D.D. and Leslie Tillet
American, founded 1946
D.D. and Leslie Tillett were a renowned husband-and-wife design team who founded House of T Fabrics (now Tillett Textiles) in New York City in 1946. Known for their handcrafted, hand-screened fabrics, they became key figures in midcentury modern design, blending traditional imagery with bold, innovative color palettes.
Founders Leslie Tillett, a third-generation printer from England, and Doris "D.D." Doctorow, a former photojournalist for Harper’s Bazaar moved to New York in 1946, and established their workshop, and showroom on Manhattan’s Upper East Side (originally on East 80th Street).
While primarily known for interior fabrics, the company had a distinct presence in men's fashion: Leslie Tillett pioneered a unique necktie subscription service advertised in The New Yorker, which allowed customers to receive a regular supply of ties featuring their exclusive hand-printed patterns.Their bright, graphic designs were a staple of the "preppy" look and were sold in high-end resort areas like Nantucket under their "The Cloth Company of Nantucket" brand in the late 1960s.
High-Profile Clientele
The Tilletts' fabrics were highly sought after by style icons and designers, including First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy who used their textiles to decorate the living quarters of the Kennedy White House and also used to make some of her signature cotton dresses.
Interior Icons: Legends such as Albert Hadley, Bunny Mellon, and Sister Parish frequently used Tillett fabrics in their high-society interior projects.
Founders Leslie Tillett, a third-generation printer from England, and Doris "D.D." Doctorow, a former photojournalist for Harper’s Bazaar moved to New York in 1946, and established their workshop, and showroom on Manhattan’s Upper East Side (originally on East 80th Street).
While primarily known for interior fabrics, the company had a distinct presence in men's fashion: Leslie Tillett pioneered a unique necktie subscription service advertised in The New Yorker, which allowed customers to receive a regular supply of ties featuring their exclusive hand-printed patterns.Their bright, graphic designs were a staple of the "preppy" look and were sold in high-end resort areas like Nantucket under their "The Cloth Company of Nantucket" brand in the late 1960s.
High-Profile Clientele
The Tilletts' fabrics were highly sought after by style icons and designers, including First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy who used their textiles to decorate the living quarters of the Kennedy White House and also used to make some of her signature cotton dresses.
Interior Icons: Legends such as Albert Hadley, Bunny Mellon, and Sister Parish frequently used Tillett fabrics in their high-society interior projects.