newberry met Geoffrey Bennison through mutual friends at a time when his
reputation as a decorator was on the rise. With design commissions increasing,
Geoffrey needed support in his London shop, and Gilly drawing on her experience as a fashion editor with British Vogue and managing David Bailey’s photographic studio, brought with her the creative and organisational skills needed to assist him.  She began working with him in1979, marking the beginning of an enduring friendship and a successful creative partnership.

In 1985, following Geoffrey’s passing, Gilly and her husband Geoff founded
Bennison Fabrics. What began with a select range of prints evolved under Gilly’s
guidance into an independent international brand, renowned for its exquisite textiles.
Supported by a team of like-minded, highly skilled and dedicated creatives who shared her vision, Gilly expanded the collection and established showrooms in New York and Los Angeles with Geoff. The New York location remains open and is a testament to the enduring appeal of the brand.

While preserving Geoffrey Bennison’s legacy remains a fundamental tenet, it is Gilly’s influence and curatorial vision that has guided the evolution of the brand, shaping it into being a standard-bearer in world of interiors.

Geoff Newberry

Founder

Geoff Newberry had a natural eye for beauty and a longstanding passion for antiques. He began trading at London’s Portobello Market before moving to the Pimlico Road, where his infant son Jack could often be found in a cradle beneath the stall. His design sensibility extended beyond objects to the spaces he inhabited, shaping homes in Norfolk, London, Mallorca, Los Angeles, and New York - each one featuring Bennison fabrics in ways both subtle and striking.

It was this quiet vision that inspired Gillian Newberry to bring Bennison to Los Angeles and New York, continuing a legacy rooted in timeless design.

Jack Newberry

Director

With over 20 years of experience across the UK, Asia, Mexico, and Europe in both luxury and investment, Jack carries forward the Bennison story with a focus on continuity and quiet evolution. He works closely with the team, supporting its direction while staying true to the founding values of integrity, craft, and character.

Curious by nature and drawn to global culture, Jack’s perspective is shaped by his mother Gilly’s grace and thoughtful approach, and by his father Geoff’s imaginative drive and strength of character — qualities that continue to guide the way he approaches both people and the business.