Outdoor Inspirations: The Fern Collection by Gloster

Gloster is one of our favourite luxury outdoor furniture brands as it is a company that specialises in creating the most beautiful and durable garden furniture that sets the perfect mood for any occasion. The brand prides itself on using only the best materials and techniques to ensure that its furniture lasts a lifetime.

The company's roots can be traced back to West Africa in 1960, when a group of passionate entrepreneurs and furniture makers began their journey. By the late 1980s, Gloster had moved its factory to Indonesia due to increased demand and access to plantation-grown teak.

Today, the company continues to be fueled by the same passion, conviction, and pride that launched the brand. Gloster's teak is the benchmark hardwood for fine outdoor furniture, with a high natural oil content that makes it exceptionally hard-wearing and resistant to rotting and weather damage. The company strongly believes that quality and customers’ trust matter the most - this philosophy allows them to strive to design and build the world's finest outdoor furniture.

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Gloster Outdoor Collections

Good design is the starting point for good furniture, so Gloster continues to release new collections every season in collaboration with some of the world’s best designers. With every new collection, Gloster is able to experiment with new materials and techniques, along with incorporating some cutting-edge techniques.

Every collection includes a range of products that share some characteristic feature or design element. But at the same time, the products are versatile enough to be used in combination with other outdoor products. Below is a list of some of Gloster’s iconic collections and the inspirations behind each of them:

Why We Love the Fern Collection’s Outdoor Furniture

The Fern Collection, designed by Sebastian Herkner, draws inspiration from the delicate fronds of a fern leaf. The design language of the collection is rooted in nature, combining plantation teak with a soft finish outdoor rope. The woven backrest, which envelops the user, not only provides comfort but also protects them. The teak frame, with its Scandinavian style, mirrors the contours of the backrest and further emphasises the comfort aspect of the collection.

All of Fern collection’s furniture is made from a base structure of rope and aluminium, which makes it very lightweight and rust-free. The products are also very easy to clean and maintain.

All products from this collection feature an enveloping backrest that is not just an aesthetic treat but also makes them exceptionally comfortable. But despite having a statement backrest, the overall look is very minimalistic - this allows the products to naturally blend in with the outdoor environments for a peaceful retreat.

About the Designer: Sebastian Herkner

Award-winning German product designer, Sebastian Herkner, was born in 1981 in Bad Mergentheim. During his studies at the Offenbach University of Art and Design, he focused on creating furniture and objects that combined different cultural influences and traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.

Even as a student, Herkner interned with Stella McCartney in London, which helped him develop his sense of materials, colours, textures, and structures. Herkner's work emphasises the function, material, and detail of everyday objects - infusing them with personality and respect. He draws inspiration from various societal and cultural contexts, creating new artefacts that blend seemingly disparate elements into harmonious designs.

More About the Fern Collection

This family includes sofas, beds, lounge chairs and an elegant dining chair, discussed in more detail below:

Fern Daybed (Available as a Low Back and a High Back Version)

With the signature, dramatic fern-shaped rope back and gentle curves, this daybed is all one needs to turn their garden into an outdoor oasis. The weather-proof fabric is completely customisable and the bed is incredibly versatile.

Fern Sofa (Available as a Low Back and a High Back Version)

This two-seater sofa features a natural teak base with a powder-coated aluminium back that is accentuated with woven ropes.

The Fern sofa is designed for outdoor use, with cushions made from durable but soft fabrics. The seating also comes with protective covers that offer UV resistance, water resistance, and breathability. These features help prevent dampness, heat build-up, and condensation, ensuring the sofa stays comfortable and long-lasting, even in the most harsh outdoor conditions.

Fern Outdoor Lounge Chair (Available as a Low Back and a High Back Version)

The Fern Lounge Chair by Gloster is a stunning piece of outdoor furniture that combines traditional design with natural elements. The chair's backrest is shaped like a wing chair, offering comfortable support to relax while also resembling a large leaf. This unique design creates a beautiful contrast with the spacious teak seat.

The chair is not only stylish but also incredibly comfortable, thanks to its functional cover fabrics and intelligent design. Whether you're lounging in your backyard or patio, the Fern chair is the perfect addition to any outdoor space.

Fern Dining Chair with Arms

This dining chair is a true work of art, made with the utmost care and attention to detail. The frame is crafted from the finest teak, sourced from Gloster's own plantation in Indonesia and expertly carved by hand.

To add a touch of modern style and durability, weather-resistant rope is woven by skilled artisans to create the unique and sturdy design. The chair is then finished with a high-quality seat cushion, carefully sewn at the Gloster factory with quick-dry foam inserts to ensure it dries quickly after rain.

The cushion cover is made from a durable, easy-to-maintain outdoor fabric, ensuring that this chair will last for years to come. Our designers highly recommend pairing these chairs with any of the teak dining tables by Gloster, such as the Deck dining table or the Lima outdoor table.

Summing Up

Fern by Gloster is a small but versatile collection of products inspired by vascular-shaped Fern plants. Three main elements are seen in all these products: teak wood, rope and aluminium - together, they create beautiful, lightweight, yet immensely durable products. The overall aesthetics of this collection are very subtle and minimalistic, which means you can easily mix and match them with any other outdoor furniture.

If you're interested in purchasing any of these products at an unbeatable price or in learning more about our luxury outdoor furniture range, just book an appointment and one of our experts will be in touch with you.