Do you know of any latex foam or natural fiber suppliers in the UK?…
… Or Europe? … Australia?
These are questions that regularly come across my desk, and up until early 2021, I was not able to offer helpful answers. I am always on the lookout for new materials & natural fibers that have potential for use in healthy upholstery projects, so was excited to discover Enkev, a company based out of The Netherlands.
Thinking Globally
Enkev has been doing business since 1932. They have branches in the UK, Poland, Belgium, and beyond. In March, 2021, they opened a location in High Point, NC, USA. The company produces a wide range of high-quality needled and rubberized natural fibers, non-wovens (and much more), and exports to countries on all continents.
My sample box contains horsehair, coconut fiber, wool, organic cotton, flax pad, and even camel + alpaca blends!
Unboxing Natural Fibers
I struck up a friendly correspondence with Karsten in NC, and he sent me some samples to try out in some upholstery projects. In the video below, I’m unboxing a needle-punched horsehair pad, a coconut coir pad, a cushioning product called Labyrinth (TPE), and a sample box containing an array of samples previously unfamiliar to me. If you’re in the market for bio-based, sustainable materials, this company has some nice natural fibers to try out (including natural latex foam). You can peruse their full range of products on the Enkev website. Find your local contact rep here.
Join NaturalUpholstery.com’s mailing list to receive our newsletter featuring stories from the upholstery community, plus tips, creative inspiration, and resources.
I just wanted to say thankyou for sharing your research. I make simple furniture from my woodland & upholster it, in the UK, & wanting to switch to natural materials. It looks like Enkev is the 1st place for me to try & I’ll see if there’s anyone in the UK doing natural bedding supplies too. Ive been put off in the past as I’ve learned modern upholstery techniques using foams & thought the alternative was to learn traditional upholstery techniques to go natural. It sounds like using latex & wool or cotton batting I could make the switch to simply upholster my stool & chair seats without entering the world of springs & stuffings. Wish me luck to get sorted in the UK & I may be in touch to book a consultation at some point. Thanks. Jo
Hi Jo,
I hope you can find what you need at Enkev. The only thing I would add – if you are selling your furniture – is to check fire regulations be sure your items meet the local requirements. I am not familiar with the UK laws, and I know this can be a sticky spot for upholsterers. If you’re on Facebook, I recommend joining the Professional Upholstery Network, where these types of conversations crop up on a regular basis, and as a member you may ask your own questions.
Best of luck,
Carla