Upholstery: a Sustainable Future.

Second Sitters are hosting a programme of events, this month of May at the Geffrye Museum

'... they will stage an upholstery ‘take over’ of the Geffrye Museum in May, time-lining the evolution, ups and downs and new revolution within the craft from upholder (archaic term for upholsterer) to the present day through an exhibition, live working demonstrations, workshops and panel discussions with makers and industry professionals.'

Ella Doran will be one of the panelists for, Upholstery: a Sustainable Future 

Thursday 18 May – 2.30 - 3.30pm .

Hosted by design journalist Katie Treggiden the panel will consist of makers and industry professionals discussing the issues around design, upholstery, sustainability and the circular economy.

There will be opportunity either side of the discussion to visit the exhibition 'Second Sitters Upholstery: Evolution to Revolution', speak with the curators and watch upholsterer Armand Verdier demonstrate French upholstery techniques in the demo area.

The Panel Discussion is kindly supported by Short Courses at The Cass, London Metropolitan University.

To book your place click here for tickets

The Panel:

Panel:

Ella Doran - Ella Doran Studio. Ella is an award winning designer-entrepreneur who has been running her own East-London based business since the mid 90s. Striving to produce sustainably in collaboration with her manufacturers, Ella also promotes the design industry’s shift toward a circular economy through various public engagement and student teaching projects.

Corinne Webb - Frame & Cover founder and director. Award winning Frame & Cover was born out of a commitment to creating modern and bespoke UK made home furnishings using wholly sustainable methods. Corinne is a trained upholsterer and textile designer with many years experience of working in the industry.

Tim Cox - Managing Director of Coakley and Cox Ltd. Produce funriture for high-end brands such as SCP, Heals and David Linley. Their products are all made by hand, using a blend of traditional and modern upholstery techniques with the use of non petrochemical based alternatives to foam for filling where possible.

Alex Law - Kent School of Upholstery. Alex is a bench trained upholsterer, that has orated his passion for the design and craft elements of upholstery through making, writing and teaching. Equally at home in a headboard factory using an automatic staple gun, in a craft workshop using only needles or in his own classroom, Alex’s mission is to ensure that the traditional skills of an upholsterer can thrive and continue to evolve as a living craft. His latest work 'Beach Clean Chair' explores the possibilities of utilising industrial waste from the local fishing industry.