Designed by artist Graham Sutherland in 1940, Sutherland Rose was produced as furnishing fabric by Helios Limited of Bolton in 1946. Helios Limited became known for its ranges of woven and printed furnishings, particularly under the direction of textile designer Marianne Straub. Sutherland was later commissioned to design a print by the textile firm Cresta Silks Limited of Welwyn Garden City. The practice of inviting artists to design prints for textiles was led by Edinburgh Weavers and Ascher Limited of London in the early 1940s, and increased the production of such goods in post-war Britain. The design featured in the exhibition 'Britain Can Make It' at the V&A in 1946, which encouraged the public to 'buy British' in order to support the country's economy after the Second World War.