What WDS does

WDS Designer Natural Shades is a Carlsbad, California-based private manufacturer of custom woven natural window shades. Founded around 2000 by Michael Sarkin and serving the interior design trade since 2005, the company designs and produces artisan shade products hand-woven on traditional hand looms from natural fibers including jute, bamboo, reed, and grasses. Its core technology is a patented proprietary cordless operating system engineered specifically for woven natural shades, supporting Roman, Old/Waterfall, and Top-Down/Bottom-Up configurations, with motorization compatibility extended through integrations with Lutron and Somfy.

The product portfolio is organized into three collections — Avalon, Galaxy, and Dynasty — together offering roughly 100+ colorways and patterns, alongside four shade styles: Old Style, Roman Style, Woven Roller, and Top-Down-Only. Orders are custom, quote-based, and delivered with a 2-3 week lead time. The revenue model is one-time sale per custom shade, with sample presentation units offered at fixed price points.

Go-to-market is sales-led and B2B-direct, targeting three primary customer segments — interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window coverings specialty companies — through the company's own website, sample requests, and ASID trade-channel credentials. The business operates with 1-10 employees, serves only the United States market, has raised no external funding, and has no disclosed revenue, acquisition, or leadership-change events in the available record.

Name

WDS

Legal name

WDS Designer Natural Shades

Website

https://wds-shades.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WDS Designer Natural Shades is a Carlsbad, California manufacturer of custom hand-woven natural window shades sold through a direct B2B trade model to interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window covering specialty companies across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Woven Natural Window Shades

NAICS

Blind and Shade Manufacturing (337920), Blind and Shade Manufacturing (33792)

akta.pro primary industry

Window Treatments & Shading Systems (Blinds, Shades, Awnings) (IMADAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Window Coverings Manufacturing (Curtains/Drapes/Sheers/Valances) (IMAOAKAC)

Keywords

• Woven natural shades
• Custom window treatments
• Interior design trade
• Cordless window shades
• Natural fiber shades

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlsbad

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Natural Shades: WDS Designer Natural Shades generates revenue through the sale of custom woven natural shade products. They offer three collections (Avalon, Galaxy, Dynasty) with various style options (Old Style, Roman Style, Woven Roller, Top-Down-Only) and operate on a made-to-order basis with a 2-3 week lead time. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed on the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

WDS designs and manufactures custom hand-woven natural window shades made from natural fibers including jute, bamboo, reed, and grasses, crafted by skilled artisans on traditional hand looms. The company sells its products through three collections (Avalon, Galaxy, Dynasty) and multiple shade styles (Old Style, Roman Style, Woven Roller, Top-Down-Only) to interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window coverings specialty companies on a made-to-order basis with a 2-3 week lead time. A patented proprietary cordless operating system distinguishes the product line by eliminating lift cords for safety and streamlined styling.

Product overview

WDS Designer Natural Shades is a manufacturer of custom woven natural shades crafted from natural fibers such as jute, bamboo, reed, and grasses, hand-woven by skilled artisans on traditional hand looms. The product portfolio consists of three main shade collections (Avalon, Galaxy, and Dynasty) that offer different fabric line options and colorways. These collections are available in four distinct shade styles: Old Style (modern classic with fabric cascading off front of headrail), Roman Style (traditional with fabric falling off back of headrail), Woven Roller (contemporary rollershade), and Top-Down-Only (for preserving views while maintaining privacy). The company also offers a proprietary cordless operating system that eliminates lift cords for safety and streamlined styling, available across multiple shade styles and collections. Products serve interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window coverings specialty companies with a 2-to-3 week lead time.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Avalon Collection: Natural shades collection featuring various woven patterns and colors including Aaya, Aria, Balboa, Bartlett, Belden, Bowery, Galine, Hayes, Hyde, Kipling, Larkin, Lexington, Lombard, Montgomery, Moraga, Omo, Portola, Sloan, Tanuka, Valencia, Waverly, Andover, Arendal, Belmont, Calgary, Claremont, Easton, Florence, Gibson, Hampton, Lenox, Marbella, Milan, Palermo, Phoenix, Seville, Tivoli, Verona, and international-inspired patterns such as Botswana, Buzen, Chalayan, Cocos, Daisen, Delphi, Gumanti, Hoku, Imari, Isamu, Kahlo, Libya, Liyama, Mali, Malta, Miro, Mohave, Otahiti, Ozu, Rumoi, Sasarido, Shizen, Srilanka, Sumo, Tokai, Yaizu, Zegna, Emmi, and Sierra Leone.
• Galaxy Collection
• Dynasty Collection

