Profile

Gretchen Bellinger is recognized as one of the world’s preeminent fabric designers.
Immaculate craftsmanship, refined weaves, expert coloration, meticulous detailing and finish—these are the hallmarks of Bellinger™ design. Whether re-envisioning classic motifs or pushing the boundaries of textile technology, Bellinger continues to deliver uncompromising quality and beauty with a collection that is as legendary as her name.
So prized are Bellinger™ fabrics that many are today housed in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Now, after more than 48 years as an industry icon and innovator, the legend only continues…
Through the years
1980s
1980
Gretchen Bellinger and Giorgio Armani collaborate for the Resources Council. Suit in Applause™ cotton velvet with Josephine™ iridescent silk trim.
1981
Gretchen Bellinger launches the first personality-driven textile campaign in textiles with Limousine Cloth® broadcloth.
1982
Gretchen Bellinger with Dad in The Adirondacks. Dad is in his Skimmer™ plain weave dinner jacket.
Gretchen Bellinger expands in New York City, winning the Interior Architecture Award Citation of Merit for the East 59th Street Executive Office and Warehouse.
1983
The Skimmer™ plain weave ad sweeps them off their feet.
The Chicago showroom opens.
Gretchen Bellinger opens Washington D.C. Showroom.
Gretchen Bellinger is sitting pretty in the memorable Camp™ buffalo plaid ad campaign.
Gretchen Bellinger greeting Sherman Emery, Editor-in-Chief Interior Design at the retirement dinner honoring him. 19 May 1983. Ms Bellinger is wearing a dress made from Isadora® pleated silk.
1984
Gretchen Bellinger with British designer Chester Jones at British Airways Concorde presentation.
British Airways selected 2 Limousine Cloth® broadcloth greys for the Concorde palette.
Gretchen Bellinger at a Stendig party with R. Scott Bromley.
Limousine Cloth® broadcloth, Isadora® pleated silk and Applause™ cotton velvet are among 18 fabrics chosen by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for their permanent collection.
1985
The IDCNY showroom opens.
The IDCNY showroom opens.
1986
Gretchen Bellinger hosted yearly NEOCON events. Inger Bartlett receives her Gretchen Bellinger designed scarf.
Gretchen Bellnger’s NYC apartment is featured on CNN Style with Elsa Klensch.
1988
Metropolitan Home, April 1988.
1990s
1991
Gretchen Bellinger with Gary Hutton at his installation of Polka Dot™ cotton sheer in San Francisco.
1992
Gretchen Bellinger is the only textile designer featured in Women of Design by Beverly Russell.
Women in Design Trunk Show.
Each of the 33 designers profiled in Women of Design was sent a steamer trunk to create an interior that represents her vision for the national exhibition.
The Women of Design Trunk Exhibition Courting Cranes™ tapestry and Golden Apples™ silk screen.
The Women of Design Trunk Exhibition City fabrics: Paramount® wool plush, Diva® rhinestones on silk, Isadora®, pleated silk Courting Cranes™ tapestry, Golden Apples™ silk screen.
The Women of Design Trunk Exhibition Country fabrics: Gibralter™ textured weave, Buzz Buzz™ wool jacquard, Sylphide™ silk matelassé, Limousine Cloth® broadcloth, Starry Night™ wool jacquard.
1993
Interior Design visits Camp Bellinger for a full feature.
1994
Bellinger’s Queen and King Chairs, contibution to The Denver Art Museum’s Collector’s Choice “The Best Seat in the House” Auction using a selection of sumptuous Bellinger™ fabrics.
Camp Bellinger is featured on CNN Style with Elsa Klensch.
Bellinger’s donation to Dynamite Denim, Diffa’s Charity Auction Of Wild and Crazy Levi® Jackets Benefitting Aids Patients. 4 May 1994. Holly Pajak is the model.
1996
Gretchen Bellinger’s Play to the Grandstand™ mohair plush was selected for the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
1997
House Beautiful visits Camp Bellinger for a full feature.
House Beautiful visits Camp Bellinger for a full feature.
Pullman Cloth® epinglé is selected for gallery seating throughout The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Pullman Cloth® epinglé is selected for gallery seating throughout The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
1999
Cut a Shine™ woven metal mesh, Sea Lines™ double organza, Sugarcoated™ plain weave, Vanity of Vanities™ silk taffeta, Diva® rhinestanes on silk, Gilt Edge™ woven herringbone honored fabric introductions at NEOCON. Best New Fabric, Overall Design.
2000s
2000
Even as a little girl Mr. and Mrs. Bellinger knew that Gretchen was cut from the right cloth.
2003
Gretchen Bellinger is featured in Stanley Abercrombie’s A Century of Interior Design: 1900-2000.
Gretchen Bellinger is featured in Stanley Abercrombie’s A Century of Interior Design: 1900-2000.
2006
Gretchen Bellinger corporate office opens in Albany, New York.
2008
“Best of the Year” from Interior Design It’s Cricket™ silk jacquard, Designer’s Choice for the Best in Hospitality Textile.
2009
“Best of the Year” from Interior Design Steeling Beauty™ metallic plain weave, Designer’s Choice for the Best in Hospitality Textile.
ELLE Décor full feature of Bellinger residence and new corporate office.
2010s
2013
House Beautiful features Gretchen Bellinger’s David Adler inspired staircase. Adler’s staircse has Venetian glass spindles while Bellinger’s are Pyrex.
Gretchen Bellinger’s Swing Time™ collection recognized by Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards.
Interior Design’s BOY Award honors Lindy Hop™ textured weave, Big Band™ velvet stripe and Ragtime Band™ textured weave.
Interior Design’s annual Hall of Fame gala. Gretchen Bellinger between R. Scott Bromley and Jack Lenor Larsen (14) and with Angela Brown and Lee Mindel (8).
2018
Up to Scratch™ textured weave specified by Thomas Pheasant, Washington DC for Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.
2019
Gretchen Bellinger at the 2019 Hall of Fame gala with Gary Wheeler of HDR, Inc., a 2000 Hall of Fame Inductee.
Photo: Keith Claytor/TimeFrozen Photography.
2020s
2020
Galerie Magazine features Gretchen Bellinger’s fabric Camp™ buffalo plaid, red/black in the home The Point in its article “6 Exceptional Winter Getaways with Design in Mind”.
2021
Bellinger introduced this 94% wool performance fabric.
2022
Ragtime Band™ chenille stripe by Gretchen Bellinger featured in Business of Home’s “What I Love” series.
2024
Paper City Magazine features Gretchen Bellinger’s Limousine Cloth® broadcloth, mistral morel in an article “Emily Summers Designs Nirvana in New York”.
Pasha® linen velvet, preserved limes by Gretchen Bellinger featured in Architectural Digest for
“6 Designers Share Their All-Time Favorite Fabrics”. Chosen by Joy Moyler.ELLE Décor features Gretchen Bellinger’s Pirate™ velvet rib, coral reef in “From the Archive: This Edgy Urban Loft is Steven Volpe’s Grand Revolt Against Conventional Design”
2025
Bellinger™ is included in the Designed by Women project organized by the Stewart Program in collaboration with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Gretchen Bellinger is featured alongside such textile design legends as
Dorothy Liebes (1899-1972),
Ray Eames (1912-1988), and
Pipsan Saarinan Swanson (1905-1979).
Thanks to David Hanks with the Stewart Program for Modern Design for his part in our selection.