We love featuring brands that strike the perfect balance between style and practicality, and Clio and Clover is a perfect example. Founded by Zoe, this British tableware brand creates beautiful, heritage-inspired linens that bring effortless elegance to your dining table. From scalloped napkins to wave-edge placemats, every piece tells a story of thoughtful design and a love for hosting.
We caught up with Zoe to learn more about the inspiration behind Clio and Clover, her hosting secrets, and a few fun personal insights that make this brand truly special. Whether you're a seasoned entertainer or just love adding a little extra charm to everyday meals, Zoe is sure to inspire your next tablescape.
Founder's Insight + Brand Story
What's the story behind the name Clio and Clover? Does it have a special meaning for you?
Clio and Clover was born from my love of fashion and textiles, thoughtful entertaining, and my belief that the table is the heart of the home. When I started out, I saw a gap in the market for collectible, affordable tableware, and I wanted to create something that was both a celebration of style and an invitation to curate meaningful gatherings. This business was also an unlock for me to spend more time with my two daughters Clio and Clover, who the business is named after.
What inspired you to leave the corporate world and start a modern British tableware brand?
After 15 years heading up marketing departments at Top Shop, Matchesfashion and Cult Beauty, the prospect of building something from the ground up, seeing a personal design come to life, and directly impacting customers became something I felt very passionate about.
The other factor that affected my decision was flexibility. I wanted more control over my time so I could be around for the important moments with my daughters Clio and Clover, 3 and 6 years old. This has definitely been the most rewarding part of having my own business.
What's the best advice you've ever received that helped you on your entrepreneurial journey?
Plans deliver zero business value. You only release value once you've done it.
Design Philosophy
Your linens blend "heritage-inspired" charm with modern aesthetics, how do you strike that balance in your designs?
All our designs and colours are inspired by British sensibility, however, we try to create distinctive pieces that blend timeless design with a contemporary twist. I believe this is something we have achieved by creating a network of global craftsmanship. We collaborate with skilled artisans around the world to create everything from embroidered linens, hand-block printed designs to handwoven rattan and glassware. Working with these amazing global artisans is what gives our designs a distinctive creative edge.
From wave-edge napkins to scalloped placemats, which product has a special personal sentimental value, and why?
When I was a child, I used to travel to Greece every summer, my father was born there. Our hand-woven rattan placemats were inspired by long lunches in Greece and their simple and effortless style of hosting, including earthy tones and rustic textures.
How do you create a beautIful table without it feeling too formal or over-styled?
My top tip to avoid an overly formal table, is to not overcrowd the table. Once considered trendy, now filling the table with superfluous items and too many floral arrangements can quickly become a nuisance. Ditch the animal figurines and embrace the space!
You're a big advocate for the midweek dinner party, what are your must-haves for pulling one off effortlessly?
My number one tip would be to invest in a good quality white linen tablecloth: A classic hemstitch style can easily be thrown on midweek and will instantly upgrade any dining table.
Having a good selection of high-quality linen basics is key. At Clio and Clover we focus on key collectable pieces that can easily be mixed and matched depending on the style of the dinner party. We want our customers to be able to add to their tableware whenever they need to, rather than creating new collections, that we then discontinue.
My other tip would be to use food as your mid-week centrepiece. It removes the need to run out and buy expensive flowers. I use whole vegetables like artichokes, pumpkins, or courgettes which make the perfect rustic table accents. Fruits like Mandarins, a well place China bowl filled with strawberries, a silver tray full of half cut figs or pomegranates will add colour and scent to the table. We also love an edible garnish display, place herbs like rosemary and thyme in small bud vases for a fragrant green touch.
Seasonal Style + Tablescaping Tips
How do you like to change up your table decor with the seasons? Any favourite for Summer? Winter dining?
Colour is very important to us when we are designing each season, from our deep cherry red for Christmas to our powder blue placemats with golden brown embroidery for Summer. Inspired by aspects of the British landscape from a perfectly balanced garden in the Cotswolds to the wild Cornish coastline.
