The Company
The FELT Studio is a laboratory that explores the material and culture of modern industrial felt through exhibitions, historical research, architectural commissions and a product line. Founded in 2000 by artist Kathryn Walter, who continues to own and operate the company, the FELT Studio remains unique in its commitment to a material rather than a market allowing it to move into numerous fields including visual art, architecture, fashion, design and material culture. The FELT Studio is based in Toronto and all FELT products are made in Canada.
The FELT Studio is as much about process as it is about product. We are interested in working with designers that want to use felt and have a context for its application. We can respond to sites, budgets and ideas to create unique results for each situation. Contact the studio for more information or to request a quote.
The Material
Industrial felt is a modern material based on an ancient craft. It is a pressed, non-woven available in a range of thicknesses (1/16”-1”). It can be cut without fraying. It can be folded, layered, stitched and manipulated in numerous ways. Felt is rich in scope, and its range is demonstrated in the work produced through FELT projects, FELT editions and FELT product.
In recent years the studio has decided to work almost exclusively with grey felt made with natural fibres as this is the most environmentally friendly of industrial felts. Like other natural materials such as stone or wood the tone may vary with each production. We focus on projects that highlight texture and sculptural aspects, pushing the limits of felts versatility.
The Environment
The FELT Studio emphasizes sustainability. All felts are made from wool, a renewable resource with varying combinations of virgin and recycled fibres. FELT products are designed using basic geometric shapes such as squares and rectangles that enable maximum yield of material and reduced waste. Remnants and off cuts are reused in various forms from one-of-a-kind products to experimental installations.
