In December 2012, we were approached by The New Craftsman to imagine a piece of furniture that would represent the brand’s vision in relation to the preservation and reinterpretation of traditional craft techniques. We decided to reach out to traditional Orkney chair maker Kevin Gauld, one of the few remaining men of his craft. After close collaboration, we visited him with a chair frame to execute a modern interpretation of the Orkney chair. As the environmental sustainability debate rages on with products being flown around the world, the simple story of the of the Orkney chair is one that should inspire designers and craftsmen in their approach to materials, locality and process. The classic design emerged from the Windsor chair vernacular and that of the unique straw work of the Orkney Isles. Our chair has been celebrated as it puts business back into the community and uses the local resources from the surrounding countryside.
