FROM TIMBER TO SLOW LIVING: A CONVERSATION WITH PROVISION FOUNDER NICK NEWMAN
Provision founder Nick Newman talks about timber, texture, natural materials, independent makers and the thinking behind the Provision Store in Bermondsey, London.
"At Provision, we believe the things we live with should be made well, feel good and be enjoyed for a long time."
With a store on Maltby Street in Bermondsey, South London, and a flooring showroom at Iliffe Yard in Elephant & Castle, Provision brings together a carefully considered collection of homewares, furniture, apparel, ceramics, glassware and timber flooring. Provision works with independent makers and designers who share an appreciation for good design, material honesty and longevity.
But the thinking behind Provision goes beyond the products themselves. It's about how things are made, the materials they are made from, the people who make them and the way we choose to live with them.
Here, Founder Nick Newman talks about his long-standing passion for timber and natural materials, his background in architectural salvage, and why slow living and community are at the heart of Provision.
What is Provision?
Nick: The ethos of Provision is about integrity, good design and passionate makers. It's about having one eye on the environment and slow living, and it's about materials and the tactility of materials – how you can create something beautiful from a piece of wood or a bit of clay.
That's what we like to celebrate here. We sell ceramics, timber flooring, apparel and glassware, with an emphasis on tactility, materials and beauty.
Where did the idea for Provision come from?
Nick: Before Provision, I worked for an architectural salvage company called LASSCO for 17 years. During that time I ran the reclaimed flooring department, so we'd go to old sites and essentially save timber from going into landfill.
After leaving LASSCO, I wanted to showcase some of the products I'd seen on my travels that I thought were interesting – some of the people I'd met who were making really beautiful clothes – and have one space where people could come in and potentially get anything they needed for their house. A candle, some flooring, some nice taps, and even a nice jacket to wear home...
How did working with reclaimed materials influence the look of Provision?
Nick: Spending so much time exposed to reclaimed materials cultivated a certain look that I liked.
I love the way designers can take something that's old, something with patina that might have been destined for a skip, and turn it into something beautiful.
"I love narrative and the provenance of materials, and that has definitely influenced the look of Provision."
Why is slow living so important to you?
Nick: I think the concept of slow living and good design is relevant because ultimately we live in a society that, I believe, doesn't always place enough value on how things are made or the processes that have gone into making them. The idea at Provision is that you can purchase something from us and potentially keep it for the rest of your life.
Even with clothing, I'm really keen that the pieces aren't necessarily fashionable for just one season. They can be classic, staple designs that you want in your wardrobe and can go back to.
It's the same with pottery. You might have a lovely piece that you just love, or a teapot that becomes part of your daily life.
I'm very much into ritual as well — the ritual of daily living — and I think that's reflected in what we sell and in the makers we choose to work with.
What do you look for when choosing independent makers?
Nick: There's definitely an aesthetic consideration. I have a certain look that I really like and I'm really into, but by the same token, I'm very interested in people as well.
For example, there's a lady called Jackie who's very close to the shop. Her background is in theatre design, but she's got some really interesting stories about London, and I think that comes through in her clothing.
"I'll often just say to people, come and meet me, bring what you've made, let's have a look at it and see if it will work in this space."
Timber seems to play a particularly important role. Why?
Nick: The most important material to me is timber. I love the tactility of wood, and that informs the aesthetic at Provision. It also informs the makers that I choose. There are makers I'm very passionate about who I hope to one day have in here. Bobby Mills, who's based in West Sussex, does incredible things with wood, as does Craig from SASA Works. And then there's Jason, who's currently in the shop. He makes beautiful, stubby stools, which are really good sellers.
Are there any ceramicists or makers you're particularly passionate about?
Nick: One of my favourite designers and ceramicists that we supply at Provision is Nicola Gillis, who's based in Brighton. She creates really beautiful pieces. For me, it's about finding people who make things with integrity and passion – things that have a real sense of the maker inherent within them.
How has your previous work shaped the projects you take on today?
Nick: I've worked on a lot of interesting projects. I used to supply a lot to restaurants – there's a road called Redchurch Street in London, which I love. I've also worked on the Aesop stores and done a lot of interesting projects since starting Provision.
I've worked with lots of designers, on private residences and with architects, and I've been lucky enough to work on a really varied array of houses and buildings around London. That's one of the reasons why I love London so much – every project is really interesting. There are certain shops and spaces that I don't tend to forget.
What did you want the experience of visiting Provision to feel like?
Nick: It's about the experience of coming in. I wanted it to be calm. I think that's really important.
The light, the smell, the tactile objects – you're engaging with all your different senses. I purposely wanted to do that. I'd like people to hopefully buy something that they love, that they want to keep for as long as possible, but also just enjoy being in here and feel very comfortable.
What's your favourite thing about Provision?
Nick: My favourite thing about Provision is actually the people. And I really, really mean that.
The people I deal with on a daily basis who come into the shop are, just about all of them, really lovely and really appreciative of what we're doing in here. The makers are excited to have something they've created put into the shop, and then when it sells, I guess it's validation.
We live in a world that's becoming more and more sterile, and I think community is very important for human beings as well. These are things that people seem to be lacking.
We've got social media, but do you really feel like part of a community on social media? You can come down to a row of shops and restaurants and meet people in person.
"That's what Provision is really about: good things, good people and creating a place where those things can come together."
Visit Provision
Provision is based at Arch 53 Ropewalk, Maltby Street, London SE1 3PA, less than 10 minutes from London Bridge. The shop brings together furniture, homewares, apparel, lighting and other pieces for modern living, made to last by independent makers.
Provision Flooring is located within Pullens Yards – a community of artisan workshops built in the 1880s – a ten-minute walk from Elephant & Castle.
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