Since we’ve a host of new followers here at XV HQ, we thought we’d reintroduce you to our story, which began right here on the Isle of Wight.

The search for perfection

Inspired by her local coastal surroundings, entrepreneur and businesswoman Izzey Hung launched XV Stripes in the summer of 2020 (that’s right, mid-lockdown).

Izzey says: ‘XV Stripes was born from my inability to find the ideal blue striped duvet set. I had an image of this bold, dazzling, beautifully luxurious stripy fabric that didn’t fade with wear, and that made me feel as if I was in a five-star hotel, but it just didn’t exist. So I thought, “If I can’t find what I want I’ll make it myself!”.’

And that’s just what she did. Using her love of the sea and all things nautical as a template, Izzey brought her dream company to life, pulling together a creative team that included talented head designer Vicky Sanders, (ex Matthew Williamson and Zara Home) and photographers Chris Jenney and Holly Jolliffe. The result has been a rolling production of eco-friendly, vibrant bed linens and accessories in luxurious fabrics for your homes, with the classic blue stripes at the heart of it all.

Total involvement

On the way, Izzey has learned all about fabric production, weaving and dyeing techniques, sustainability standards and recycling certification to bring you quality and design without compromise. ‘I love getting stuck in,’ she says. ‘I’ve just spent a week in Portugal sourcing new suppliers, and I’d never miss a photo shoot on one of our local beaches. But it’s not just XV and me, it’s the whole team that makes things work. We’re all so involved.

‘Since we opened our Yarmouth shop in 2021, we’ve been able to give customers the chance to see and feel our fabrics – up close is really the best way of understanding how our products will work in your home,’ says Izzey, ‘but if you can’t get to Yarmouth then look out for us at fairs and events along the south coast.’

Sustainable homewares

XV Stripes’ vision has always been to embrace sustainability. The Isle of Wight is a stunning place to live, and at the heart of the team’s lifestyle is fresh, lung-tingling, ozone-enhanced sea air, and endless views of crystal clear, dazzling blue oceans. This healthy way of life is reflected in a truly sustainable approach to homeware production.

‘It took me a couple of years to pull together my creative experts, but the wait was worthwhile. Together with designer Vicky, we hunted high and low for the best materials to deliver the look and quality we wanted. All our fabrics and fibres are sourced from sustainable sources and all our cotton products comply to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®.

The high-luxe finish and great sustainability ratings of our collection reflects the time and effort that everyone has put in to turning our XV Stripes dream into reality. We’re so happy that we identified the sweet spot our customers were looking for – quality and design without compromise.’

We’ve lots more adventures to come as we sail into 2022 and beyond, and we know you do too! Best wishes from all at XV HQ

PS Ever wondered what the ‘XV’ stands for? It’s a nice little example of pattern maths! Odd numbered stripes on the duvet cover and even numbered stripes on the pillowcases create the 15 distinctive blue stripes of our XV brand.