Lana Home have combined mid-century modern furniture shapes with Harris Tweed to produce their stunning first furniture collection.
Cutting the cloth – Lana Home in production
We catch up with Sam Gaskill, Lana Home’s co-founder, to find out about the manufacturing journey his furniture goes on across the British Isles, from the Outer Hebrides to Devon.
Can you tell me a bit more about yourself and why you set up Lana Home?
Lana Home was started by us, husband and wife, Sam Gaskill and Jennifer Ridgway. Sam, a banker turned primary school teacher, had spent some time as a stay-at-home-dad while Jennifer worked as a lawyer. We were contemplating Sam also returning to full-time work and felt that, if at all possible, we would like to create a business that Sam could run from home, while still spending time with our three young children (a three year old and new born twins). We made a list of various ideas, thinking about our passions, current trends and what we wanted to achieve. Having recently moved from London to the Devon countryside and renovated an Edwardian house, an interiors business that combined country and urban chic appealed. Our love for modern furniture design combined with Harris Tweed, together with a vision for creating something made only in Britain, gave birth to Lana Home.
Lana Home
Where do you draw the inspiration from for your furniture?
The furniture itself is inspired by Mid-Century Modern and Danish Modern designs. This period of design produced some unique pieces of furniture. The clean lines of the designs fit perfectly into today’s homes. The combination of functionality, beauty and simplicity is what makes these designs so special and this ethos is also reflected in Harris Tweed: durable, hand-made and stunning.
Lana Home
In which part of Britain are you based?
Lana Home spans the length and breadth of the UK. The Harris Tweed is woven in the Outer Hebrides. We then transport the cloth to our finisher in the North of England. From there, the Tweed is taken to our workshop in Sussex, while the “nerve centre” of the company is run from the founders’ home in Devon!
Lana Home
Why did you decide to manufacture in Britain?
Design and manufacturing exceptionally high quality products is something that Britain is truly great at. As more and more people are interested in the provenance of products, we felt that it was important to support a resurgence in the British manufacturing industry and traditional trades, from the weaving of Harris Tweed itself to the traditional carpentry skills required to create furniture that lasts – the antithesis of today’s disposable culture.
Lana Home
Your furniture is covered with Harris Tweed – why do you think that the cloth is so special?
Woven by hand in crofters’ homes, Harris Tweed is a uniquely produced material. The cloth is inspired by the colours found in nature in the Outer Hebrides and is globally recognisable as a quality British product. Lana Home works with Harris Tweed Hebrides, the largest mill on the island of Harris, and, once finished, the material is perfect for upholstery. Harris Tweed itself is experiencing a renaissance and is found on catwalks from London to Milan – using the material for furniture is an exciting new trend.
Lana Home
nd what has been your best experience of British manufacturing to date?
The exceptional quality of the pieces, right down to our upholsterer carefully matching button details so that the lines of the Harris Tweed are un-interrupted.
And what have been the challenges?
None so far!
There are more great images of their products being made on the Lana Home website
Lana Home