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Clerkenwell Design Week Preview Brand spotlight: Feature Based in Sussex but with a global presence, DARE is a furniture brand bringing its own sustainable approach to design and manufacturing, with a collection characterised by a cool refined aesthetic for both residential and contract env i ronments. A commitment to craft and sustainabilit y underpin the philosophy of DARE, a furniture brand headed up by the founder Sean Dare. Words by Maria Sailes Photography by Jon Day KEY TO THE ECO AGENDA IS KEEPING THE carbon footprint low, manufacturing products for the British market predominantly in Sussex and products for the European market through European manufacturing partners helps to keep this under control. Plans are already underway with local manufacturers in the USA and Japan as the demand there increases. ‘It’s been an incredible journey since launching DARE in Milan in 2010. We exhibited our first collection ‘Katakana’ which instantly received global recognition from the design press, then soon converted into orders from all over the world!’ says Sean DARE, whose HQ is in Worthing, a stone’s throw from Brighton, was originally called Dare Studio before it was rebranded to DARE. The decision to make it simpler and more definitive was made by the team during Covid when the company’s core values, and identity were being considered. ‘The Covid period was a time for reflection, time to pause, time to really think, something that I hadn’t had the freedom to do in such a way before. It was also a time to generate new ideas, build on existing ones and really consider the future of the business and its impact on the planet,’ observes Sean As the restrictions faded and normality resumed DARE began to implement the ideas and created an eco manufacturing manifesto, a contractual agreement between DARE, its suppliers and manufacturing partners highlighting their joint commitment to reduce their environmental impact across all facets of the business over the next ten years. The results so far are better than expected showing that working together for the greater good works. Sean believes in supporting homegrown talent, DARE have collaborated with a number of young British Designers, including David Irwin, James Melia and Namon Gaston, who all share the same philosophy. The Maya desk by James Melia, was spotted at the New Designers exhibition and Sean was instantly drawn to it, conversations began and within six months it was developed for production and placed into the collection. As an independent company, DARE is not beholden to shareholders allowing more freedom to experiment creatively. DARE’s other eco credentials include using raw materials that are FSC certified 28 iconeye.com
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Feature Clerkenwell Design Week Preview ABOVE Alma Chair + Drone Table + Riley Coffee Table BELOW Oxbow Lounge Chair Summer 2024 and traceable at all stages of the supply chain, materials that are recycled or recyclable and all of DARE’s products are designed for disassembly meaning each and every element can be repaired, reused or recycled. In a bold new venture DARE CONTRACT will be launched during Clerkenwell Design Week. Products designed with the same meticulous attention to detail, embodying the same eco credentials, highly functional, designed purely for the hard and fast contract market. Contract specific chairs built to withstand fast paced high traffic areas, tables with a KD construction so they can be transported flat packed reducing fuel costs. Innovative use of utilitarian materials, pops of bright colour. The future is bright for DARE. ‘Ultimately, we want to produce products that people want to keep, products that aren’t a fleeting fashion statement but can endure aesthetically and structurally over a long period of time.’ concludes Sean. Dare Studio are exhibiting in The British Collection at Clerkenwell Design Week. 29

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Clerkenwell Design Week Preview

Brand spotlight:

Feature

Based in Sussex but with a global presence, DARE is a furniture brand bringing its own sustainable approach to design and manufacturing, with a collection characterised by a cool refined aesthetic for both residential and contract env i ronments. A commitment to craft and sustainabilit y underpin the philosophy of DARE, a furniture brand headed up by the founder Sean Dare.

Words by Maria Sailes Photography by Jon Day

KEY TO THE ECO AGENDA IS KEEPING THE carbon footprint low, manufacturing products for the British market predominantly in Sussex and products for the European market through European manufacturing partners helps to keep this under control. Plans are already underway with local manufacturers in the USA and Japan as the demand there increases.

‘It’s been an incredible journey since launching DARE in Milan in 2010. We exhibited our first collection ‘Katakana’ which instantly received global recognition from the design press, then soon converted into orders from all over the world!’ says Sean

DARE, whose HQ is in Worthing, a stone’s throw from Brighton, was originally called Dare Studio before it was rebranded to DARE. The decision to make it simpler and more definitive was made by the team during Covid when the company’s core values, and identity were being considered.

‘The Covid period was a time for reflection, time to pause, time to really think, something that I hadn’t had the freedom to do in such a way before. It was also a time to generate new ideas, build on existing ones and really consider the future of the business and its impact on the planet,’ observes Sean

As the restrictions faded and normality resumed DARE began to implement the ideas and created an eco manufacturing manifesto, a contractual agreement between DARE, its suppliers and manufacturing partners highlighting their joint commitment to reduce their environmental impact across all facets of the business over the next ten years. The results so far are better than expected showing that working together for the greater good works.

Sean believes in supporting homegrown talent, DARE have collaborated with a number of young British Designers, including David Irwin, James Melia and Namon Gaston, who all share the same philosophy. The Maya desk by James Melia, was spotted at the New Designers exhibition and Sean was instantly drawn to it, conversations began and within six months it was developed for production and placed into the collection. As an independent company, DARE is not beholden to shareholders allowing more freedom to experiment creatively.

DARE’s other eco credentials include using raw materials that are FSC certified

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