Wool Tufted Mattress

Urban Upholstery brings the traditional wool mattress making to a live creative and fun demonstration. Natural mattresses became universally popular in the 1860s when France started suppling virgin wool from North and central Africa, making cheaper the manufacturing of wool mattresses and affordable to a wider clientele. Upholsterers around the world were making beds and in some countries, like Italy and France it was a family affair, all members including children had a specific task. Every 10-12 years customers were bringing their mattress back to the upholsterers to wash and re card the wool and replace the cover. The beds would pass from generation to generation as they were considerate very preciouses. Urban Upholstery have worked and experimented widely with wool to make furniture, mattresses and cushions. During the 3 days workshop they will demonstrate all the steps to make a mattress using carded wool. They will involve you in the skilled tasks of this process: stuffing, tufting and stitching the wool and using their antique button-making tool, you will contribute by making fabric covered buttons, which will then be used in the tufting process.

This event is part of the Shoreditch Design Triangle and the wider London Design Festival.

Urban Upholstery Andrea Simonutti is an established upholsterer with 30 years experience covering both modern and traditional furniture & Patrizia Sottile is a designer, architect and artist. They started in 2007 in their East London workshop, recycling old furniture that they had found on the street. There was a lot...with so many hidden stories to tell...sofas, chairs, chaise lounge. They believe in giving all furniture another life. #anotherlifeforfurniture

http://www.urbanupholstery.com