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How did your career in furniture design begin?
I actually came into furniture design with no formal background. When we started Sabai, I was still in law school, so it’s been a big learning curve through a very hands-on approach. I’ve worked closely with my designer Jess Fugler, and with our manufacturers, spending a lot of time in factories to understand construction and what goes into making something durable and comfortable. My role has always been about translating what I love personally and what our customers are asking for into designs that feel timeless, are durable, and utilize sustainable materials.
For example, our Elevate sofa, now our bestseller, started as a simple sketch I did on the back of a piece of cardboard. Its distinctive arm shape came directly from customer feedback: people wanted to be able to stretch out and rest their head comfortably on the arm of their sofa. I think it's so well received because it really reflects what kind of functionality people want from their sofa, one of the big workhorses of the home.
Tell us about your sustainable furniture brand, Sabai!
At Sabai, sustainability has always been our starting point. From the very beginning, our mission has been to create furniture that is both beautiful and environmentally responsible. Over the last year and a half, we’ve ramped up our focus on materials; experimenting, iterating, and pushing ourselves to keep improving.
We began in 2011 with fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, upcycled poly, and organic cotton. Today, we are leaning further into natural and organic materials. Much of this has been in direct response to customer feedback which we truly value and use to guide our design decisions. This fall we are updating our hemp textile to a hemp cotton blend with a backing for added durability. We’ve introduced cactus leather, a plastic free material made from prickly pear cactus skin and bio resin on cotton backing, farmed with carbon negative practices. We also added Bananatex, a banana fiber fabric that resists sun, moisture, and wear. It is fully circular, biodegradable in both industrial composts and marine environments, and OEKO TEX certified. Inside our seating, we are replacing polyurethane foam with Cocolok, a natural sheet made from coconut fiber and latex that is renewable, hypoallergenic, and antimicrobial.
The way we see it, sustainability only matters if people can access it. That’s why we focus on materials that last, designs that won’t date quickly, and options that feel within reach, so sustainability is something more people can incorporate into their homes.
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What’s your favorite part about the New York sustainable community?
New York has always been our biggest customer base, so it felt natural to open our first showroom here. What I love most is how eager people are to engage, whether that’s through events, workshops, or just visiting the space. We’ve hosted everything from journaling classes to tiny couch-making workshops, and people are genuinely excited to be part of the community we’re building.
I’ve always believed it’s better to have a lot of people doing sustainability imperfectly than a small group doing it perfectly, because that creates a bigger impact overall. That’s why we focus on designs that are accessible, timeless, and classic in addition to sustainable. In New York, people are often the first to try something new, to support a young brand, or to invest in sustainable options. That openness is what makes the city so special for us.
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We love the Sabai Repair Don’t Replace program! What is the process like?
Repair Don’t Replace is one of the initiatives I’m most proud of because it extends the life of our products and keeps furniture out of landfills. The idea is simple: instead of replacing an entire sofa when something wears out, customers can order individual parts—legs, cushion inserts, slipcovers, and more. As we launch new collections, we make sure to release their corresponding component parts as well. It might not always happen immediately, but it’s something we build into the process intentionally.
What surprises a lot of people is that no other furniture company really offers this option. Selling a single part may seem small, but it’s one of the most effective ways to improve the longevity of furniture and reduce its overall environmental impact. The result is that people can refresh, repair, and love their furniture for years to come, rather than feeling forced to replace it altogether, just because their dog chewed one leg, or their kid drew on a cushion.
Do you have a favorite new Sabai product?
Right now, I’m really fond of our Bacana sofa. It hasn’t been our best seller, but it holds a special place for me. It’s not your typical living room sofa, some people have said it's better suited for an entryway, an entertaining space, or anywhere you want something sculptural and inviting. I personally love the clean lines, the warmth of the wood, and the way the design feels both modern and timeless.
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@sabai.desi