Capturing the Craft of Slowe Living

Earlier this year we connected with Oliver Murphy, the founder of Slowe Living.

He's the maker of a 'spacious, modernist sofa bed', as well as experienced designer. After popping round to the studio, Ollie shared some insight into how he began making furniture. We learnt about how he made his first bed during one of the lockdown periods, relying upon favours to transform his render into a tangible product. He later found James, a woodworking craftsman with a workshop in Cornwall.

Ollie, with the help of James, had finally mastered the product. The pair began making to order. Limited but successful runs allowed them to ensure the sofa bed is perfect every time. 'Challenging big & fast high street overproduction with smaller batches'. Keen to document the craft, whilst capturing the essence of slow(e) living, Ollie invited us on a trip to Cornwall.

The resulting film, shot over a weekend in Cornwall and afternoon at the North London 'Slowe HQ', explores the details of the day-to-day. Their sofa bed, different to so many of the other options on the market, requires the person sitting on it to get deep into its form in order to truly relax. Through a dream sequence that merges with the freneticism of the city, the film transports the viewer to Cornwall, where the coastline offers peace and encourages creativity. We finish with the bed in its final form, a comfortable double that is perfect for guests staying the night.

Kit Gordon developed a custom score for the film, channeling the influences of Jazz and Hip Hop that have informed the manifesto of Slowe Living.

Filmed and Edited by Cameron Kennedy-McFarlane for In-Col Studio, with a colour grade by Charlotte Connah.