About Us
With an uncompromising commitment both to British manufacturing and to our customers worldwide, Soane’s mission is to design and make enduring and life-enhancing furniture, lighting, fabrics, and wallpapers. By working with a network of the finest craftspeople in Britain, we preserve traditional skills and nurture them for future generations.
Since 1997, the integrity of the manufacturing process has underpinned all Soane’s work. Every element of every design is made in Britain, using a network of workshops that excel in traditional crafts. Soane is committed to scrutinising the impact of our operations to ensure that our business practices are both environmentally sustainable and respectful of all those involved in the production of a Soane design.
The evolving collections include entirely new designs as well as pieces inspired by antique originals. Soane has showrooms in London and New York.
Our history
Meeting craftsmen and women on a summer-long road trip in 1997, co-founder Lulu Lytle’s vision was to make well–designed furniture which had the quality and longevity of the best antiques.
From blacksmiths to cabinet makers, saddlers to ceramicists, rattan weavers to precision engineers, Soane now collaborates with more than 39 independent craft workshops across Britain. In the 28 years since Soane was established, it has become one of Britain’s most prominent champions of local craftsmanship.
British craftsmanship: Nurturing skills for future generations
Soane is proud to champion British crafts, celebrating the enthusiasm and pride in workmanship shared by all its makers. Determined to secure the future of traditional crafts by investing in its workshops, Soane took full ownership of a well-established chair making workshop in Dorset in 2016, has established an in-house patination team and upholstery team in its Leicester workshops, took ownership of a long-standing upholstery workshop in Castle Cary in 2024, and most notably revived the last remaining rattan weaving workshop in the country.Â
Our commitment to rattan craftsmanship
The Soane rattan story is one of making furniture and lighting, founded on integrity and longevity, whilst reviving an almost extinct British industry. In 2010, after 8 years working with Angraves, the last rattan workshop in England, Lulu received news that it was going into administration. The fear of losing these specialist skills from Britain forever gave Lulu the courage to establish Soane’s own Leicestershire workshop. Soane is proud to have now initiated its own thriving apprenticeship scheme to foster skills passed down over generations.
Our commitment to sustainability
Sustainability is central to our long-lasting products and the way we work. Soane seeks to be at the forefront of scalable British manufacturing of the highest quality; with people and planet at the heart of every decision. We are determined to source our materials responsibly, reduce our environmental impact, and protect the human rights of all those who work for us and our suppliers.
Community and philanthropy
We prioritise financial support for charities and museums that celebrate textiles, craftsmanship and historic interiors, as well as contributing to other causes close to our hearts. By investing in training, apprenticeships, and charitable initiatives, Soane preserves traditional skills and nurtures them for future generations.Â
The Karun Thakar Fund
As a way of acknowledging Karun Thakar’s generosity in allowing Soane to draw inspiration from the textiles in his collection, we initiated The Karun Thakar Fund in collaboration with the V&A Museum.
Established in 2021 by Soane and anonymous donors, The Fund promotes materials-based, object-led learning, drawing on the collections of both the V&A and Karun Thakar and offers scholarships to student practitioners and researchers studying any aspect of Asian or African textile/dress design or history.
Our people
We are committed to nurturing a fulfilled, diverse workforce who love what they do. We approach our work with compassion, kindness, and acknowledgment of all those whose hard work contributes to a thriving business and preserving traditional skills in Britain.Â
Careers: Join the Soane team
If you have a love of British craftsmanship and a desire to work in an ambitious and creative environment then we would very much like to hear from you. We invite you to share your creativity, ideas and expertise with us.
Creative freedom: Custom & Bespoke
Soane collaborates closely with a network of the finest craftspeople across Britain, insisting upon integrity and transparency, and sharing a commitment to excellence, to ensure pieces are exceptionally well-made and employ the best quality materials. The made-to-order designs can be customised using an extensive selection of in-house materials and specialist finishes. Alternatively, you may use your own materials. The Soane Bespoke service is also available to those wishing to commission an entirely bespoke piece.
Enduring & life-enhancing designs
Soane’s principles centre on creating timeless designs of the highest quality, with uncompromisable commitment to integrity in manufacturing processes and ensuring each piece gives pleasure for many decades. Soane’s evolving collections include furniture, lighting, fabrics and wallpapers, with many pieces inspired by the best antiques, as well as entirely new designs. Every element of every design is made in Britain to the highest standards of craftsmanship with the aim of contributing to the joyful atmosphere of any interior.