What's one styling trick that instantly makes a table feel pulled together, even if you're short on time?
Be brave with colour. Experiment with unlikely colour pairings to set your table apart. Some of our favourite colour palettes right now are baby blue and buttercream mixed with smoky khaki, honey yellow, chocolate brown and crisp white.
Expansion
The brand launched in the UK and is now stocked in Dubai, what's your vision for international growth?
Clio and Clover's Dubai debut is a testament to the growing appetite for elevated design-driven homewares in the region. Launching Clio and Clover in Dubai is more than just a business move, it's about creating a global tableware destination. We have had lots of requests from customers and e-commerce sites in the US so this is an area of focus for us.
How do you stay ahead of tablescaping trends, can you tell us about summer/spring highlights?
One aesthetic I've picked up on this summer and interpreted in my own way, is the traditional European long summer lunch, where everything feels slightly unpolished and fun. I think this trend comes from the desire for cottage-core, as if you've got the linens out of your cupboard at the last minute, lit some candles and filled the table with delicious dishes. There's a family feel to this style.
I believe fashion trends and tablescaping trends are closely intertwined. I look to the catwalk for the latest colours for our collections, and we find this resonates with our customers. This summer our trending colours are our deep cherry red and powdery blue linens.
Inspiration
You've championed midweek dinner parties, how can readers use Clio and Clover products to elevate everyday gatherings?
I like to think of Clio and Clover as the place to go for the seasoned and the aspiring hostess, a place where everyone will find something to love because it caters to all tastes and occasions.
Our products are designed to be used on their own to elevate the everyday or styled all together for a more formal look. Take our hand-woven rattan placemats as an example, these can be used straight on the table for any mealtime or layered with our linen for a more formal curated look.
Your collections have a very "modern heirloom" feel, where do you draw inspiration from?
My Australian heritage plays a big part here, Aussie dining is a more laid-back, relaxed affair, so I like to look at ways I can mix this style with the timeless charm of British heritage. I design using luxury linens and more traditional scalloped embroidery and then choose more contemporary "on-trend" colours.
When styling, I use traditional British tableware such as delicate ceramics and vintage glassware, then mix these with un-fussy floral to balance the aesthetic.
Founder Experience
What has been the most pivotal lesson in shifting from corporate life to running your own tableware brand?
The best way to find out if something works is to do it and do it as quickly as possible. I learnt very quickly not to get too caught up in perfection, speed to market is key. In the corporate world there is a lot of emphasis on the perfect plan and this goes out the window when you are trying to scale a small business.
Can you describe a major challenge you've faced as a female founder in retail, and how did you overcome it?
I think systemic biases and lack of representation in investor networks mean women often have to work harder to be taken seriously and prove their credibility. I think this is slowly changing.
Quick-Fire Questions
Scallops or Strips?
Scallops are a signature design trait of Clio and Clover, however we have some very exciting hand black printed designs coming for Christmas 2025 that have been inspired by a recent trip the team made to Jaipur.
Neutral tones or bold colours?
Always bold colour. The days of the all beige tablescape are gone, 2025 tablescape are embracing bold, expressive colours.
Favourite meal to serve at home right now?
I'm always craving Greek food in the summer. So, either a beautiful white fish en papillote, accompanied by a generous Greek salad, with feta in crispy filo pastry to start. I also love crispy zucchini with lots of Tzatziki. Anything that can be served family style.
One unexpected item always on your table?
Centrepieces that double as conversation pieces: Antique candelabras, ornamental treats, silverware that has been in the family for years, or flowers from your garden, these pieces are a lovely way to bring a sense of personality and storytelling to the table.
We hope you enjoyed reading this peek behind the scenes with Zoe from Clio and Clover. Her passion for creating beautiful, approachable tableware shines through in every product and we're thrilled to bring her collections to Mash + Mint.
Explore the full range now and bring a touch of timeless British style to your table.
