Maharam Fabric
Maharam Fabric is a 120+ year-old textile design firm that engineers and distributes performance-driven upholstery, leather, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtain, window covering, rugs, and digital wall installations for architects, interior designers, and contract-furniture manufacturers, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the MillerKnoll collective.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1902
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Maharam Fabric does
Maharam Fabric is a 120+ year-old textile design and manufacturing company that researches, engineers, designs, and develops performance-driven textiles for commercial and residential interiors. Founded in 1902 by Louis Maharam, a Russian immigrant, the company transitioned from theatrical costume and set design in the 1940s to pioneering performance-driven commercial textiles in the 1960s. Today it operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within the MillerKnoll collective alongside sister brands Knoll Textiles and Edelman Leather (premium leather sourced from boutique tanneries in Northern Italy). Its product portfolio spans eight categories: upholstery, leather, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtain, window covering, rugs, and Maharam Digital Projects (large-scale artist-driven wall installations). The company serves architects, interior designers, and contract-furniture manufacturers as its primary enterprise segment, with secondary high-end residential distribution through partners including Design Within Reach and Herman Miller.
The business model is B2B-centric with selective D2C exposure. Maharam sells through direct company showrooms in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London; through its maharam.com e-commerce site; through 70+ furniture-manufacturer channel partners (Haworth, Herman Miller, HAY, Arper, Dauphin, Kimball); and through 30+ retail partners globally (MoMA Store, Tate, Cooper Hewitt, 1stdibs). Unit pricing ranges from $28 to $9,779 per piece depending on category and designer collaboration. The company's technical differentiation rests on material-science-led features such as rapidly degradable polyester (3-5 year anaerobic degradation without harmful additives), PFAS-free stain repellency validated by Harvard University research (leading to a peer-reviewed 2023 AATCC publication), and the broadest portfolio of environmental certifications in the contract-textile segment (ISO 14001 for 20+ years, Cradle to Cradle, Greenscreen, Greenguard Gold, EU Ecolabel, Oeko-Tex, Facts).
Customer acquisition is built on a network of 80+ long-tenured designer collaborations, including a 20+ year partnership with Paul Smith, and heritage reissues of 20th-century design icons (Alexander Girard, Anni Albers, Charles and Ray Eames, Gio Ponti, Koloman Moser). Maharam textiles sit in the permanent collections of MoMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Stedelijk Museum, and the brand received the 2007 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Design Patron Award. The company engages architects and designers through content marketing (maharam.com stories platform), social (Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest), industry events (NeoCon, Fulton Market Design Days, 3daysofdesign, Frieze New York), educational programs (RISD Maharam STEAM Fellowship since 2012; Free Arts NYC internships since 2021), and ESG-led product positioning (LEED/WELL building credit compatibility, carbon offsetting through UPS, 500,000+ lbs landfill diversion since 2020).
Maharam Fabric firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maharam Fabric
- Legal name
- Maharam
- Website
- https://maharam.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1902
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Maharam Fabric is a 120+ year-old textile design firm that engineers and distributes performance-driven upholstery, leather, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtain, window covering, rugs, and digital wall installations for architects, interior designers, and contract-furniture manufacturers, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the MillerKnoll collective.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maharam Fabric industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Textiles
- NAICS
- Textile Furnishings Mills (3141), Curtain and Linen Mills (31412), Curtain and Linen Mills (314120), Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (459130)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Wholesale-Furniture & Home Furnishings (5020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Upholstery & Furniture Textiles Manufacturing (Upholstery Fabrics/Slipcovers) (IMAOAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Decorative & Soft Furnishings Manufacturing (Cushion Covers/Throws/Quilts) (IMAOAKAG), Window Coverings Manufacturing (Curtains/Drapes/Sheers/Valances) (IMAOAKAC), Soft Home Décor Textiles Retail (Throws, Blankets, Cushion Covers) (CRAIALAG), Upholstery & Drapery Fabric Retail (CRALADAI)
Keywords
Where Maharam Fabric is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Maharam Fabric business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Textile Product Sales: Direct sales of upholstery, leather, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtain, window covering, rugs, and digital project textiles through e-commerce and showrooms. Revenue generated from both finished textile products and custom digital projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Upholstery products ranging from $28 to $9,779 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rugs ranging from $45 per sq ft to $10,764 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Leather products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Textile products by square foot |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Maharam Fabric product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maharam designs, engineers, and distributes performance-driven textiles for commercial and residential interiors. Its product portfolio spans upholstery, leather, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtains, window coverings, and rugs, offered under the Maharam brand along with sub-brands Edelman Leather and Knoll Textiles. The company operates as part of the MillerKnoll collective and sells direct through e-commerce, company showrooms, and a network of furniture manufacturer and retail partners.
