FBR specialises in bespoke interior textiles, soft goods design and small-batch manufacture. Bringing together traditional techniques with a bold, contemporary aesthetic, we create and restore life-long belongings.
The studio was founded in 2021 by Felicity Rowley after a decade in the design industry, which in recent years included work for HAY, Rural Office and The Modern House.
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Materials
Responsibly restoring existing objects will have a lighter impact on the planet than buying new. In that sense the practice of upholstery is inherently sustainable when the right material choices are made. We approach this practice with conscious decision-making around what to renew and what to replace.
Renew: It is often possible to re-use existing fillings and/or structural elements in tired furniture. From springs to webbing, feathers to foam, if what is inside won’t compromise the future lifespan of your object, we’ll re-use it.
Replace: We source all new materials carefully. We’re working towards a foam-free studio and will always advise where a sustainable alternative can take its place. All batting and wadding is wool-based. Our European duck feathers are only ever the by-products of the food industry, and traceable right back to the farm to ensure the humane treatment of the birds. With everything we produce meeting domestic fire regulations, we will always recommend a natural wool barrier cloth as an alternative to anything chemically treated.
When it comes to sourcing fabrics, we partner with some of the best mills in the world, who have their own ambitious sustainability credentials. We have trade accounts with Kvadrat, Yarn Collective, Isle Mill, Bute Fabrics and more.
You can find more information about the materials used in our products on the shop pages.
TUC Aid
For us to make things for a living is both a choice and a privilege. For the majority of women who work in textile manufacturing globally, it is neither.
TUC Aid are a charity providing financial support and solidarity for working people around the world. Whether it’s training women garment workers’ in leadership and labour law, or providing educational programs on disability rights, TUC Aid projects take a bottom-up approach to support everyones right to safety and equality in the workplace.
5% of profits generated by FBR are donated to TUC Aid.