Local, natural, sustainable.

Kovacs Design Furniture recently hosted an informative event for furniture retailers and interior designers, showcasing new developments, collaborations and design thinking for the iconic New Zealand furniture brand. 

The Christchurch showroom is a beautiful, light-filled space located directly above the heart and hub of the company’s creative workspace, where every Kovacs piece is designed and manufactured. 

Vashti, Sam and the wider team welcomed guest speakers Jill Durant (James Dunlop) and Harry Urquhart-Hay (Wisewool), who both talked through the unique products they bring to the creation of Kovacs furniture, and how they enhance Kovacs’ commitment to sustainability, nature and New Zealand industry and artistry. 

The long-standing relationship with James Dunlop has enabled Kovacs to provide customers with the finest linen and wool coverings from European manufacturers, whilst a recent collaboration with Wisewool, producers of 100% New Zealand wool products, was also on display. Wisewool had recently featured on Hyundai Country Calendar and Kovacs has teamed up them with a ‘Win this chair’ social media competition. The prize, a stunning Kovacs Spyder chair encased in Wisewool, was on display for all to see, feel and become acquainted with. The properties of this new product complement the Kovacs ethos by epitomising functionality, style and Kiwi industry and artistry. 

As a third-generation family business, Kovacs are committed to placing natural resources in the spotlight, and they look for partners with similar commitments to sustainability. James Dunlop re-use material from the fashion and textile industry in their fabric manufacture, whilst Wisewool is the ultimate regenerative and sustainable product, as well as being naturally fire retardant, antimicrobial and breathable.

Hildy, the design mind behind Kovacs, created five new designs last year, and reimagined an existing piece; guests could view and try each one. Every piece is a classic design that is created to be long-lasting, look stunning and be practical. Hildy showed how easy it is to re-dress pieces of furniture with custom-made fitted loose covers which can be ordered at purchase, or at a later date. These are a way to ensure the longest life from a design – update the furniture’s ‘wardrobe’ according to changing fashions, seasons and lifestyles, and making it bespoke to its owner and their needs.