Giving Waste a Second Life: Future Vintage x Oficio Studio for the WORTH Partnership Project II
The opportunity to collaborate with like-minded makers is always a thrill—especially when it’s on a project that challenges waste in the marketplace and finds new ways to rethink materials, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
For the WORTH Partnership Project II, I’ve been working alongside Melina Carranza of Oficio Studio, a leatherworker and artisan based in Madrid, whose values align so closely with those of Future Vintage.
Together, we’ve created Cocoon Puzzle, a soft furnishing collection made from linked leather offcuts and waste wool—a meeting of materials and traditions that transforms by-products into something functional, durable, and beautiful.
Melina and I are both absolutely against waste, and this is our way of giving it a second chance.
Reworking Waste: Wool & Leather with Purpose
Neither of these materials is new to the market—linked leather has been used in bags, carpets, and accessories for generations, and waste wool has long been repurposed for insulation, padding, and stuffing. But bringing them together in this way, in a three-dimensional form for furniture and interiors, is something new.
The leather pieces, designed by Melina, are cut using a die-cut machine into small, puzzle-like sections that seamlessly link together to create the outer structure of the furnishings. Made from Spanish vegetable-tanned leather offcuts from her Madrid workshop, they form a flexible yet durable shell.
The wool filling comes from Bonnytoun Farm—fibres that weren’t fine enough for spinning into yarn. These fleeces were sent to The Natural Fibre Company, where they were scoured and cleaned before being used to stuff and structure the furnishings.
By combining these two waste materials, we’ve created something structurally innovative yet soft and cocooning—a sense of warmth, protection, and renewal.
From the Woolery to Milan: The Cocoon Puzzle
This collaboration has led to a series of unique handcrafted soft furnishings, including:
The Cocoon Puzzle Chair – An oversized reclined chair that blends linked leather structure with Shetland wool filling, offering both sculptural beauty and comfort. This piece will be showcased at Milan Design Week 2025 as part of the WORTH Project. It has been designed to disassemble for transport and will be reconstructed in Milan in April.
The Armadillo Pillow – Named by Ben, this linked leather cushion is a tactile, multi-tonal piece that highlights the richness and variation of the waste leather offcuts. It’s incredibly soft, versatile, and endlessly comfortable.
These are just the first in a growing collection—we are continuing to experiment with new shapes, structures, and applications.
A Collaboration Rooted in Craft & Innovation
The WORTH Partnership Project II has given us the space to explore how craft can meet innovation, with support from an incubator programme that fosters cross-sector collaboration across Europe. Through funding, mentorship, and international exposure, we’ve been able to push this concept forward—from an experimental idea into a functional collection.
More importantly, WORTH has connected us with a network of designers, makers, and sustainability-focused manufacturers who share a vision of reducing waste, valuing materials, and embracing craftsmanship in new ways.
Looking Ahead
Cocoon Puzzle is still evolving, but its foundation is clear—waste materials can be reworked, repurposed, and given a second life.
By bringing together Scottish wool and Spanish leather, we’ve created something that reflects both our backgrounds and traditions. With Milan Design Week ahead and a growing collection of handcrafted soft furnishings emerging from this process, I’m excited to see where this collaboration leads next.
This is just the beginning.
