Description:

The Ewe Chair was designed in response to the steady decline in the market value of strong wool, which has become so undervalued that shearing often costs more than the wool itself earns. Yet, wool remains a far superior, sustainable natural fibre with properties that synthetic alternatives cannot replicate. This project explores innovative, high value uses for strong wool, aiming to elevate its worth and ensure fair returns for farmers.

Following a material-driven design process, the project began with broad experimentation into strong wool’s potential. Through hands-on trials, a woven structure was developed that mirrors the canvas of a director’s chair, but with the warmth, texture, and performance benefits unique to wool. The yarn is sourced from Bremworth Carpets’ end of cone waste, repurposing material that would otherwise be discarded into a functional, beautiful product.

The decision to design a dining chair emerged from wool’s practical qualities. It’s stain-resistant, odour-resistant, and hardwearing well suited to daily use. Dining chairs are typically purchased in sets, making them an ideal product for increasing strong wool’s presence in homes and adding collective value to the fibre.

The chair’s aesthetic and structure pay tribute to wool’s agricultural origins. Angled back legs and the form of the backrest take cues from the A-frame roofs of traditional shearing sheds. Exposed supports reference open ceilings, and brass/stainless-steel details echo the fittings of old shearing pulley systems. The result is a chair that feels both purposeful and refined, designed to sit quietly but confidently within the home.

A key feature is the interchangeable wool seat swatch, which can be removed, washed, replaced, or adjusted over time. A simple tensioning system allows users to modify firmness as the wool settles, ensuring long-term comfort. The swatch is designed to be easily swapped using just an Allen key and locking pin.

The Ewe Chair supports circular design values. When the seat swatch wears out or the user wants a new look, it can be returned, heat-shrunk back to a tight weave, and repurposed. Alternatively, it can be composted to enrich the soil, allowing interiors to evolve without waste. The wooden frame is deliberately minimal, acting as a backdrop that lets the wool material shine.

At every stage, this project celebrates the full journey of New Zealand strong wool, from farm to furniture, offering not only a model for sustainable design and storytelling, but more importantly a reminder of promise for the future of New Zealand’s strong wool industry.