Ben Glass

Wanting to be an artist and earning a living don’t always go hand in hand – especially for those who are aged under 30 – but Ben Glass joined artistry and business acumen to create a successful furniture brand. “My vision is to have a brand that can host all the things in my head that I want to make and give to people to enjoy,” explains Glass.

His work is in high demand – his commercial clients include Cheshire Architects and Vodafone. This past March, in response to the interest in his work, he opened a showroom and workshop in the central Auckland suburb of Newton. Producing thoughtful and highly polished pieces allows his skills as a designer and craftsman to take centre stage. Glass’ work is wound up in his design philosophy: conceptual continuation.

“There is a creative concept woven through everything I do. I know it’s all influenced by my subconscious and I try to recognise that in my design,” he says.

Glass believes his customers are attracted to his passion to make and his freedom in the process. “When I collaborate with clients, this process brings them a product that they can’t get anywhere else.” The business balances a mixture of one-off bespoke pieces for the residential market with bulk manufacturing for the commercial market.

The inspiration for his new collection spreads further afield. Previous collections took note from Scandinavian design but his new pieces reference the extreme creative diversity of 1960’s South America. Delving into the works of South American designers helped Glass to produce chairs with straight lines and hard edges. Experimenting with paint and using the rare native timber puriri, the chairs from the new collection are a contrasting collaboration of New Zealand and South American mid-century design. 

Redfox & Wilcox

Redfox & Wilcox began when two 33-year-olds from New Zealand, flat-sharing in Melbourne, wanted to replace a dining table and realised they couldn’t afford the type of furniture they wanted. Tara Wilcox convinced Nicola Grey to purchase power tools and timber and, almost overnight, their backyard and kitchen became a workshop – first, making a table for themselves, then, as commissions for friends and family. Soon, they were selling their work on eBay. The pair had been friends for nearly 10 years.

Grey trained as an interior architect at Victoria University of Wellington and Wilcox is a self-taught woodworker. “This was a natural extension of our friendship, and a way for us to collaborate on something creative, while combining our different skills,” explains Grey. Wilcox did a small business course, at the end of which she was awarded a one-year grant. This gave them time to refine their design and process, and move their workshop into the trendy Melbourne neighbourhood of Collingwood.

The two continued polishing their designs, found local suppliers and manufacturers and launched a website. Having these elements in place allowed them to take on larger commissions for residential and hospitality clients. Their practice is drawn to modernism, pulls references from New Zealand culture and aligns its ethos with sustainability. Having two sets of eyes, that view the world in different ways, expands their areas of inspiration.

“This mixed perspective has been hugely important as these differences challenge us to explore more options and ideas than we would alone,” says Wilcox. The final result is simple pieces that are understated, strong and structural. The pair continues to make furniture for people who want great design but also good value. 

James McNaughton

Working in his family’s joinery company and tinkering with old motorcycles in his teens solidified James McNaughton’s love of wood, steel and fine craftsmanship. McNaughton started Jimmy’s Handbuilt in 2012 when Little & Friday commissioned a communal dining table for its Newmarket store. Once orders started coming in, he quit his building job and plunged into full-time furniture-making.

Producing handmade furniture with a focus on steel and timber has been a massive drawcard for clients. McNaughton has worked with strong, niche brands – collaborating on retail fit-outs with Good as Gold Auckland and Flash City – and hospitality and commercial spaces for Coffee Supreme’s head office, Good One and Dear Jervois. He has a penchant for anything containing a historical narrative and much of his work is inspired by American and Scandinavian mid-century design.

“There’s something to be said for things that were built to last. I’m inspired by those who are still making quality products in this day and age,” says McNaughton. He uses American hardwoods for their unique grains, and recycled timber for its ‘history and character’ that wears over time. Aptitude with steel and timber gives McNaughton the ability to work from both a joiner’s and an engineer’s perspective, enabling him to choose the most suitable materials and construction techniques for a job.

Working on private commissions and commercial fit-outs can be tricky at times. Meeting client demand requires multitasking and late nights at the workshop, and McNaughton is always on the lookout for ways to make things more efficient and to find “bigger and better machinery to get things done more quickly” without sacrificing quality. McNaughton will soon release a line of his favourite pieces and best-sellers which will be sold online.