In 2025, William Morris’s lush botanical patterns turn up in the most unexpected places — from Nike trainers and phone cases to Japanese waving cats and even the upholstery of a British nuclear submarine. But for us at Retropeepers, this isn’t just a passing trend. We've proudly championed Morris’s legacy for years, developing in collaboration with the William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow, a distinctive range of reading glasses and optical frames inspired by his iconic designs.
The Morris Mania exhibition, currently on view at the Gallery, is timed to coincide with the gallery’s 75th anniversary. The show is an expansive, witty, and at times provocative look at how Morris, the 19th-century designer, poet, and radical socialist – became one of the most recognisable visual icons of 21st-century popular culture.From radical idealism to retail icon
Morris’s philosophy was simple but powerful: beautiful objects should be made ethically, by skilled hands, in harmony with nature. His designs reflected these ideals, translating medieval romanticism into a visual language of natural abundance. But Morris Mania asks an essential question: what happens when that language is absorbed into the very systems of mass production and global capitalism that Morris opposed?
The exhibition doesn’t shy away from the contradictions. From early luxury commissions for St James’s Palace to modern-day collaborations with brands like Loewe and Marc Jacobs, Morris’s work has long walked a tightrope between artisanal idealism and commercial viability. Today, his prints are available to virtually anyone, yet they still carry an aura of refinement, an association with taste and discernment, no matter the medium.Design in the age of ubiquity
One of the standout features of the show is the sheer diversity of Morris-printed objects on display. Some are iconic, like the aforementioned trainers or a Loewe ensemble inspired by Morris’s Strawberry Thief. Others are deeply personal: a hand-embroidered wedding jacket, chopsticks, biscuit tins, even a thimble. Many of the items were crowdsourced from the public, emphasising the extent to which Morris has seeped into the fabric of everyday life.
This ubiquity is both a triumph and a complication. Morris’s vision was never fully realised during his lifetime when his handcrafted works were priced well beyond the reach of the working classes he championed. Ironically, it’s through mass production – via gift shops, licensing deals, and algorithm-driven e-commerce – that his designs have become truly democratic.Screen time and symbolism
A highlight of the exhibition is Wallpaper (2025), a new video work by filmmaker Natalie Cubides-Brady. This dynamic montage traces Morris’s unexpected cameos across decades of film and television, from My Fair Lady and Django Unchained to Gogglebox and Peep Show. The piece captures how Morris’s patterns have come to signify everything from luxury and nostalgia to domestic comfort and class aspiration.
It’s a striking reminder that Morris is more than just a design trend – his motifs have become narrative shorthand, carrying cultural meanings far beyond their original context.
Labour, legacy, and the future of craft
At its core, Morris Mania circles back to one of Morris’ most enduring ideas: “joy in labour”. Inspired by Ruskin and the Arts and Crafts movement, Morris believed that meaningful, creative work was essential to both the worker and society. In a section devoted to contemporary makers, the exhibition honours artisans who continue to produce Morris-inspired designs by hand – often in stark contrast to the speed and disposability of today’s fashion and homeware industries.
In doing so, the exhibition draws a line between Morris’s 19th-century socialism and current concerns around sustainability, fair labour, and consumer ethics. If the proliferation of Morris’s designs represents a kind of commodified victory, the continued relevance of his principles may be the truer legacy.
Morris Mania is a timely, sharp-eyed celebration of an enduring cultural force. It acknowledges the contradictions and complexities of Morris’s posthumous fame while reminding us why his vision still resonates. Whether seen on a silk scarf, a streaming service, or the side of your spectacles, his designs continue to captivate, provoke, and inspire.
Here at Retropeepers; our range of William Morris-style eyewear frames draws directly on the spirit of his iconic designs – elegant, expressive, and joyfully ornate. Explore Retropeepers’ Morris-inspired frames and glasses cases, from which every sale made a contribution goes towards preservation and art education at The William Morris Gallery.
Use promo code RPMORRIS20 to get 20% off all William Morris frames and cases this month. Offer ends June 30th.
Morris Mania at William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow. 5 April – 21 September 2025. Free admission (suggested £5 donation).
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