Product overview
Maharam Fabric operates as a diversified textile company with a portfolio of brands and product categories. The primary Maharam brand offers upholstery, leather, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtain, window covering, and rugs for commercial interiors. Subsidiary brands include Edelman Leather (premium leather tiles and upholstery) and Knoll Textiles (commercial textiles). The company also maintains Maharam Digital Projects featuring large-scale wall installations by artists. All brands are part of the MillerKnoll collective. The products are unified through the Maharam Design Studio which governs research, engineering, design, and development with focus on four themes: utility, technology, tradition, and luxury.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Edelman: Leather products brand under Maharam offering leather upholstery and tiles.
- Knoll Textiles
Products and services
- Maharam Upholstery Woven and nonwoven upholstery fabrics for commercial and residential furniture, available in wool, cotton, linen, polyester, acrylic, and solution-dyed fibers with pricing from $28 (Scalar) to $9,779 (premium designer collaborations).
- Maharam Leather Premium leather products including standard, embossed, nubuck, suede, and haired hide finishes, sourced from Western Europe and produced in Europe for commercial and residential applications.
- Maharam Wallcovering Wallcovering solutions including nonwoven wallcovering, performance woven wallcovering, natural wallcovering, and wallpaper products, with Maharam Digital Projects featuring collaborations with artists and designers for digitally printed wall installations.
- Maharam Panel Panel textiles for systems furniture and upholstered walls, designed for commercial interiors with acoustical and tackable performance properties.
- Maharam Privacy Curtain Privacy curtains for healthcare and commercial settings, designed for bleach cleanability and various flammability requirements including CAL 117, NFPA 260, and EN 1021.
- Maharam Window Covering Window treatment textiles available in various opacities from sheer to opaque, including collaborations with designers like Alexander Girard and Gio Ponti.
- Maharam Rugs Area rugs and floor coverings including woven, tufted, braided, felted, and knotted constructions in wool, cotton, and polyester, ranging from $45/sq ft (Hustle by Bertjan Pot) to $10,764 (Compose by Edith van Berkel).
- Maharam Digital Projects Large-scale digital wall installations created by emerging and established artists and designers, digitally printed on textiles, featuring collaborations with over 80 artists for commercial interior spaces.
- Textiles of the 20th Century Heritage collection faithfully reissuing designs by modern design icons including Koloman Moser, Anni Albers, Alexander Girard, Charles and Ray Eames, and Gio Ponti, spanning upholstery, wallcovering, and window covering.
- Edelman Leather Premium leather brand specializing in high-quality leather tiles and upholstery, sourced primarily from small boutique tanneries in Northern Italy, with Leather Working Group certified tanneries.
- Knoll Textiles Textile brand offering upholstery, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtain, and window covering products for commercial interiors, part of the MillerKnoll collective and a sister brand under Maharam.
Quantifiable outcome
- 300,000+ sampling tools reclaimed annually
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Maharam Fabric
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Maharam Fabric technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Maharam Fabric partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Free Arts NYCminorDesign studio partnership hosting paid internships for high school and college students interested in textile and graphic design.
- Harvard UniversitycorePartnership to evaluate efficacy of PFAS in stain-repellent textiles. Study corroborated Maharam's internal findings that textiles without PFAS finishes offered comparable cleanability. Study co-authored with Green Science Policy Institute.
- Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)coreMaharam STEAM Fellowship partnership supporting RISD students working in arenas not typically associated with art and design. Since 2021, fellowships support projects advancing social progress and environmental safeguarding. Over decade-long partnership.
- MillerKnollflagshipMaharam is part of the MillerKnoll collective, a global leader in design and manufacturing of furniture and textiles. MillerKnoll encompasses Knoll, Herman Miller, Edelman Leather, and other design brands.
- Knoll TextilescoreKnoll Textiles is a sister brand under Maharam/MillerKnoll, offering complementary textile products including upholstery, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtain, and window covering. Products cross-reference and are available through combined search filters.
- EdelmancoreEdelman is Maharam's leather brand, specializing in premium leathers sourced from boutique tanneries in Northern Italy. Edelman and Maharam share environmental positions and supply chain practices.
- Green Science Policy InstitutecoreCollaborated with Betsy Phillips (Maharam director) on peer-reviewed study finding PFAS finishes afforded negligible stain repellence benefits. Published in AATCC Journal of Research April 2023.
- NikeminorCollaborative work extending Maharam's creative reach beyond textiles into athletic and lifestyle product collaborations.
- VitracoreLong-term collaboration including Maharam Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius, Maharam Edition Artek Stool 60, and ongoing product collaborations. Vitra is a key furniture manufacturing partner.
