The new brand Maker & Son is set to stun design enthusiasts with its handcrafted, all-natural furniture
You may not have heard of this family-run furniture brand yet, but it’s sure to become a favourite, thanks to its commitment to achieving the highest levels of comfort and belief in using only natural materials
Tucked away in the leafy Sussex countryside, the next branch of Britain’s most famous design family tree is putting down roots. For it’s here that Alex Willcox, former buying director for The Conran Shop, has launched the furniture brand Maker & Son, his son being the product designer Felix Conran, grandson of the great Sir Terence. Every piece in its ‘Song’ range, which so far comprises a generously-proportioned sofa (£3,995), armchair (£2,495) and footstool (£995) – a bed follows later this year – is handmade from natural materials and features hardwood frames, wool and cotton padding, natural latex, ethically sourced feathers and jute webbing, while covers are made from machine-washable linen cotton or cotton velvet.
The brand’s intention is to offer ‘the highest quality craftsmanship together with the latest in digital technology,’ explains Conran, adding that its online store boasts an augmented reality app that enables customers to envisage the furniture in their own homes. Making the company’s products 100 per cent natural is also of huge importance to both father and son. ‘ What future is there for any of us crafting or buying pieces made from plastic-based foam?’ asks Willcox. ‘It’s a sad fact that virtually every piece of upholstered furniture made across the world right now (whatever price you pay) is made with plastic-based foams. All of our furniture is made to order, with lead times of four weeks. Having a natural product is a keystone of Maker & Son. There’s no other way to consider the future than to make products that will last at least one lifetime.’
Another mission of Maker & Son is to create extreme comfort. ‘To us, that’s everything,’ explains Willcox. ‘Not just physical comfort, but also achieving a level of relaxation that is so complete you feel as though your mind clears within seconds of sitting down. Imagine sitting in a bed made of pillows.’ Conran sums up: ‘ You sit “in” our furniture, you don’t sit “on” it.’ Sounds dreamy. makerandson.com
‘HAVING A NATURAL PRODUCT IS A KEYSTONE OF MAKER & SON, IT IS THE FUTURE’