Art and Industry: Responsible Plastic Made from Wool

On the vanguard: A new structural plastic made of sustainable wool and bio-resin. Created by Devon-based designers Justin and Hannah Floyd, Solidwool offers a nontoxic and responsibly manufactured answer to plastic. Here are some ways that Solidwool might make its first appearance in your home.

Above: The Floyds developed Solidwool as a response to the declining wool industry in their centuries-old market town of Buckfastleigh, Devon. “Once manufacturing left, the heart of the town went with it,” says Justin. He and Hannah hope to bolster the local economy–and, perhaps, to change the way we all look at plastic.

Above: The Hembury Chair was inspired by the Eames Plastic Side Chair; the wool used for the first batch comes from Herdwick sheep of the UK’s Lake District: £395 ($625) from Solidwool.

Above: In collaboration with Artifact Uprising, a 2015 Calendar (customized with your photos) comes with a clipboard of Solidwool; $37.99 from Artifact Rising.

Above: An upcoming project with master craftsman Benjamin Edmonds of Blok Knives will result in a limited-edition, handcrafted, 10-inch kitchen knife with a handle of Solidwool. Contact Blok Knives of Derbyshire for details.

For more design out of Devon, see:

• Slow Design: Reefer Sails in Devon, England

• Furniture: Oak and Slate Table by Pacha Design

On Gardenista, Clemmie Hambro writes An English Gardener’s Diary: The Autumn Tidy in Devon.