The Materials

At OTZI, our designs are driven by a commitment to creating furniture that not only looks right but works well in the real world. We prioritise form and function in equal measure, ensuring that each piece adds, and continues to add, value to its space. Inspired by William Morris' sentiment, "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful," we create functional yet beautiful pieces that withstand and are enhanced by the rigours of regular use.

What sets us apart is our long-term vision; we consider not only how our pieces look when they are first created, but how they will look in decades to come. This consideration of longevity is one of our most fundamental principles. By using high-quality materials, we ensure each piece performs and ages beautifully.

Whether you are an interior designer, architect, collector, or private client, we offer a flexible service grounded in natural materials and long-lasting quality. Every commission is handled entirely in-house, from the initial concept and prototype to the making.

OTZI workshop materials

The Materials

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Our materials are integral to the story of each piece. We source the finest leather, timber, and linen, prioritizing natural materials that are regenerative, sustainable, and possess an intrinsic beauty that synthetic alternatives cannot replicate. We work closely with master material producers who honour the natural history of their medium and keep heritage alive. We are ever grateful to the foresters, millers, tanners and finishers for their careful, hard work.

British Hardwood Timber

Our furniture timber is sourced locally from native-grown trees in managed woodlands across East Anglia and the South East of the UK. We use both air and kiln-dried timber selected for strength and grain. Our collection celebrates the beauty of native species including Ash, Oak, Sycamore, Scottish Elm, Plane, and Sweet Chestnut. Rather than hiding natural variations, we celebrate features such as pip, ripple, burr, small knots, medullary rays, and cat's paws to highlight the wood's striking character.

British hardwood timber samples

Oak Bark-Tanned Leather (UK)

We maintain a strong relationship with Britain's last remaining oak bark tannery in Devon, J&FJ Baker; a family-run heritage company operating on a site used for tanning since the Roman era. This gentle, manual process takes over twelve months, using hides from nearby pasture-fed cows and natural oak bark harvested from sustainable British woodlands. This results in a leather that is exceptionally durable, lightweight, and full of character. Available in a range of colours: Natural Russet, London Tan, Australian Nut, Conker, Kelp Green, Midnight Blue, and Charcoal Black.

Oak bark tanned leather

Vegetable-Tanned Leather (Tuscany, Italy)

We have carefully partnered with a family-run tannery in Tuscany, Italy, where natural tannins found in tree barks, leaves, and fruits are used to tan full grain hides. This slow process produces leather with incredible tensile strength and a depth of character that cannot be synthetically replicated. This leather is designed to evolve, developing a unique patina the more it is handled. Options: Naturale, Fieno, Oliva, Rosso, Bordó, Cobalto, and Nero.

Vegetable tanned leather from Tuscany

Deer Suede and Tumbled Nubuck

Deer Suede: Tanned by a British microtannery, Billy Tannery, from hides of managed estates, this is a highly sustainable byproduct of essential woodland conservation. It is softer and more flexible than bovine suede with a nap unmatched by synthetic alternatives.

Tumbled Nubuck: A top-grain bovine leather buffed to a velvet-like surface. Unlike standard suede, it retains the superior thickness and durability of the full hide and is tumbled in wooden drums for signature suppleness.

Deer suede and tumbled nubuck leather