- Herman MillercoreOne of 70+ industry partners distributing Knoll Textiles and Maharam products. Herman Miller is part of the MillerKnoll collective.
- HaworthcoreGlobal furniture manufacturer offering Knoll Textiles and Maharam products through their dealer network.
- 70+ Furniture ManufacturerscoreIndustry partners including Arper, Dauphin, HAY, Kimball, Knoll, and others offering Knoll Textiles and Maharam products. Full list of 70+ partners available.
- Serpentine GalleriescoreMaharam Serpentine Galleries Wallpaper program creating limited edition wallcoverings. Partnership includes retail availability at Serpentine Galleries shops and exhibitions at Frieze New York.
- Design Within ReachcorePrimary retail partner for Maharam residential products, offering direct-to-consumer access through stores and e-commerce.
- UPS Carbon Offset ProgramminorCarbon offsetting through UPS shipping partner funding environmental projects including Amazon Rainforest Conservation, Gola Rainforest National Park, wind power in China/India/Nicaragua/Turkey.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Maharam Fabric competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Knoll Textiles: Sister brand under the MillerKnoll collective offering overlapping commercial textile categories (upholstery, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtain, window covering). Most directly comparable peer given shared parent, distribution channels, and product taxonomy.
- Designtex: U.S. commercial textile company producing applied surface solutions (upholstery, wallcovering, privacy curtain, panel) for healthcare, education, and corporate interiors. Closely aligned product portfolio and customer base to Maharam's commercial interiors segment.
- Carnegie Fabrics: U.S. manufacturer of high-performance commercial textiles serving healthcare, hospitality, and corporate interiors with comparable sustainability certifications (Cradle to Cradle, Greenguard). Directly comparable in product categories and specification-driven GTM.
- Kvadrat: Danish premium textile manufacturer with designer-led collections (including long-running partnerships with Raf Simons, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec) and strong presence in European commercial and residential interiors. Comparable premium positioning and design-led collaboration model.
- Camira Fabrics: U.K.-based manufacturer of contract textiles for commercial interiors with sustainability positioning (including recycled polyester lines). Directly comparable in commercial specification channels, performance requirements, and environmental certifications.
- Wolf-Gordon: U.S. commercial textile and wallcovering company serving architects and designers with comparable product categories (upholstery, wallcovering, privacy curtain) and specification-driven sales motion.
- Luna Textiles: U.S. commercial textile manufacturer focused on high-performance, sustainable fabrics for healthcare, hospitality, and corporate environments. Comparable product mix and customer segments.
- Arc|Com: U.S. manufacturer of architectural textiles for commercial interiors, with strength in acoustic and panel fabrics for healthcare, education, and corporate spaces. Comparable specification channel and product categories.
- Brentano Fabrics: U.S. textile company producing contract and residential fabrics with a designer-collaboration model and a similar product range (upholstery, drapery, wallcovering). Comparable target customer and GTM approach.
- HBF Textiles: U.S. commercial textile brand with designer collaborations and specification focus on healthcare, hospitality, and workplace interiors. Comparable in product mix, channel strategy, and customer profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Maharam Fabric social profiles
Digital presenceMaharam Fabric compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance14 records
Maharam Fabric financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maharam Fabric leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Maharam Fabric subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Maharam Fabric funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maharam Fabric M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Maharam Fabric
What does Maharam Fabric do?
Maharam designs, engineers, and distributes performance-driven textiles for commercial and residential interiors. Its product portfolio spans upholstery, leather, wallcovering, panel, privacy curtains, window coverings, and rugs, offered under the Maharam brand along with sub-brands Edelman Leather and Knoll Textiles. The company operates as part of the MillerKnoll collective and sells direct through e-commerce, company showrooms, and a network of furniture manufacturer and retail partners.
Is Maharam Fabric a public or private company?
Maharam Fabric is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Maharam Fabric founded?
Maharam Fabric was founded in 1902. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Maharam Fabric based?
Maharam Fabric is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Maharam Fabric make money?
One revenue line is on record: textile Product Sales.
Who are Maharam Fabric's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Knoll Textiles, Designtex, Carnegie Fabrics, Kvadrat, Camira Fabrics, Wolf-Gordon, Luna Textiles, Arc|Com, Brentano Fabrics and HBF Textiles.
Does Maharam Fabric have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maharam Fabric.
What industry is Maharam Fabric in?
Maharam Fabric's product category is Commercial Textiles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOAKAD, Upholstery & Furniture Textiles Manufacturing (Upholstery Fabrics/Slipcovers), with a secondary code of IMAOAKAG, Decorative & Soft Furnishings Manufacturing (Cushion Covers/Throws/Quilts). Its NAICS code is 3141 and its SIC code is 2300.