Making space

For many, a furniture-making company brings to mind rough hands and gruff attitudes. But these days and certainly at the Matthew Cox, tradition is only a foundation, not a way of being. Across the industry, women are not just taking up space—they are starting to shape it. They design, craft, and lead. Women’s presence isn’t an exception; it’s increasingly essential.

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women who shape our industry and our company – the designers, makers, and thinkers who bring fresh perspectives. In our team, the women and men become more than the sum of their parts. Strength meets sensitivity, precision meets instinct. Women bring singular skills and vision, and the men here don’t just make room – they stand alongside, learning, supporting and evolving. As more women have joined our workshop, the more open and collaborative it has become.

Recently, Katy, a junior maker-finisher, asked colleagues about the impact of gender balance for a talk for the Sylva Foundation. One reflected, “I think having more women encourages men to be more open with their emotions.” Another added, “It improves everyone’s emotional intelligence, which strengthens our relationships.” And perhaps most importantly, “It creates an atmosphere where everyone can be themselves, without worrying about being ‘manly’ or putting on a tough exterior.”

The best work happens when differences aren’t erased but embraced. This is how a workshop or a company evolves—through thoughtfulness, openness, and respect. It has become a place where kindness, encouragement, and connection are second nature. It’s why we are, and strive to be, always out of the ordinary.

Because, as many of our clients now recognise, great design is not just about what we make, but the way we make it.