VSOE
Installation

200 Years of Transport Textiles: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The most iconic train in the world, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a destination in its own right. The impossibly glamorous backdrop to books, films, and a thousand honeymoons, the train will live forever as a synonym for opulence.



Featuring custom tapestries and wool moquettes by Camira's founding transport company, Holdsworth, our inclusion on this world-famous train pays testament to the expert craftsmanship and impeccable quality of our fabrics. Part of the carriages' identities until a recent refurbishment, these textiles truly stood the test of time - an integral and unforgettable part of the romance of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

"An icon of art deco design and an enduring symbol of luxury, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a true classic." Belmond

 

Beginning life in 1883 as The Orient Express - a long-distance passenger train service created by Belgian company Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) - it was in 1984 that luxury hotel group Belmond acquired a number of the original carriages and launched the train that runs today across London, Paris, Venice, Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Budapest; providing a journey as decadent and enjoyable as the cities themselves.


Fabric featured on bed: A bespoke tapestry by Holdsworth.
OE3

Created in the 1920s, the fabrics encapsulate timeless elegance.

 

Manufactured by Holdsworth, the fabrics featured on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express were carefully designed to perfectly complement the exquisite finishes within the train's interior - from the inlaid wood to the polished brass and antique fixtures, each element interplays to create a space in which a guest is able to savour each moment of the journey, surrounded by luxury, and cocooned in a carriage as it travels through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.


Sarah Mallinson, Transport Designer at Camira, and previously Holdsworth, comments  "The fabrics featured on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express really do encaspulate the art deco era; they are timelessly elegant, visually striking, and beautifully designed - as stylish today as they were in the 1920s."


Fabric featured: Bespoke moquette by Holdsworth.
2 32

A journey in which to savour every moment felt and memory made.

 

Today, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express comprises the original sleeping cars of the 1920s and 30s, along with three dining cars: Etoile du Nord, Cote d’Azur and L’Oriental. Serving the finest of foods, and with a bar car complete with a baby grand piano and freeflowing champage (the service is part of LVMH, Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, after all), the train continues to capture and sparkle with the magic of a bygone era of travel.



As Belmond explains, "The Venice Simplon-Orient Express is, quite simply, the most storied set of carriages in the world. It offers an experience that promises to take you not just across Europe, but to transport you to another world entirely. From the art deco flourishes to the masterful marquetry, the train is a design lover’s dream and a sight that must be seen to be believed."



Fabric featured: Bespoke moquette by Holdsworth.

2 3

Join our mailing list for product launches, industry news and inspiration...