By Tyler Ody
Returning for its 14th year from 28 September – 1 October, Marlborough LitFest is delighted to welcome Fermoie as its lead festival sponsor for 2023.
Fermoie creates original fine fabrics, all designed and manufactured entirely in-house at their studio and factory in Marlborough.
Established in 2010 by Farrow & Ball founders Tom Helme and Martin Ephson, the company now employs 50 people at its design studio, production facility and showroom in Marlborough.
This year’s festival programme is currently being put together, and confirmed authors and events will be released over the coming months.
The festival’s 2023 Golding Speaker has just been announced as acclaimed Irish novelist, Sebastian Barry.
The new partnership between LitFest and Fermoie is said to underline the co-founder Martin Ephson’s lifelong commitment to community in its widest sense and builds on the natural connection between Fermoie as a creative design-led business, and the artistic and literary worlds.
Martin Ephson says: “I’ve been a Marlborough resident since 2006 and started Fermoie here in 2010. In that time I’ve seen the LitFest grow and thrive, and heard some fantastic speakers, including one of my favourite authors, William Boyd.
“I’m delighted that Fermoie is in a position to contribute to and share in the joy of this wonderful event. We’re very much looking forward to working with the amazing people behind it and helping strengthen LitFest’s place on the national as well as the county calendar.”
As lead sponsor, Fermoie will provide a range of support, particularly with promotion in print and across social media.
Martin Ephson adds: “Throughout my working life, I’ve believed that a business must be fully part of its local community in the widest sense. We’re absolutely committed to creating a network of opportunity from sourcing through to recruitment.
“It’s really important to us that local people see Fermoie as somewhere they’d love to work, and where they can express and develop their talents and build great careers. This new partnership with Marlborough LitFest, which encourages and celebrates the best in human creativity, is a perfect fit with that broader ambition.”
Genevieve Clarke, chair of LitFest, says: “We’re very excited to be working with Fermoie and really appreciate their enthusiasm and support. It’s fabulous to see the quality of their fabrics designed and printed on our doorstep in Marlborough and there’s definitely a match between their creative approach and our ambitions for LitFest.”