Mary White (textile designer)

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For other persons named Mary White, see Mary White.

Mary White (born in Margate, Kent in 1930) trained as a textile designer and studied textile design at the Thanet School of Art and Crafts.

Mary was married in 1951 to Claude Dening. They had three children. They have twelve grandchildren.

Mary enjoyed a huge reputation as one of the leading fabric designers of the 1950s, and later became a teacher. Her work could be found in homes across the world as well as in cabins aboard the RMS Queen Mary and at Heathrow Airport. Her unique creations are now undergoing a resurgence of interest among the fashion conscious.

Mary was designing during the same period as Lucienne Day. To create her memorable designs Mary drew on the work of William Morris, books of flowers and the countryside where she grew up and has lived throughout her life. In turn her work has influenced leading fashion icons such as Mary Quant, Laura Ashley and Sir Terence Conran.

Mary created hundreds of designs in her career, which she gave up to raise her family. Some of her most famous creations such as Coppice, Cottage Garden and Zinnia were best sellers in leading outlets including Liberty (department store) Liberty and Heals.

The design Cottage Garden was one of Mary’s most successful designs. It was made available by Heals Heals, in 1955, at a price of 10s 9d per yard, coming onto the market at a time when a greater number of people than ever were accepting “contemporary” design.


Many of Mary’s designs are exhibited in museums all over the world including the Victoria and Albert Museum Victoria & Albert Museum, London in London and Whitworth Art Gallery The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester in Manchester.

Collectors of fifties fabric continue to collect Mary White material. Mary's designs continue to be included in books on the subject of 1950s textile design such as 20th Century Pattern Design by Lesley Jackson, design curator, historian and author.

Mary was also involved in Thanet Pottery, having also studied pottery at Thanet School of Art. Thanet Pottery was a collaboration between Mary (then using her married name of Mary Dening) and her brother, David White. Thanet Pottery made hand painted slip cast earthern ware pottery and their items were sold to High Street chains in the early 1960s. These items continue to be very collectible.

Interest in Mary's work continues to thrive - recently interviewed by local Kent press and appeared on Meridan News following the launch of her new gents shirt range Pigletchops - all designed, printed and made in the UK.

[edit] List of Objects

Rare 50s Mary White Design For Heals Coppice Cushion By Mary White Mary White Mounted Fabric [1]Coppice by Mary White

[edit] References

Jackson, Lesley: "Twentieth-century Pattern Design: Textile & Wallpaper Pioneers", page 99 and page 103. Princeton Architectural Press, 2002

Fiell, Charlotte and Peter: "Decorative Art 50s", page 294. Taschen, 2008

[edit] External links

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Textile designers
18th century:
19th century:
20th century:
Contemporary: