For more than a century, Mylands has quietly shaped the look and feel of some of the world’s most recognisable interiors and screen sets. Founded in 1884 and still based in South London, Mylands is a fifth-generation family business that continues to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation to create premium, eco-conscious paints and finishes.
The Manufacturer paid a visit to Mylands’ South London factory last year. The full article is available here.
Established by Dominic Myland’s great-grandfather, the company has always called London home, from its early days in Stockwell and Brixton to its current base in Lambeth. That proximity to the capital’s early film studios played a pivotal role in Mylands’ growth, helping it become a specialist supplier to the film, television and theatre industries.
“We became the number one supplier to the film industry because it needs paints that are extremely flat, with minimal camera glare,” explained Dominic. By using a high proportion of earth pigments, Mylands achieves a natural, authentic look that has stood the test of time. One of its most enduring legacies is the BBC colour collection, also known as the ’68 colours’, which is still widely used across broadcast studios today.
In recent decades, Mylands has successfully brought its industry-grade expertise into the retail market. Its best-selling Marble Matt Emulsion exemplifies this approach. Made with crushed Carrara marble, the paint offers exceptional durability and breathability, while the fine marble particles create a distinctive light bounce that enhances interior spaces. The marble itself is a waste by-product from the construction industry, reinforcing Mylands’ sustainability credentials.
Sustainability sits at the heart of the business. All products are manufactured on site in London, giving Mylands full control over sourcing, quality and waste reduction. The company has also pioneered plant-based paint ranges using natural fillers and high bio-carbon content, delivering low-VOC, scrubbable alternatives to traditional acrylic paints.
Innovation is driven by rigorous in-house research and testing, from laboratory trials to applicator feedback and scrub-testing for durability. Recent investments in digital systems, including ERP software and spectrophotometer-assisted colour matching, have further modernised the business while preserving its small-batch, hands-on approach.
With a Royal Warrant recently awarded and a strong focus on net-zero goals, Mylands continues to prove that heritage manufacturing and sustainability can go hand in hand—delivering beautiful finishes without compromising the future.
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