Chosen several times as Britain's favourite country house, Chatsworth House has been welcoming guests from across the world since the Cavendish family acquired the estate in 1549. In collaboration with the Duchess of Devonshire, matriarch of the family, Studio 104 were commissioned to create a bespoke uniform collection for Chatsworth’s guide and ticketing team.
The colour palette proposed and selected took inspiration from the elegant ‘Buff’ shade found in Chatsworth’s historical day livery - a colour reflected in the masonry of the house itself, and ‘Garter Blue’, a notable colour taken from the Cavendish family’s personal history.
The fabric lining used across the jackets, waistcoats and neck ties was a key focus. Working with a distinct twill weave, the fabric was made in British mills and featured a recognisable serpent and crown motif. The motif descends from the Cavendish family crest, visible throughout the house and grounds, and was incorporated into the uniform’s bespoke silver hardware along with the woven fabrics used in the linings and neck scarves.
For the final stages of the garment development it was a huge privilege to host the duchess at the company studio and showcase the uniforms on our fit models. Seeing the joy of our collaboration come to life on the faces of the duchess and her team, was a fantastic moment that we will never forget.