Products and services

• Avalon Collection A collection of woven natural shade fabrics featuring numerous colorways such as Aaya, Aria, Balboa, Bartlett, Belden, Bowery, Galine, Hayes, Hyde, Kipling, Larkin, Lexington, Lombard, Montgomery, Moraga, Omo, Portola, Sloan, Tanuka, Valencia, Waverly, Andover, Arendal, Belmont, Calgary, Claremont, Easton, Florence, Gibson, Hampton, Lenox, Marbella, Milan, Palermo, Phoenix, Seville, Tivoli, Verona, and additional international-inspired fabric lines. Max width of 144 inches for select shades. Available for interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window coverings specialty companies.
• Galaxy Collection A collection of woven natural shade fabrics featuring patterns such as Argos, Zagoli Sienna, Kyoto Russet/Frost, Edessa Cream, Mesabi White, Bamboo Harvest, Aris Wheat, Lulea Snow, Avedon, Serenity Mist, Bengali Sand, Boras Snow, Amour Wheat, Arroyo Thunder/Gray/Pale Smoke, Goya Dawn/Wheat, Zeffa, Moncton, Surroy, Kuwada, Lakeshore, Essex, Hudson, Timmins, Luxor, Lyon, Giza, Chatou, Sanoma, Kingston, Zaria, Dawson, Winnipeg, and additional fabric lines. Max width of 120 inches for select shades. Available for trade customers.
• Dynasty Collection A premium woven natural shade collection featuring patterns such as Cortina, Beijin, Yunan, Lhasa, Meteor, Techno, Prarie, Ningxia, Hampton, Tibet, Classic Braid, Sand Dune, Chelsea, Seawave, Havana, Crosswave, Senegal, Comoros, and other fabric lines. Available for trade customers.
• Old Style Shade Modern classic shade style that is simple and clean, with the shade fabric cascading off the front of the headrail. The control is located behind the shade fabric. Includes a complimentary 4-inch back valance for inside mount. Available with continuous nylon rope, metal chain, or cordless system. Sold to interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window coverings specialty companies.
• Roman Style Shade Traditional aesthetic shade style where the shade fabric falls off the back of the headrail for even more light control and coverage. The control is located forward for easier access. Includes a front 6-inch valance. Available with continuous nylon rope, metal chain, or cordless system. Sold to interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window coverings specialty companies.
• Woven Roller Shade Architecturally simple contemporary rollershade style that is both beautiful and highly functional. Rolls up for a minimalistic profile and lesser stack height. Available with continuous nylon rope or metal chain. Sold to interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window coverings specialty companies.
• Top-Down-Only Shade Configuration ideal for rooms where you want to preserve a view, control light, and maintain privacy. This Roman shade operates from the top-down only via continuous cord or metal chain. Top-Down and Bottom-Up is available via the cordless control system for Galaxy and Dynasty Collections only. Sold to interior designers, custom drapery workrooms, and window coverings specialty companies.
• Cordless System Patented proprietary cordless operating system specific for woven natural shades. Eliminates lift cords for premium safety and streamlined styling. Shades lift evenly at any height and operate by gently pushing or pulling the center of the bottom hem bar. Minimum width 16 inches, maximum width 96 inches, maximum height 96 inches. Available in Roman Style, Old/Waterfall Style, and Top-Down/Bottom-Up configurations for Dynasty and Galaxy Collections. Sold to trade customers.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• 3 Day Blinds: Custom manufacturer and retailer of window coverings (blinds, shades, shutters) with in-home design consultation and quick lead times. Direct competitor in the made-to-measure shades space, with similar trade consumer targeting.
• Smith & Noble: Custom window coverings company offering made-to-order shades, blinds, and drapery including woven wood and Roman shade products. Sells through both consumer and trade channels, directly comparable to WDS's custom-shade B2B model.
• Hartmann & Forbes: Specialty manufacturer of handwoven natural window coverings from natural fibers like jute, bamboo, and grasses, with deep roots in the interior design trade. The closest direct competitor to WDS in the woven natural shade category, serving the same designer/specifier channel.
• The Shade Store: Major US custom window treatments retailer/manufacturer offering Roman shades, woven shades, and other window coverings to residential and trade customers. Operates in the same custom-made-to-measure window covering category as WDS with overlapping product types.
• Lafayette Interior Fashions: US manufacturer of custom window treatments including Roman shades, woven shades, and drapery. Direct competitor in the custom-trade designer channel with overlapping product offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Hunter Douglas: Global market leader in window coverings including blinds, shades (Roman, roller, cellular), and shutters across a broad portfolio. Dominates the broader category WDS competes in, but does not specialize in handwoven natural shades.
• Budget Blinds: Largest US franchisor of custom window coverings, offering blinds, shades, and shutters through a national franchise network. Indirect competitor to WDS in custom shades but operating at much broader scale and budget positioning.
• Norman Window Fashions: Global manufacturer of custom window coverings including wood blinds, faux wood, shades, and shutters. Larger player with broader product range and global presence, overlapping with WDS on natural-look shade options.
• Springs Window Fashions: Manufacturer of branded window coverings (Bali, Graber, Mecho, SWFcontract) including cellular shades, Roman shades, and woven/bamboo-style products. Competes with WDS for designers and dealer relationships across multiple price points.

Others

• Lutron Electronics: Dominant provider of lighting and motorized shading control systems, including a proprietary shade portfolio (Serena, Sivoia). Strategic technology partner of WDS (smart-home motorization integration) but also a competitor via its own shade line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 WDS