Mek & Fettle was designer and maker Sonny’s response to the unsustainable culture of flat-pack, disposable, MDF furniture.
Designed by life
Working with wood has always been an integral part of Mek & Fettle founder Sonny’s life. Taught traditional hand-tool woodworking by his Grandfather, Sonny has been building stools, boxes, cabinets and even the odd wooden plane since he was small. He grew up in houses filled with furniture handcrafted by previous generations so making furniture, exactly how you want it, was just something you did.
A somewhat nomadic life in his 20s showed him that most furniture is barely designed to be moved from room to room, let alone house, and certainly not to last a lifetime. And the culture of continually throwing away ‘old’ furniture to replace it with new flat-pack, replaceable, replicas, has never sat well either.
Collecting furniture passed down to him or picked up from second-hand stores, Sonny noticed the things that make a piece last; simple, timeless yet eye-catching design; practical, useful details that fit the hand and body; and traditional, seamless joinery.
All this led to making pieces for himself and those around him, influenced by the necessities of life and the beauty of wood.
By Hand
All Mek & Fettle furniture is designed, built and finished by hand. We believe this is important for a number of reasons.
Firstly it maintains and develops the centuries-old traditions of wooden furniture construction and the skills and knowledge that go with it.
Secondly it means that our production is sustainable, replying on human physical power and tools past down from generation to generation, not the disposable, replaceable tools and parts most machines require. All our tools are maintained and sharpened by hand in our shop meaning minimal waste.
But most importantly it means that we know every inch of every piece we build, inside-out; how the stresses and strains will be countered by grain direction; how each joint is built to last and move with the natural expansion and contraction of the woods; and how each piece will age, developing in colour, and tell its own story.
Made to last
There is no reason why solid wooden furniture, used well, treated with care and repaired whenever needed, shouldn’t last centuries. All our furniture is designed with this in mind using techniques that had stood the test of time, and inspired by our surroundings.
Based in West Yorkshire, the heart of the woollen industry during the industrial revolution, our workshop is surrounded with a tradition of high-quality production that finds its way into each piece we make and continues to last another 100 years… or more.
