on the lookout for British manufacturers to work with,' confirms Tim Ely, Heal's Senior Buyer for Furniture and Lighting. 'That's why it's great to launch a product like Bedknobs , which is made in Cornwall by local craftsmen using traditional techniques. When you get up close you can really feel the exceptional quality.' As Tim confirms, the majority of Heal's contemporary upholstery and handmade mattresses , plus a number of individual furniture ranges, are made in the UK -- many of them by small-scale local manufacturers. Our Ray cabinet range, for example, is made in an east London workshop staffed by only a handful of craftsmen. In addition to using British manufacturers to make many of our own products, this season also sees Heal's renewing its relationship with Ercol , one of the UK's most highly respected furniture companies. 'There's been a close association between Heal's and Ercol for over 50 years,' Tim explains. 'We felt the mood was right this year for us to introduce the Ercol Originals range. It's fantastic to be working with a company with such a distinguished heritage. With Ercol you not only know you're getting a certain quality, there's also the history behind the brand that makes each piece even more desirable.' Autumn 2012 also sees Heal's collaborating with another classic British brand, Melin Tregwynt , a family-run wool mill in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Eifion Griffiths, the company's third generation owner, has been instrumental in revitalising the Welsh double cloth tradition. He puts a large