Meet Our Maker
Gry & Sif
Hand crafted felt decorations
There is something wonderfully cheerful about Gry & Sif. Their colourful felt flowers, tiny animals and whimsical decorations have all the charm of handmade, while still feeling beautifully considered.
The story began in 2001, when Danish sisters Gry and Sif travelled through Nepal. They fell in love with the country, its people and the traditional craft of felting, and saw an opportunity to bring together Scandinavian design and Nepalese craftsmanship. Today, each Gry & Sif piece is designed in Denmark and handmade in Nepal by skilled artisans using natural New Zealand wool.
The making process is very hands-on. Loose wool fibres are shaped with warm water, soap and repeated rolling and rubbing, which causes the fibres to bind together and gradually become dense, strong felt. From there, individual petals, leaves, stems and tiny details are formed by hand, so no two flowers are ever exactly alike. It is a slow process that relies on touch, experience and a very good eye.
Just as important as the finished pieces is the way they are made. Gry & Sif has been Fair Trade certified since 2009 and is a guaranteed member of the World Fair Trade Organisation. Their work supports fair wages and good working conditions, along with initiatives such as health insurance, skills training and flexible home-based work for some of the women they work with.
We love their felt flowers for the way they capture the character of real blooms without trying to copy them perfectly. Slightly wonky petals, unexpected colour combinations and tiny hand-shaped details are all part of their charm. And unlike the flowers in the garden, these ones stay in bloom all year.
Their Easter and Christmas animals and decorations are customer favourites, and will delight old and young.