Bentley X Gainsborough: Centenary EXP 100 GT
Bentley celebrates its centenary year with the EXP 100 GT concept car, collaborating with Gainsborough to produce bespoke cotton damask for the interior.
Celebrating its 100th year, Bentley launches the EXP 100 GT concept car and selects one of Britain's longest established weavers, Gainsborough to create a bespoke cotton damask for the door linings, floor and bulkhead. Created by Gainsborough’s Head of Design in conjunction with Bentley’s Colour and Trim team, the pattern was designed to be organic, with a natural play of light from warp to weft.
The six individual pieces woven at the 100-year-old Gainsborough Mill, use sustainable cotton and dyes and feature a subtle ombre gradation developed especially for the project using five colours specific to the Bentley brand. The interior features veneers made from 5,000-year-old timber, bio-based leather-like seating created from the waste products of winemaking, Cumbrian crystal and British-farmed wool carpets, paired with Gainsborough’s bespoke weaving to create a beautiful blend of natural materials that combine traditional craftsmanship and the heritage of the two brands with a luxurious and contemporary style.
Looking to the future with their celebratory concept design, Bentley pairs artificial intelligence with sustainable materials with the exterior and body of the car constructed from lightweight aluminium and carbon fibre components including a paint trim made from recycled rice-husk ash, a substance that would otherwise end up at landfill.