Brand Futon UK got fashion!

Futon UK is a term like any other that contains the word futon came into being during the 1970’s. The early days of the futon industry were nothing more than a few individuals making cotton filled mattresses to put on various types of slatted frames. Manufacturing was on a small scale and the product when finished was just about a futon bed.
There was an enormous amount of social change at that time and one of the consequences was consumers looking for products that were more versatile, healthy and affordable. Town houses were being converted into flats, universities were increasing their intake of students and with the amount of disposable income rising it followed that the demand for futon furniture became much greater as it filled the desired criteria.

This expansion of the futon UK brand moved futon manufacturing out of garages and basements into specialist shops. A major breakthrough was the design in the U.S. of a 2 seat futon frame that functioned as well as a sofa as it did a bed. Futon sofa bed frames could be made from softwood like Pine as well as hardwoods like Beech and Oak. Fillings for futon mattresses were at that time still mostly “natural” fibres like cotton, reclaimed wool, and horse hair which added to the appeal of futons.

As the ‘80’s progressed futon furniture became less of a niche product and moved into the mainstream, furniture stores, department stores and mass marketing companies all had a futon category. Demand for Futon UK products soared to the point where most of the futon frame production fell into the hands of Asian countries with their advantages of cheaper labour, steel and timber.

By the end of the ‘90’s futon sales had peaked and since that time many specialist shops have ceased trading but the futon UK story is still very much alive on the internet and various other outlets. It feels like pogo sticks and yoyo’s, futons will come back into fashion at some point.