Allegra Hicks is the designer and face behind the eponymous international luxury lifestyle brand that is recognized around the world for its beautiful textiles and prints. Following Design School in Milan and Fine Art School in Brussels, Allegra worked for a New York contemporary art gallery and then assisted artist Donald Baechler. Allegra's first collection of now signature furnishing fabrics was skillfully prototyped using traditional printers in Rajasthan, India and UK production followed. In recognition of her achievements, in 2005 Allegra won the prestigious US Elle Decor Best Wallpaper Award and in 2006 Elle Decoration UK's best Fabric award. The various collections are built around Allegra's distinctive prints and weave and have a casual yet sophisticated theme which reflects her personal style. The Allegra Hicks lifestyle is eclectic, individual, and timeless. Allegra takes inspiration from everything around her: Travels to India, nature, a flower, the sea, a painting, mineral fossils? Translating oriental themes into western style with strong organic patterns and colourways, she has an ability to pair up colours and patterns to form a harmonious whole. This is exemplified in her new book, "An Eye for Design". Arranged thematically by season, it juxtaposes her fabrics with their inspirations: from lily covered pools to fossilized trees, and a broken road surface which leads to beading on a silk dress. Having firmly established her name in the world of textiles, Allegra opened her first shop on Chelsea Green, London, in October 2001 described by Vogue as the "Mecca for easy-dress shopping?" 2009 saw the opening of Allegra's newest lifestyle store in Elizabeth Street in London, which features her limited edition cruise and holiday wear and a new accessories collection. She has a new collection of woven interiors fabrics, distributed by Lee Jofa in the U.S and Fox Linton in the UK. Allegra is also collaborates with The Rug Company.