Cover Inside Bentley’s Mulliner Bespoke design process
Inside Bentley’s Mulliner Bespoke design process
1 / 1
Discover the world of limitless luxury with Bentley’s in-house bespoke commissioning division, Mulliner
In the realm of ultra-luxurious vehicles, where individuality is the pinnacle of luxury, Bentley’s Mulliner division presents a rare opportunity to create something truly unique. Mulliner, the world’s oldest surviving coachbuilder and the marque’s in-house bespoke commissioning division, is a name steeped in history. It has set the standard for bespoke coachbuilding, crafting carriages, and later, automobiles, with an unparalleled commitment to detail for centuries.
Today, that legacy continues, offering clients the chance to transform their dream car into a reality—a process that is as meticulous as it is magical. For those who demand more than just ownership, seeking a true expression of self, the bespoke experience at Mulliner is unmatched. Tatler Singapore stepped into the world of limitless luxury with Bentley and Mulliner at a private bespoke session held in Singapore, led by Mulliner bespoke design consultant Emma Carruthers.
In case you missed it: Road to Supremacy: Bentley’s Bentayga EWB
Above Mulliner and Boodles co-created a one-of-one Continental GTC
Mulliner and Boodles co-created a one-of-one Continental GTC
1 / 1
Co-creation is the heart of the Mulliner experience, which transforms clients into collaborators every step of the way and brings their expression to life. Mulliner designers based in the home of Bentley in Crewe, England, work closely with each patron to guide them through a journey that balances creative freedom with expert advice. Carruthers shares that every detail is considered, and every panel of your Bentley can be personalised—down to thread design, stitching and veneers. Would you like your initials embroidered on the seats? A custom lacquer shade matched to your most treasured item? The personalisation possibilities are as limitless as your imagination, but require the proven expertise of a truly established coachbuilder like Mulliner, whose dedicated craftsmen deliver luxury and rarity on a different scale.
One highlight of the bespoke experience is Mulliner’s use of cutting-edge technology alongside traditional craftsmanship. Its software allows for complete visualisation of the configuration process and the finished, personalised product. Another example is the advanced laser-cutting techniques which enable Mulliner to create panels of veneer just one-tenth of a millimetre thick from natural stone.
Above Mulliner designer Emma Carruthers
Mulliner designer Emma Carruthers
1 / 1
Yet, the human touch remains central in the Mulliner Bespoke process, ensuring every vehicle is imbued with a sense of artistry that no machine can replicate. From hand-stitching seats with precision to meticulously applying layers of lacquer to a custom dashboard veneer, every element of the car is a testament to human skill and dedication.
At the exclusive bespoke session, Carruthers showcased Mulliner’s exceptional capabilities to create a truly unique vehicle by introducing a one-of-one Bentley Continental GTC created in collaboration with British luxury jeweller Boodles. Together, they created a specification featuring an understated colour palette, rare materials, and intricate craft details.
Door panels and upper seat backs feature a blind stitch repeat pattern of the interlocking ‘Be Boodles’ motif
1 / 3
To evoke the moment of delight and revelation of opening a Boodles jewel box, the interior invites with dials, bezels, air vents and controls framed in Mulliner’s Knurling Specification, giving them a jewel-like finish that catches the light on multiple facets. The intricate ‘Be Boodles’ blind stitch motif, requiring over 278,000 stitches and six hours of work, adorns the seat backs and door panels, showcasing the extraordinary craftsmanship behind every detail.
Above The Mulliner designer experience
Above The Mulliner designer experience
The Mulliner designer experience
1 / 2
Carruthers shares that the Mulliner experience begins with a bespoke configuration request and can take anywhere between an hour to a full year to complete—the longest project being a customer’s bespoke paint colour request. It’s a painstaking process that Mulliner undertook, with an equally laborious application process: Each car is corrosion-proofed before the primer and top coat are applied, and curvature of the body means paint must be applied in different depths to appear even, which is why each one is hand sprayed with colour. Once lacquered, each car is fine-sanded and polished with lamb’s wool for 12 hours to achieve an appearance so reflective, it’s termed the Bentley Mirror Finish.
Above Inside the Mulliner co-creation process
Inside the Mulliner co-creation process
1 / 1
The end result of every Mulliner experience is a car that is not only stunning but deeply personal. It’s a vehicle that reflects its owner’s personality, tastes, and aspirations, standing apart in a world of mass production. A bespoke Bentley is a declaration of individuality and a celebration of what’s possible when craftsmanship and creativity converge. For those who seek not just the best, but something uniquely their own, the Mulliner experience delivers—quietly, assuredly, and with extraordinary style.
Credits
Images: Bentley
