Transport for London

Wallace Sewell has played a pivotal role in shaping the visual identity of Transport for London (TfL) with our innovative moquette designs, bringing bold colours, textures, and contemporary design to the city’s transport network.

Since 2007, we’ve collaborated with TfL on several major projects, including designs for the London Overground, Bakerloo Line, Croydon Tramlink, and the Elizabeth Line. Our iconic "Barman" moquette, created in 2010, stands out as one of the most recognisable designs.

Known for our vibrant core collections, we thrive on the challenge of working within the technical constraints of transport projects, using limited colour palettes to create striking yet functional designs.

Our passion for intelligent, timeless textile design continues to position Wallace Sewell as a leader in public transport aesthetics. We look forward to future collaborations worldwide.

Learn more from Geoff Marshall's YouTube video, interviewing Emma and Harriet here.

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TfL - Elizabeth Line (2015)

Wallace Sewell were invited to design the moquette for the new Elizabeth Line, which opened in late 2019. Designing for the public realm brings a new set of challenges and parameters, creating a fabric that is both low maintenance, and also fits effortlessly into its environment. The Elizabeth line design is woven using only a handful of coloured yarns, yet the way they are interwoven, creates many more tones and hues.

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  • TfL - TFL Crossrail 'Interim' (2014)

    In 2014, TFL Rail commissioned Harriet and Emma to design a temporary interior refresh for trains running between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, and Paddington to Reading and Heathrow.

    Inspired by a building at Stratford Station, they presented a hand-made collage in grey-greens and slate blues with fine stripes, their concept offered a creative alternative to standard CAD visuals, which the TFL team found refreshing.

  • TfL - TFL Crossrail 'Interim' Priority Seating (2014)

    The main 'Interim' design was used throughout the majority of the carriages, while a second, subtly different version was created specifically for priority seating. This distinction ensured both clarity and accessibility for passengers, while still maintaining the overall design language across the trains.

TfL - Bakerloo Line (2014)

In 2014 Wallace Sewell recoloured their iconic, moquette design for the Bakerloo line. The landmark design, known as the Barman Moquette, currently on the Central, Northern and Jubilee lines, subtly depicts various city landmarks such as London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and Tower Bridge. 

TfL - Underground 'Barman' (2009)

Following in the footsteps of design pioneers such as Marianne Straub and Misha Black, Wallace Sewell are honoured to work with Transport for London (TFL), designing a number of moquette seating fabrics. In 2010 they entered and won an open competition to create a new moquette for the London Underground. This iconic design depicts various city landmarks such as the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben and Tower Bridge.

TfL - Croydon Tramlink (2008)

The Croydon Tramlink opened in South London in 2000, becoming the first new tram system in London since 1959. The trams were refurbished by Transport for London and once more Wallace Sewell were delighted to be involved. Working with the corporation colour palette of red and greens, Harriet and Emma took inspiration from the urban and semi-country route of the trams and went on to create this striking moquette. They introduced greys to represent the urban and the greens suggest the countryside through which the trams travel each day.

TfL - Overground (2007)

It was always one of Wallace Sewell’s ambitions to design the fabric for public transport. Emma and Harriet loved the orange/black rectangular moquette from the 1970s and dreamed they would be involved with designing for Transport For London one day. This was their first commission in this field and this distinct new design pays homage to those early patterns.