‘Clean Conscious’ – a sustainable lighting collection with timeless style

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If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen that I recently journeyed up to Design Festival North in Manchester for the launch of ‘Clean Conscious’ – a new collection of sustainable lighting from Yorkshire-based company Well-lit. I’ve now had the chance to test out some of the designs in my own home, so I today I want to introduce you to them in more detail.

It’s always a joy to discover a company that backs up talk about sustainability with real action, and Well-lit has certainly put in the work. Founded by Chris Stimson in 2013, it provides an alternative to mass-produced, unethically made products and its efforts have been recognised by several awards, including being shortlisted for ‘Ethical Product of the Decade’ by The Observer. 

The latest collection takes Well-lit’s commitment to sustainability even further. To make it as ethical as possible the company worked backwards, taking sustainable materials as a starting point and transforming them into something beautiful, rather than designing something beautiful and then trying to work out how to make it more sustainable. The result is a stunning range of sculptural lighting made in the UK from traditionally undervalued yet readily available offcuts – not only stopping waste from going to landfill or incineration, but also reducing raw-material transport emissions in the process.

The wall lamps in the ‘Clean Conscious’ collection are the work of young designer Keegan Bland, who has only recently graduated from York St. John University and is definitely a talent to watch. I was very impressed when I saw them on Well-lit’s stand at the festival, and after borrowing some to try in various places around my house, I can say that they’re every bit as good as I’d hoped.

Crafted in Redruth, Cornwall, ‘Woody’ is made using ash and oak that’s left over from furniture production. The timber is all grown in the UK and fully traceable, with unique grain patterns that mean no two lamps are the same. I love the contrast between the solid wood body and the smooth glass of the bulb, and the way the curved bowl shape culminates in a crisp rim that produces a gorgeous circle of light when illuminated. There’s also a wonderful warmth to the design, and it looked stunning against the muted greige walls in my living room.

The other series in the collection is ‘Spin’, made in Brighouse, Yorkshire, from UK metal industry surplus. The minimalist, contemporary design features two plates that appear to swirl around the bulb, itself placed off-centre for a striking look. The plates are available in various colours that can be mixed-and-matched to suit different styles and spaces, and you can rotate them so that the bulb sits to the side, the top or the bottom. I particularly liked the sleek white-on-white combination against the pale grey walls of my home office, and sophisticated beige-on-black alongside the warm neutrals in our guest bedroom.

Both lamps are dimmable, but what I love most about them is how adaptable they are. They take any bulb with an E27 fitting, so you can alter the overall look in seconds by switching the bulb for a different size, brightness, temperature or style. What’s more, they come with a lifetime repair guarantee, meaning these really are lamps that will stay with you for decades, evolving as your home and needs change.

As well as wall lamps, the ‘Clean Conscious’ collection encompasses ‘Spin’ and ‘Woody’ pendant lights. Just as versatile, they can also be used with a vast array of bulbs to create an individual look, and there are matching ceiling roses too. The pared-back ‘Spin’ pendant is my personal favourite – especially as it comes in a spectrum of timeless neutrals and bright mood-enhancing hues developed in collaboration with colour psychologists at the University of Leeds – but they’re both beautiful.

The full ‘Clean Conscious’ collection is available from Well-lit’s website, with prices starting at £95 for a pendant and £268 for a wall lamp. It’s also available via Heal’s.

Pendant light images via Well-lit; all other photography by Abi Dare