Sven Sømme, some time in the 1920’s - Norway

The concept for creating Bellacouche came from personal experiences of bereavement, in particular when my father died when I was 5 years old. Myself and my two siblings were excluded from the funeral, there was no meaningful marking of his death, and no acknowledgement of our grief.

Later funereal experiences in my 20’s and 30’s felt soulless and lacked connection and meaning.

Being a Norwegian, my father was usually to be seen wearing his traditional woollen hand knit, and I found it very comforting to wrap myself in the warmth and smell of the soft fibres, following his death. There is something so tender and personal about wool.

I wanted to explore a more approachable and comforting way of returning our earthly remains back to the earth by literally and metaphorically thinking outside the box.

Inspiration came from the 17th Century Burial in Wool Act of Parliament. At the time, wool had a relatively high value, unlike now; it’s undervalued and many farmers treat it as waste and burn it!

What could burial in wool in the 21st Century look like? Would it be possible to reduce the vast quantities of globally sourced wood for coffins, and provide something simpler and more pragmatic instead. As an annually renewable and vastly available crop, wool seems to me an obvious alternative. It is versatile, can be sourced and processed into thick felt within the UK.

From an environmental point of view it makes complete sense to me to bury someone in a simple, back-to-the-earth cocoon of wool. The sturdy wooden frame is integrated into the base, encased in felt and supported by 6 strong handles. It is adaptable to any size, entirely made in the workshop from natural materials.

And what happened to the jacket?

I’m still wearing it!

Story of the 100 year old cardigan

Lifting the Lid off…