Brilliant Brands Sharing Seasonal Stories
From around the world, each in a different industry, all committed to daring to do business differently.
Jess Wheeler with limited edition Bronze Rhubarb Side Table. Image with permission from Jess Wheeler
1. “elegant, poetic and rooted in the raw beauty of nature”
Artist & Designer - Jess Wheeler
“In a world where so much of what we surround ourselves with are carbon copies, delivered in highly manufactured packages, I want to create objects where you can see the touch of the hand, that are full of wobbles and imperfections.”
Encompassing fine art, sculpture and interiors, Jess Wheeler’s playful creations draw inspiration directly from the wonders of the natural world. Jess transforms natural forms from giant cabbage and rhubarb leaves to mushrooms and ivy garlands, forging them from an ever-evolving array of materials including brass, bronze and plaster.
Finding inspiration from her own garden to her daily foraging walks, Wheeler’s latest collection, ‘Left, Right & Rhubarb’ is inspired by childhood memories of spring…
Image with permission from Jess Wheeler
“Rhubarb grows from a bright pink knuckle in the wintered soil, slowly at first and then with increasing luxuriance, announcing the new Spring. As children, our Granny would take my siblings and me to her rhubarb patch, whose leaves towered over us like fairytale parasols, to collect the bright pink stems, cook them, pickle them, share with each other.
In this collection, I’ve tried to preserve the sense of occasion, magic and playfulness that I associate with rhubarb. I cast huge leaves from life, and playfully articulate these joyous springlike forms into tactile usable sculptures.”
Natoora founder Franco Fubini with one of Natoora’s growers and suppliers. Image with permission from Natoora
2. “Microseasons to unlock flavour at every stage”
Food Supliers - Natoora
“Each fruit and vegetable has its own season, with subtle shifts that happen every day. We follow each one through its microseason — early, peak or late — noticing subtle shifts and hitting on unique flavours.”
Natoora exists with one clear ambition; to fix the food problem, working to reconnect people with the origins of the food they eat. Theirs is one of “radical seasonality,” with flavour at the heart of everything they do.
“We sought out flavour by connecting with small-scale growers across Europe. We knew that fruits and vegetables grown in their natural seasons taste best, but our mission led us to growers who also preserve local growing artistry, work with diverse varieties and enhance their ecosystems.”
From the varieties in their produce boxes to the recipes they share online, to the campaigning they do across the food industry, seasonality is at the root of their brand storytelling.
A favourite example of their creative approach to communicating their mission, is their ‘Radicchio Not Roses’ campaign, now in its third year.
Every year 250 million roses are grown for Valentine’s Day, when they are not in season. Natoora’s campaign encourages people to choose a seasonal alternative…
“Deep purple with tight, curled leaves or rosette-shaped with red speckles, bright red with crisp white veins or all hues of pink; we challenge you to find flowers more striking and vibrant than these radicchio heads.”
“At the end of their life as centrepieces, radicchio plants are eaten, not wasted. Their bittersweet complexity makes them ideal for cold-weather salads. Try with lemon, anchovy and garlic dressing or preserved lime and rose vinegar. Mix with fennel and blood orange or try it wrapped around hot smoked trout and kabocha squash onigiri (as an alternative to seaweed).”
Fforest owners Sian Ticker and James Lynch. Image with permission from Fforest
3. “the result of a dream….trying to remember what ‘simple’ can look, feel and taste like”
Accommodation, camping & events - Fforest
“A place to enjoy the simplicity, pleasures and beauty of outdoor living in an outstanding natural environment.”
Fforest is the result of owners Sian and James’ dream of ‘the simplest and purest of things wrapped up in a magical setting’.
I was lucky enough to stay at Fforest for their Gather festival with four friends and our kids. It was a magical time. We cooked, ate, played and slept outdoors, lighting fires, climbing trees, building dens, crafting, dancing, and swimming in the sea, closer to the weather, the tides, stars, the moon and each other. It’s a truly special place, that really does feel like the result of a dream.
Image with permission from Fforest
Sian and James’ connection with the land is evident throughout their storytelling, sharing the simple pleasures as the seasons shift. They host a range of events to celebrate those changes, from feasts to getaways to creative weekends.
“What makes Fforest? Care, growing, cooking, eating, learning, living, fire, adventure, community. Simple.”
The Natural Dyeworks founder Ros Humphries. Image with permission from The Natural Dyeworks, shot by Dave Bullivant.
“Hand coloured slowly with plants and care”
Homewares & Accessories - The Natural Dyeworks
“Crafting an ever evolving palette of colours through the use of petals, leaves, bark, roots & seeds”
The handcrafted, hand-dyed ribbons, homewares and accessories created by owner Ros tell the story of the seasonal year. Using ingredients foraged from the Kent countryside or sourced from food waste collected from local cafes, Ros uses the alchemy of plant-based dyes to capture the essence of the seasons.
“Our palette changes continually with the seasons, and the spectrum of colours available is dependent on the ingredients available such as nettles in spring for cool greens, coreopsis in summer for wild oranges, hollyhocks in autumn for soft blues, alder cones in winter for burnished golds.”
Working exclusively with natural fibres and dyes, Ros’ process is 100% natural. Collecting only what is needed for a single dye pot, all the products show a deep respect for nature and leave as little footprint as possible, “Waste water is reused on the garden and allotment, dye pulp is composted which in turn feeds our soil”.
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