Field To Form Turns Undervalued British Wool Into Circular Furniture

British designer Sofia Hollier has created Field To Form, a sculptural chair made from Romney wool and linen thread. The project gives a new purpose to an undervalued natural resource. At the same time, it explores how furniture design could support British sheep farmers.

From Raw Wool To Structural Material

British wool can sell for as little as 68 pence per kilogram. As a result, farmers often earn very little from their fleeces. Yet wool is renewable, biodegradable, strong and hard-wearing. These qualities make it suitable for furniture and other interior products.

Hollier uses raw Romney wool to make the chair’s rounded parts. First, she wraps the wool fibres into balls. She then felts them with water in a washing machine. During this process, the fibres lock together naturally. This creates dense and durable forms without synthetic foam, glue or chemical adhesives.

Next, Hollier joins the woollen balls with linen thread. She sews each ball to the surrounding pieces wherever they touch. Together, the connected balls create a stable structure that can support a person’s weight.

A Design Inspired By Sheep Flocks

The patterns of flocking sheep inspired the chair’s clustered shape. Therefore, its form creates a clear link to the animals and landscape behind the material. The rounded surface also shows how designers can use wool in ways that go beyond traditional fabrics.

During the project, Hollier worked directly with British farmers. This gave her a better understanding of the problems facing the wool industry. In response, she developed a profit-sharing plan. Under this agreement, farmers would receive 30% of any profits from the chair. The project could therefore create more value for both the wool and its producers.

Designed For A Circular Lifecycle

The name Field To Form refers to the chair’s full material journey. Hollier chose only natural materials and avoided permanent adhesives. Consequently, users can take the chair apart at the end of its life.

They can cut the linen threads and separate the felted balls. Afterwards, they can shred the wool and use it as fertiliser. The material may then help grass grow, which feeds the sheep that produce new wool.

Through this circular approach, Field To Form offers a fresh use for local British wool. Moreover, it shows how natural fibres and simple production methods can support more responsible furniture design.

Source: Only Natural Design
Photos: Sofia Hollier