Sabai Design

What Sabai Design does

Sabai Design is a New York-based, privately held direct-to-consumer furniture company that designs, manufactures, and sells modular, made-to-order upholstered furniture using sustainable materials. Founded in 2018 by co-founders Phantila Phataraprasit (CEO) and Caitlin Ellen, the company operates from sabai.design and ships across the United States via FedEx, with manufacturing handled through family-owned partners in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Michigan. Its product portfolio spans five core seating collections (Essential, Elevate, Eclipse, Evergreen, Bacana) plus tables, home decor, and modular add-ons (expansion kits, replacement components, slipcovers), priced from $425 for an ottoman up to $5,995 for a premium sectional.

The company's proprietary technology centers on certified sustainable materials — including Recycled Velvet (100% post-consumer PET, Global Recycled Standard 4.0 and OEKO-TEX certified), Upcycled Poly (Greenguard Gold), Hemp Blend (Organic Content Standard 3.0), Cactus Leather (Desserto partnership), and Carbon Smart Wood salvaged from the U.S. Midwest — combined with FSC-certified plywood frames, CertiPUR-US foam, and PFAS-free fabrics. Sabai's modular architecture underpins two circular-economy programs: Repair Don't Replace, which sells individual replaceable parts, and Sabai Revive, the first U.S. furniture buyback program, operated in partnership with Floorfound for returned inventory resale.

Sabai generates revenue primarily through one-time DTC e-commerce sales of made-to-order furniture, supplemented by replacement-part sales and secondhand resale at up to 50% off original pricing. Customers customize products online, can order up to six free fabric swatches, and access bundle discounts of approximately 10% on living room packages. The company is B Corp certified, FSC-certified, and ANSI/BIFMA X5.4 contract-grade rated for 10+ years of use. Marketing relies on the owned "Green House" blog, earned media in Wirecutter, Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, and similar publications, plus Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Funding to date consists of a single seed round from NYU Innovation Venture Fund in October 2022, and the company maintains a Trade Program for interior designers as a secondary B2B channel.

Name

Sabai Design

Website

https://sabai.design

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sabai Design is a New York-based, privately held DTC furniture company that designs, manufactures, and sells modular, made-to-order upholstered furniture using certified sustainable materials such as recycled velvet, hemp blend, and cactus leather, serving eco-conscious consumers and small-space dwellers across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Direct Furniture Sales: Direct-to-consumer e-commerce sales of sustainable furniture including sofas, sectionals, chairs, ottomans, tables, and decor. Products are made to order and shipped directly to customers. Revenue generated from one-time hardware sales with no subscription component.
2. Replacement Components: Sales of individual replacement parts (legs, cushion inserts, slipcovers, arms) through the Repair Don't Replace program. Enables recurring revenue from existing customer base without new customer acquisition.
3. Sabai Revive Resale: Buyback program where company purchases used furniture from customers, then resells as secondhand. Open box and revive pieces sold at up to 50% off original price.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sabai Design manufactures and sells made-to-order sustainable upholstered furniture (sofas, sectionals, sleeper sofas, chairs, ottomans, tables) and home decor directly to consumers through its e-commerce site. The company uses eco-friendly materials including recycled velvet from PET bottles, organic hemp blend, upcycled poly, cactus leather, and FSC-certified wood, and offers modular, repairable designs. It also operates circular economy programs including a buyback/resale service (Sabai Revive) and replacement components (Repair Don't Replace) to extend product lifecycle.

Product overview

Sabai Design is a sustainable furniture company offering a multi-collection portfolio of modular, made-to-order upholstered furniture. The core product lines include the Essential Collection (foundational low-profile seating), Elevate Collection (modern modular sofas with expansion capability), Eclipse Collection (convertible sleeper furniture), Evergreen Collection (hemp-based seating), and Bacana Collection (Brazilian mid-century inspired lounge seating). Supporting products include coffee and side tables, home decor (rugs, pillows, dog beds), and add-on modules such as slipcovers, replacement components, and expansion kits. The company operates circular economy programs including Sabai Revive (buyback/resale) and Repair Don't Replace (individual parts replacement) to extend furniture lifecycle. All products are made in the USA using FSC-certified wood, PFAS-free fabrics, and non-toxic materials, with B Corp certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Essential Collection: Low profile, firm but comfortable furniture collection featuring sofas, sectionals, loveseats, and chairs with removable and washable covers.
• The Elevate Collection
• The Eclipse Collection
• The Evergreen Collection
• The Bacana Collection
• Sabai Revive

