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Further North Home accessories brand Further North is exclusively designed by Auður Gná Ingvarsdóttir, an interior architect from the Elisava Escola Universitária de Disseny I Enginyeria in Barcelona where she studied and lived for a decade. An enduring dream of successfully fusing together interior and product design was happily realized two years ago when Further North’s contemporary capsule collection was born. by Gerður Harðardóttir Photos: Íris Ann Sigurðardóttir
Auður’s source of inspiration and values stem from her passion for having highly skilled Icelandic artisans work diligently with local materials of the highest quality, producing unique products for the home. Each and every item in the Further North collection is handmade in limit ed numbers using locally sourced materials such as sheepskin, cowhide, wood and rhyolite. The emphasis is on perfect craftsmanship and materials that offer a glimpse into the past while simultaneously being current and contemporary in their design. Natural materials A set of colorful and decorative pillows and cushions were the first products to be launched by Further North with each pillow and cushion made from unique Icelandic sheepskin. The sheepskins are tanned at Atlantic Leather, a tanning factory situated in a rural town in Each and every North Iceland, item in the Further hence the North collection is name, Further handmade in limited North. Each numbers using locally and every sourced materials skin that such as sheepskin, makes its cowhide, wood and way into the rhyolite. Further North collection is personally handpicked by the tanning factory’s product- and factory manager who carefully watches over them as they pass through the complicated tanning process. Atlantic Leather is known internationally for its quality craftsmanship, and was recently nominated for a prize as one of the best tanning factories in Europe. Warm geothermal water and renewable energy from a hydroelectric power station form a vital part of the tanning
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process, making the whole process environmentally friendly and nearly pollution free. Rich colors The colors of the sheepskins had to appeal to Auður personally, and it was also important that the chosen colors had a distinctive richness about them. Instead of working with the traditional neutral colors of the Icelandic sheep, the goal was to look at the latest trends in fashion for color inspiration. It was also important that the whole tanning production were as eco-friendly as possible, which meant that certain colors were off limits from the start. The complexity of the tanning process and the fact that the sheepskin is 100% natural has also meant that it is practically impossible to control the outcome of the colors, a fact that makes the products, even more, unique. Another popular product from Further North is sets of rounded, sculptural mirrors hung from a wall by a broad leather strap. The mirrors work fantastically as a decorative element for the home as well as serving their utilitarian purpose. Next up for Further North is a new line of textile products which will be introduced at the upcoming annual DesignMarch, in Reykjavík from March 10-13. Further North is currently available in Aurum at Bankastræti 4, Hrím at Laugavegur 25 and Kringlan Shopping Center, Mýrin at Kringlan Shopping Center, Snúran at Síðumúli 21 and in Copenhagen in Casa Shop at Store Renegade 2 and Shop Dora at Værnedamsvej 6. v
www.further-north.com