Design: A prescription to warm the world's backsides
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Reviewing London's most fashionable restaurant, the Pharmacy, for the Evening Standard, author Sebastian Faulks was reminded by the bar stools of the fact that Aristotle Onassis had stools on his yacht upholstered with whale foreskin. He didn't know what Damien Hirst has his covered his with. "I didn't ask," he confessed. I can tell him. Scottish wool woven on an island in the Clyde estuary.
"There's no comparison," says Jasper Morrison, the British furniture designer, star of international fairs from Cologne to Milan and designer of the Pharmacy's elegant upholstered dining chair, holds up fabric swatches to show why muted woollen weaves from Bute are best.
As a minimalist with an eye for neutral naturals and Bauhaus primaries, Jasper loathes the bobbly, shiny, crinkly velours with polka dots - "like car seat materials" - that most contract furniture fabric houses supply. He visited Bute Fabrics last summer with some of Europe's best known designers - Matthew Hilton, Andrew Stafford, Terence Woodgate and Tom Dixon. Sheridan Coakley, who makes their designs into streamlined modern furniture, plans to launch a collection at Milan in April using Bute weaves.
A little cottage industry started by the 6th Marquess of Bute after the Second World War, the company has now become a player in the international furnishing fabrics market. Travellers will spot the warm woollen weaves in airports from Brussels to Kuala Lumpur. And Sir Norman Foster ordered 10km of Bute woollens for his new airport, Chek Lap Kok in Hong Kong.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments