Bellacouche
Beautiful resting place
Bellacouche wool felt studio
At Bellacouche, textile artist and maker Yuli Sømme lovingly creates earth-friendly organic felt funeral products and craft kits from the region’s organic and holistically managed wool flocks.
The Leafcocoon is a re-imagining of the 17th Century Act of Parliament, the Burial in Wool Act, which decreed that the dead must be buried in wool. This was passed to encourage the use of wool that was so important for the economy at that time. Now, at Bellacouche and in the 21st Century, we believe that wool has a re-newed purpose in giving comfort at a time of death; no sharp edges, no plastics, just soft, tender wool, enfolding and shrouding the body, safely held on an integrated sturdy wooden frame with 6 strong handles. The Leafcocoon has been tested and industry accredited for safety, either for burial or cremation. After 21 years of shroud-making, Bellacouche is holding a steady place in the funeral industry, with something unique, different, eco-friendly and gentle.
Our Philosophy
“If you have to make a thing, you must know the background of it, the skeleton, the foundations, the actual stuff that the materials have grown out of, their connections with their natural background, their biotechnics – and then building can begin. And then the reason for making, the purpose, the human connection. All sides must be considered and known. You cannot just make.”
— Ethel Mairet
British wool felt products for natural burial
Your loved one is wrapped in the gentle folds of a thick wool felt cocoon or shroud.
We make a unique range of ecologically biodegradable coffin alternatives for natural burial or cremation. Our work focuses on practical aesthetics, natural burial, or minimising the environmental impact of cremation.
Wool felt craft kits
Thoughtfully designed, plastic-free felt crafting kits for beginners and hobby makers. Five uniquely themed topics, connecting us with each other and Nature. Wall hangings, Heirloom pieces, origami felt sculpture, Feet Felt and felt postcards. If you love to create and explore the extraordinary qualities of home grown wool, then you have landed in the right place.
I am very pleased to receive a Platinum Award from the Greener Globe Funeral Standard, 2024, as a trusted supplier.
This involves a lengthy audit that has taken many weeks and adheres to ISO 14001, the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems.
