If you have been in the Lee Jofa showroom and seen the captivating selection of fabrics, furniture, wallcoverings, decorative lighting, trimmings and carpets you may be surprised at how the story begins. George Johnson started out almost 200 years ago making rope on the wharfs of New York City, supplying clipper ships in the New York Harbor. Seriously. He expanded into providing upholstery “stuffing” to local craftsmen. From there it was horsehair upholstery and then a partnership with a man by name of Faulkner. The JOFA partnership began importing and selling fine decorative fabrics including many famous designs that remain with the company today.

In the meantime, the Arthur H. Lee Company started up in Lancashire, England in 1888 in response to designer’s pushback to the products of the Industrial Revolution. Lee became known for its innovative weaving techniques and luxurious textiles. Flash forward to 1965, Lee acquires JOFA and Lee Jofa is born.

Okay, history lesson over. Class dismissed. The point of it all? Two and a half centuries of textile experience. That’s more than your average bear. Itching to go have a look, aren’t ya?