WOLF-Catalogue-2025-Vol.3 - Catalog - Page 39
WOLF has been around for 191 years, what drew you
of business. She is the link that kept the family business
to the collaboration with Liberty at this point in the
alive through some difficult times in its history. Also,
brand’s story?
my grandfather, Philipp Wolf III, he was a hard man to
impress, however on this occasion, I think he would have
Arthur Lasenby Liberty was a man who had vision, for
given his nod of approval.
something different, unique and beautiful. For 150 years
Liberty has had the same core values that he infused into
Sustainability feels like a big part of this collection.
the business all those years ago. Here we are 150 years
How do you bring together heritage craftsmanship with
later and the magic that is Liberty remains. There are
new bio-based materials to create a luxury product?
many similarities between Liberty and WOLF, that I felt
it was apt that we got together and did a very special
Over a decade ago I started the company on its
collection that combined the beautiful designs of Liberty
sustainable journey, cutting out the use of plastics in our
with the quality and attention to detail of WOLF’s
packaging, shipping by sea. The way that we make our
handmade jewellery cases.
products hasn’t really changed in 191 years, we use our
hands, muscle memory and skill to build each item slowly
You’re the 昀椀fth generation to run the company. How
and carefully. As we have moved forward, we have spent
do you honour the legacy while
time finding bio-based materials
pushing things forward?
that do not lessen the quality
one iota, in fact they increase it.
Every day I have a view to improve
I believe that using the hide from
and make better what was done
an animal to make a product is no
yesterday. I examine every detail
longer elegant, gone are the days
of the business from the product
you can say that leather equals
we design to how we gift box our
quality. To make a product that is
beautiful items. I have surrounded
100% sustainable, that comes from
myself with great people who feel
something you grow from the
the same way about what they do,
ground is far more elegant.
and we all work in concert for a
common goal of just doing things
You’ve worked closely with
a little bit better every day!
Liberty’s in-house studio on this
collaboration. What was that
creative relationship like?
This collaboration celebrates two
very different but equally British
institutions. What connects them,
Simon Wolf | CEO, WOLF
We have had a few collaborations
over the years, but this one has
in your view?
been extra special and that is
A strength that is not just in name but in direction, in
because of what I mentioned previously, the ethos that
care and attention to detail. Walk the Liberty shopfloor
Liberty has. The fierce way they protect their designs
and you see beautiful, prints, designs and carefully
and 100% commitment to the process has meant that
curated product that stands out and is not run of the
their values in product development matched ours. Pere
mill. We at WOLF are the same, we constantly re-
and team are lovely people to work with; it’s been a joy.
invent ourselves sometimes over days, sometimes over
decades, but we remain fresh, new and relevant and
If Arthur Lasenby Liberty and Ida Wilhemina Wolf were
that’s what our customers love us both for.
at the launch event, what do you think they’d say to
each other?
The WOLF family story is incredible. Do you feel their
presence in big moments like this?
I think they would be friends who appreciate each
other’s work, and I imagine a lovely cheekiness to that
I wish that all my forbearers were here to see the WOLF
relationship in that perhaps he would sell her a beautiful
X LIBERTY launch, especially Ida who took the reins of
Ianthe motif silk scarf and then she would sell him some
the company back in the early 1920s with no experience
more elegant WOLF boxes.
39
