Sustainable Luxury at Lorfords Contemporary

We feel that sustainability is a responsibility of all manufacturers, big or small.

Since 2015 we have been building our business to incorporate the latest in responsible materials, technology and construction techniques as we continue on our mission to produce some of the most sustainable luxury furnishings on the planet.

In 2024 we were delighted to be selected as Winner for Best in Sustainable Furniture for our design collaboration with Haines, an accolade that highlights both the innovation and hard work of our team to help us achieve this goal.

In our book luxury doesn’t have to be about excess and unnecessary waste. In fact our furniture has always shared the same principles as the most sustainable of products; beautiful design, high quality, responsibly sourced materials and a focus on durability. We’ve embraced contemporary natural materials, contemporary thinking and contemporary production techniques and blended them with timeless design to create the antiques of tomorrow.

We believe that nothing could be more contemporary than sustainable luxury.

With an expanding range of sofas, armchairs, ottomans, headboards and benches, every piece in our collection is handmade to exacting standards using a growing range of responsibly sourced materials chosen for their quality, provenance, longevity and lack of toxins. All seating is made with hand-tied coil springs, FSC hardwood frames and filled only with ethically and responsibly sourced materials. This includes French father & down - a byproduct of the food industry - and all natural inner fillings such as calico, hemp, cotton webbing, wool, twine, paper, jute, coir, recycled textiles and natural latex foam cushioning. Considered to be one of the best eco-friendly foams to use, natural latex is a 100% natural product made from renewable sources, as well as being fully biodegradable and recyclable.

Our traditional production techniques are inherently timeless and ethical - and ensure the quality and durability of our products. Our workshop is, of course, powered by sustainable energy and we carefully manage our waste and recycling. Surplus fabrics - which are inevitable in upholstery construction - are re-purposed by our in-house seamstress and made into a range of soft furnishings which are then re-homed, instead of going to waste. 50% of sale proceeds from these cushions are also donated to a designated charity.

All Lorfords Contemporary designs are hand-made to individual customer requirements, from fabrics and fillings to fittings and finishings. However, we have introduced our own Vintage Cloth fabric collection as we want to offer a naturally created, repurposed fabric as the first option for all of our designs. These special fabrics are made from salvaged antique hemp - most dating from the nineteenth century - and linens sourced from the UK & France. These are all hand-dyed in small batches in Gloucestershire using only natural, locally sourced pigments and dyes. We have also partnered with online platform Haines to promote their range of new eco-conscious fabrics to our customers.

As we honour our commitment to producing furniture with the lightest possible environmental footprint, we only collaborate with like-minded designers and creatives who share our approach to sustainability. Recent award winning collaborations with leading industry names including Haines, Natasha Hulse, Bertioli by Thyme, Turner Pocock and Todhunter Earle Interiors have each shown how we’re adapting our processes, using materials and methods that aren’t harmful to the planet and educating new audiences in the process.

We’re on a journey at Lorfords Contemporary to make the most sustainable furnishings on the market, and that is something our entire workshop team is passionate about achieving. We thrive on sustainable and ethical practices, constantly working as a team to discuss ideas and new ways of working that will be beneficial for everyone. We like to grow our own craftspeople through apprenticeships too, and have even employed generations of the same family where our principles are passed along the line.

Our commitment to all of the above sustainable materials, processes and practices means that we can’t be the cheapest of the premium furniture manufacturers, but our durability and lifetime impact means that the real cost to you, the planet, and the people within our manufacturing process and supply chain is kept to an absolute minimum.