Designer Henry Holland on home, life and a pivot from fashion to ceramics

In this podcast, Henry remembers growing up in Ramsbottom, near Manchester, and spending alternate weeks at his mum’s and dad’s houses. He recalls, “My dad’s house was quite ordered. It had a lot more structure. My mum’s less so. But that worked for me. I was able to manoeuvre into both of those atmospheres quite well.” From an early age, Henry’s parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and a sense of self-belief. He explains how his mother taught him the principles of manifestation, while his father’s “unwavering belief” in him empowered him during life’s more challenging moments.

After a brief stint at a “very traditional” all boys’ school where Henry was bullied for his sexuality, his parents moved him to a smaller school where he was “just really able to be [himself].” Despite being “obsessed with fashion for as long as I can remember,” Henry was encouraged by a family friend to study journalism at London College of Arts. A few days in came the swift realisation that he wanted to switch to a fashion degree, but it was too late. Henry continued to study journalism, while at the same time “doing everything that I could to build fashion credentials.” An internship as a fashion assistant at teenage magazines Sneak and Smash Hits led to a permanent role as fashion editor immediately after university. During this period, Henry lived in London with his close friend, the model Agyness Deyn. (The pair met as teenagers, when Agyness used to work in the chip shop in the neighbouring village.)

Known for his irreverent partywear and slogan T-shirts in acid tones, Henry reflects on a brand – and a lifestyle – built around the nightlife scene of the mid-2000s. He says, “The clothes I was making were very much built around the frenetic energy of that scene… and so it really played into my career to be seen as that party guy. It allowed me to build a real community, a real personality and a real essence around the brand.”

Fifteen years later, at the start of the pandemic, House of Holland went into administration, an experience Henry describes as “heartbreaking.” Soon after came the need for a new creative output in the form of ceramics. Three evening classes later, the course was cut short by the pandemic, but Henry ordered his own bag of clay and continued to practice. One shared studio space later, he received his first order from Liberty, and a new ceramics and homewares business was founded.

Henry and his husband’s eye for detail, texture and pattern is evident throughout their Victorian home in east London. After buying the house three and a half years ago, the couple began renovations last year, working from top to bottom. The completed upper floors are defined by a rich palette of textured wallpaper, boucle fabrics and vintage pieces. A playful striped runner carpet lines the stairs, its uniform stripes “pooling” into more fluid lines on the landing, while a walk-in wardrobe with upholstered doors evokes the feeling of “opening a jewellery box.” (An exclusive video tour of Henry’s home is available for members on Patreon, priced at £6 per month.)

As the renovations begin on the ground floor, Henry reflects on their place within the house’s story. He says, “We’re really thinking about who’s going to live in the home after us. We also like to really think about who lived in the home before us and what it was used for. We love those bits of history about the building. We want to be true to those … and also make a space and a home that really works for us and our lifestyle.”

Forthcoming episodes of Homing feature the artists Sue Webster, David Shrigley and Sam Taylor-Johnson. Subscribe to Homing or become a member of Patreon and as always, happy listening.