Badger's Velvet

Badger’s Velvet was founded by Ros Badger in 2017, building on her work with antique jewellery that began around 2010.

The collection combines precious metals with found elements such as Roman coins and fine antique Georgian pieces, creating distinctive, one-of-a-kind jewellery that carries a sense of history and craftsmanship.

Every piece begins with something that has already lived another life, a Victorian brooch, an antique  button or coin, a broken pearl necklace, old jet, or silver watch chain. These pieces are carefully reworked and redesigned so their history remains part of the new design.

Ros is drawn to objects that show signs of time, worn surfaces, unusual details, traditional craftsmanship, and materials that are no longer commonly used. By repurposing and reimagining these pieces, jewellery is created that is entirely individual, and no two pieces are ever exactly the same.

Badger’s Velvet is not about mass production or seasonal fashion, but about giving old objects new relevance and creating jewellery that can be worn every day, kept for a lifetime, and eventually passed on again. In this way, each piece becomes part of a much longer story.

Ros Badger’s creative journey began at the age of eight when she learned to crochet. Since then, her passion for design has been a constant thread throughout her life, whether in her career as a designer and writer, or in her love for customising clothes, restoring antique furniture, styling her own beautiful interiors, gardening, and preparing delicious feasts.

A graduate of Chelsea College of Art in Textiles, Ros’ career spans over 40 years. She has designed for notable brands such as Betty Jackson, Johnson’s La Rocka, Margaret Howell, the band U2, and Marks and Spencer, among others.

In 1995, after the birth of her first daughter, Ros founded Little Badger, a children’s clothing line. Using her knitwear expertise, the brand pioneered the use of logos, text, and imagery on hand-knitwear and T-shirts. Her collections gained global recognition, with a loyal clientele that continues to this day buying from her archive.

Ros is a passionate believer in sustainable living and the art of recovering beautiful, pre-loved objects. Her work embodies the ‘waste not, want not’ philosophy, transforming antique treasures into modern heirlooms that tell a unique story.

Her deep knowledge of design and love for creativity has led Ros to author nine successful books, published by Collins, Ebury, Quadrille, and Mitchell Beazley. She has also contributed to popular magazines such as Country Living and The Idler, where she explored the potential for transforming pre-loved materials into usable objects.

Since 2019, Ros has co-hosted the successful Bland Badger Creative Retreats with photographer Charlotte Bland. For details on upcoming retreats, visit the website.

In 2018, Ros launched Badger’s Velvet Underground (BVU), a series of pop-up sales events designed to help creatives and artisans connect with buyers for their unique products. While currently on a break, BVU previously hosted successful sales in London and Somerset.