Soane’s upholstered chairs, sofas and stools are made by numerous specialists in Britain employing diverse materials to meet the varied aesthetic demands of each design

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Upholsterers

Soane’s upholstered chairs, sofas and stools are made by numerous specialists in Britain employing diverse materials to meet the demands of each design. Combining centuries-old techniques with modern developments in sustainable materials, pieces are upholstered in a choice of Soane fabric or leather, or using the client’s own material.

At Soane we are very lucky to work closely with some of the best upholsterers in the country and are incredibly proud to support these remarkable skills by sponsoring new apprentices to ensure we secure the future of this craft in Britain.

Natural Upholstery

Soane is proud to have introduced natural upholstery across all upholstered designs. This milestone marks one of Soane’s most pressing sustainability goals: for all upholstery filling to be natural and biodegradable. As of March 2024, nine months ahead of schedule, all Soane’s seating designs use FR chemical free materials, avoiding the negative impacts on human and environmental health associated with petrochemical foam while retaining all its quality, durability, and comfort.

Working with industry experts and specialist upholsterers across Britain for two years, Soane has developed a natural alternative to petrochemical foam. Entirely free from fire-retardant chemicals, it is made from layers of graphite latex, organic coconut coir and organic British wool, and crucially still meets the UK’s strict fire regulations.

Our next challenge, in addition to being FR chemical free, is to ensure the wool-based interliner currently required by UK law for fabric-covered upholstery is also completely natural. With less than 5% to go, we’re confident we can achieve this goal.

For the past year, we have been working with industry experts to adapt our upholstery to ensure it is made from natural materials, free from potentially harmful fire retardant chemicals, and long lasting.
Upholstery foam is widely used because it holds the shape of modern seating, but it is made from fossil fuels and is difficult to recycle, repair or re-use.
The more we researched, the more we realised the pressing need to remove it from all our products.
Working closely with specialist upholsterers across Britain, we developed a natural alternative to petrochemical foam that crucially still meets the UK’s strict fire retardancy regulations.

Traditional Upholstery

For over 20 years Soane has collaborated with a small workshop in Somerset that specialises in traditional upholstery, using centuries-old techniques and materials such as horsehair, hemp and jute.

After being recommended by another local craftsperson, the upholsterer David’s exceptional skills were first put to the test on Soane’s Quiver Klismos Chair – a real challenge, due to its sweeping convex and concave back and arms. David’s skills were apparent from the outset and, more than two decades later, this design remains one of Soane’s most loved.

A keen interest in making and fixing things led David to study furniture production at college and he has been honing his craft ever since. Having excelled in upholstery in his first year, it was a natural progression for him to specialise in this skill. He joined an upholstery firm after a stint in furniture design but, after just a few years, the company went bust. Aged just 25, David set up his own workshop. “I really enjoyed it”, he recalls, “So I thought I’d give it a go!” 

Frames of all sizes are delivered from the chair makers ready to be hand-sprung, hand-stitched and webbed, using feather and down cushions. But David’s expertise is called upon long before the frames reach his workshop. Guided carefully by the Soane design team and working in perfect unison with the chair maker, David makes important tweaks to accommodate specific materials or exacting client requirements. “We trust each other and it works really well”, says David. This collaborative approach is key to ensuring each upholstered design is the best it can be, and becomes even more important for custom or bespoke designs.

Pieces can be upholstered in either fabric or leather, with tight or loose covers (or both) and David explains that he enjoys this challenge, as no two materials ever react in the same way. Finishing options include tramline banding made using the last banding machine in England, which is more than a century old. David explains, “Even though it looks simple, there’s a lot of work involved and it’s not easy. You really only get one chance and it doesn’t always work, so you have to start again.”

Hand nailing is another traditional finishing technique and one that David is proud to have taught to his apprentice, Guy.  “He is far more patient than me!”  says David, explaining that the nailing on the back of a Klismos Chair, for example, is done individually and entirely by hand, with every nail hole pre-drilled so as to protect the wood and ensure the finish is perfect. 

The result is exceptionally made, supremely comfortable upholstery. “The best part of what I do is seeing a design complete. I am proud of each and every design that leaves our workshop door.”

For over 20 years Soane has collaborated with a small workshop in Somerset that specialises in traditional upholstery, using materials such as horsehair, hemp and jute.
Frames of all sizes are delivered from Soane’s chair makers ready to be hand-sprung, stitched and webbed, before the addition of either feather and down or horsehair cushions.
Guided carefully by the Soane design team and working in perfect unison with the chair maker, the upholsterer makes important tweaks to accommodate specific materials or exacting client requirements.