London's Tube seats have long been a source of fascination for many. What sets them apart from other metro systems, however, are their unique designs - particularly moquette, a fabric that has become synonymous with the city's underground culture.
The story begins in the 1930s when Frank Pick, vice-chair of London Transport, commissioned brighter moquettes from top textile designers, including Enid Marx and Marion Dorn. His vision was to incorporate red and green into the designs, representing the town and country respectively, and to achieve a sense of serenity.
Today, Barman, introduced in 2010, is arguably the most iconic moquette design, featuring landmarks such as Big Ben, Battersea Power Station, and St Paul's Cathedral. Its mysterious nature has captivated many, making it a must-see for tourists and locals alike. The design was created by Wallace Sewell, with some considering it to be "retro" due to its vintage feel.
The Northern line is home to Barman, but other lines have their own unique moquette designs, such as Tuppenny on the Central line, which features red, black, and grey colours reminiscent of a coal fire. The Elizabeth line boasts eight colours, including royal purple, representing connecting lines and train movements digitally represented in some futuristic signal boxes.
One thing that sets London's Tube seats apart is their moquette pile, which can be left as loops or cut for a more vivid colour and velvety texture. However, the sub-surface moquette at King's Cross station has been badly worn, with the backing fabric "grinning through" in some areas.
The legacy of Frank Pick continues to live on, evident in Londoners' willingness to pay for moquette-inspired products, such as bags, cushions, and pouffes. The man himself once said, "The quality of our surroundings contributes to the quality of our own lives."
The story begins in the 1930s when Frank Pick, vice-chair of London Transport, commissioned brighter moquettes from top textile designers, including Enid Marx and Marion Dorn. His vision was to incorporate red and green into the designs, representing the town and country respectively, and to achieve a sense of serenity.
Today, Barman, introduced in 2010, is arguably the most iconic moquette design, featuring landmarks such as Big Ben, Battersea Power Station, and St Paul's Cathedral. Its mysterious nature has captivated many, making it a must-see for tourists and locals alike. The design was created by Wallace Sewell, with some considering it to be "retro" due to its vintage feel.
The Northern line is home to Barman, but other lines have their own unique moquette designs, such as Tuppenny on the Central line, which features red, black, and grey colours reminiscent of a coal fire. The Elizabeth line boasts eight colours, including royal purple, representing connecting lines and train movements digitally represented in some futuristic signal boxes.
One thing that sets London's Tube seats apart is their moquette pile, which can be left as loops or cut for a more vivid colour and velvety texture. However, the sub-surface moquette at King's Cross station has been badly worn, with the backing fabric "grinning through" in some areas.
The legacy of Frank Pick continues to live on, evident in Londoners' willingness to pay for moquette-inspired products, such as bags, cushions, and pouffes. The man himself once said, "The quality of our surroundings contributes to the quality of our own lives."
, I'm literally OBSESSED with the moquette designs on London's Tube seats! They're like, totally one-of-a-kind 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to sit on a train and gaze at Big Ben or Battersea Power Station all day? 
It's like having a little piece of history in your hand 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that they have different designs for each line? 
The Northern line's Barman design is literally iconic 
. I also love how the colours are so bold and vibrant, it's like a party on your bum 
. But what's up with some of the moquette getting worn out at King's Cross station? 
Guess you could say it's a bit "grumpy" 
. Anyway, I'm totally buying all the moquette-inspired stuff online right now 
.
but like seriously can we talk about how weird its to pay for moquette-themed merch tho? like what even is the point of buying a cushion with barman on it when u can just stare at the real thing on the tube 
. And have you noticed how the different lines have their own unique styles? I mean, Tuppenny on the Central line looks so cool with its coal fire feel 
. It's crazy how much personality each line has, but still feels like it all belongs together. The way they've incorporated London landmarks into the designs is genius too 
️. I've even got a moquette-inspired bag and cushion at home - my fave way to bring a bit of the Tube into everyday life 
.
! I mean, who wouldn't wanna sit on a train that's got some serious London swag to it? The moquette designs are straight fire 
... each one is like a little piece of London history.
. Like, who doesn't remember sitting on the Tube as a kid and getting lost in those iconic designs? It's amazing how something so small can evoke such big feelings.
. His idea of making the surroundings better is literally life-changing 
.
they r literally iconic!!! i mean, who else can say their underground culture is made up of moquette fabric? 
Wallace Sewell must've been on some other level. and have u seen the northern line? it's like a treasure trove of designs. Tuppenny on the central line though... what's w/ all those colours? 
anywayz, the moquette pile thing is so interesting... i guess it's all about personal preference or something. btw, i need a barman-esque pouffe in my life ASAP 
. And seriously, who thought it was a good idea to put royal purple on a train line? It's like they raided a Victorian-era craft fair and said, "Yeah, this is the look we're going for" 
. The weird thing is, people actually pay money for moquette-inspired stuff – like, what's next, paying rent in cash for our couches? 
. But hey, at least it's a conversation starter when you're stuck in a crowded train during rush hour 
.
. but what i think is even cooler is that u can customize them by cutting or leaving the moquette pile as loops - it's like creating ur own masterpiece 
it's like he knew we needed a little bit of zen in our lives amidst all the hustle & bustle 
.