Products and services

• Essential Collection Foundational furniture line featuring low-profile sofas, sectionals, loveseats, club chairs, chairs, and ottomans with FSC-certified plywood frames, CertiPUR-US foam, and PFAS-free fabrics. Starting at $1,395 for Essential Loveseat.
• Elevate Collection Modern modular seating line including sofas, sectionals, loveseats, daybeds, chairs, and ottomans with clean lines, deep seating, and curved arms. Features modular design allowing expansion via kits. Elevate 86" Sofa priced $2,895–$4,595. Recognized by Wirecutter as a top sofa pick.
• Eclipse Collection Convertible sleeper sofas and chairs that transform into queen or twin XL beds in under 5 minutes using a fold-out mechanism with CertiPUR-US certified high resiliency foam. Eclipse Sleeper Sofa priced $2,595–$2,845. Named 'Best Sleeper Sofa' by Apartment Therapy.
• Evergreen Collection Seating collection featuring FSC-certified maple wood frames, removable slipcovers, and storage options. Includes sofas, loveseats, chairs, ottomans, and storage ottomans in hemp blend fabric.
• Bacana Collection Lounge seating collection inspired by Brazilian mid-century design featuring FSC-certified maple wood frames with exposed hardware. Includes armchairs, lounge chairs, loveseats, sofas, and ottomans with plush removable cushions. Bacana Armchair at $1,195–$1,225.
• Coffee Tables Sustainably crafted coffee tables in FSC-certified and Carbon Smart woods including the Milestone Table (oval, rectangle, circle, square shapes) and City Table. Feature low-VOC finishes and carbon-smart wood materials. The Milestone Table priced $775–$825; City Table at $625.
• Semi Side Table Half-moon shaped side table designed to complement Essential Seating Collection. Hand-made in Michigan by local artisans with FSC-certified White Oak, Carbon Smart Cherry wood, and non-toxic VOC-free oil stain. Priced at $495.
• The Field Rug Sustainable rug made with eco-friendly materials, available in 6 colors at $525.
• The Dog Bed Eco-friendly pet bed featuring removable washable cover stuffed with shredded natural latex and recycled poly fiber, encased in organic waterproof cotton cover. Available in Hemp Blend and Recycled Velvet fabrics in multiple sizes. Priced $245–$365.
• Living Room Bundles Pre-configured furniture bundles offering approximately 10% savings including Living Room Bundle - Sofa (sofa + centerpiece + chair) at $4,063.50, Living Room Bundle - Sectional at $3,433.50, and Elevate Sleeper Bundle at $3,051.00.
• Sabai Revive Buyback Program First U.S. furniture buyback program enabling customers to resell their Sabai furniture back to the company for store credit. Resold as secondhand or open-box items at up to 50% off original price, supporting a closed-loop circular economy model.
• Repair Don't Replace Program Program offering individual replacement parts (legs from $12–$18, cushion inserts from $85, cushion covers from $65, slipcovers, arms, bases, and rails) for all furniture collections to enable repair instead of replacement and extend product lifespan.

Quantifiable outcome

• All seating tested to withstand at least 10 years of regular use
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Desserto (Cactus Leather)coreTechnology or IntegrationDesserto is a Mexico-based company providing Sabai's cactus leather, a revolutionary 100% plant-based, animal-free leather made from 40% Prickly Pear Cactus Skin and 60% Bio-polymer from organic renewable compounds.
• FloorfoundminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Floorfound to help resell open box and returned furniture pieces, supporting the circular economy model and Sabai Revive program.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Burrow: Direct-to-consumer modular furniture brand offering configurable sofas, sectionals, and chairs with similar made-to-order shipping. Closely comparable to Sabai on GTM (DTC-only, online customization), modular design philosophy, and target eco- and design-conscious urban buyer.
• Joybird: DTC customizable furniture company offering made-to-order upholstery with a similar customization flow to Sabai's. Competes on sectional/sofa configurators and is owned by La-Z-Boy, giving it deeper capital and faster shipping than Sabai.
• Floyd: Detroit-based DTC modular furniture maker (The Floyd Sofa, bed frames) emphasizing durability, modularity, and direct-to-consumer sales. Highly comparable to Sabai on modular-repairable positioning, made-in-USA sourcing, and sustainability narrative.
• Article: DTC modern furniture brand selling sofas, sectionals, chairs, and tables directly online with comparable price points and customer demographic. Direct competitor on style, lead time, and online purchase experience for the mid-market sustainable-curious buyer.
• Maiden Home: Premium DTC upholstery brand selling made-in-USA sofas and sectionals at higher price points ($2,000–$6,000+), comparable to Sabai's Elevate tier. Competes on quality, craftsmanship narrative, and direct-to-consumer craftsmanship.
• Inside Weather: Sacramento-based DTC custom furniture brand offering made-to-order sofas with sustainable material options, similar target buyer, and customization UX. Direct peer in the customizable sustainable furniture niche.
• Medley Home: Sustainable DTC furniture brand using FSC-certified wood, GOTS-certified fabrics, and non-toxic finishes — overlapping with Sabai on sustainable materials, made-in-USA sourcing, and eco-conscious buyer segment.

Emerging players

• Apt2B: Affordable DTC furniture brand targeting apartment and small-space dwellers with sectionals and sofa bundles — directly comparable to Sabai's small-space-dweller segment and bundle-discount model.
• Avocado: Certified B Corporation selling non-toxic, sustainably sourced mattresses and bedding with adjacent furniture products. Comparable on sustainability certifications, B Corp status, and eco-conscious buyer, though Avocado is more mature and mattress-led.
• The Citizenry: DTC home furnishings brand emphasizing sustainable materials and global artisan production with comparable design-led, sustainability-credentialed positioning. Adjacent competitor for the eco-conscious modern home buyer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sabai_design
• Facebookfacebook.com/sabai.design
• Instagraminstagram.com/sabai.design
• Pinterestpinterest.com/sabaidesign

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sabai Design