Inspired to bring some manufacturing back to their hometown of Buckfastleigh, an ancient woollen town in South West England, Hannah and Justin Floyd of Solidwool have created a new way of working with wool. They use the coarse wool from the iconic Herdwick sheep of the Lake District, historically used in the UK carpet industry. Demand for this wool is in decline and is considered almost worthless, a by-product of sheep farming. The wool is combined with bio-resin in a unique process they have developed, and the resulting material can be thought of as similar to fibreglass. With this material they have designed and manufactured the Hembury Collection, a range of beautiful, classic furniture, designed to last and made to cherish. The collection includes a chair and side table made with Solidwool material and UK sourced Ash wooden legs.
The Hembury Chair has been designed for both comfort and style, allowing the beauty of the Solidwool material to stand out. The shell moulding of the chair is a highly engineered composite, flexible enough to be comfortable, yet strong enough for purpose. A chair to do your best work from and a place to rest weary legs. The Hembury Side Table makes an ideal occasional or bedside table. A round Solidwool table top shows off the beauty and natural variation of the Herdwick wool and has three Ash legs for a clean aesthetic.
In addition to their own range of furniture, they also collaborate with other companies who see a use for Solidwool in their range. Brands such as Blok Knives, Artifact Uprising and Fan Optics, have used Solidwool material to make products such as kitchen knife handles, photo calendars and eyewear. The range is available to buy direct from Solidwool and select stockists.
Photo 4’s caption: Hannah and Justin Floyd of Solidwool.
