Maha Alavi Studio Ltd.

What Maha Alavi Studio Ltd. does

Maha Alavi Studio Ltd. is a privately held industrial design practice founded by Maha Alavi, operating nomadically between Toronto, Tokyo, and London. The company designs and sells handcrafted cast-metal hardware (knobs, hooks, pulls), furniture, homeware, and jewellery, organised into named design series such as CERCLE, MOMI, OLIO, LITHIC, MOORE, CUBE, and FAUNA. Production is split: cast metal pieces are made in small batches in a family-run foundry in Northern India using recycled metals, while furniture (LITHIC Lounge and Dining Chairs) is fabricated in Canada using sustainable practices; each piece is hand-sculpted in clay or wax before casting and then hand-finished.

The business operates a product-led, direct-to-consumer model through its own Shopify storefront at mahalavi.com, supplemented by a curated network of roughly ten stockists across Canada, Australia, South Korea, Switzerland, and online platforms such as Wescover and That Cool Living, with a trade/wholesale programme for design professionals. Pricing is unit-based across tiers: hardware $50-$445, homeware $145-$1,650, jewellery from $355, and made-to-order furniture from $5,250 (LITHIC Dining Chair) to $7,520 (LITHIC Lounge Chair) on 12-16 week lead times with 50% deposits on custom work. Worldwide shipping is handled via DHL and UPS.

The studio monetises brand equity built through consistent editorial coverage in design publications including Wallpaper, Architectural Digest (Middle East, Germany), Remodelista, Sight Unseen, Azure, House & Home, and Leibal, and through trade-show presence at London Design Festival, Interior Design Show Toronto, Parker Tokyo, and New York Design Week. The company remains bootstrapped and founder-owned with no disclosed external funding, no enterprise contracts, and no subscription or recurring revenue layer.

Name

Maha Alavi Studio Ltd.

Legal name

Maha Alavi Studio Ltd.

Website

https://mahalavi.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Maha Alavi Studio Ltd. is a founder-led, privately held industrial design practice that designs and sells handcrafted cast-metal hardware, furniture, homeware, and jewellery directly via its Shopify storefront and through a curated global stockist network serving design-conscious consumers and trade professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales (E-commerce): One-time purchase of handcrafted hardware, furniture, homeware, jewellery, and vintage items sold directly through the company's Shopify e-commerce storefront at mahalavi.com. Products are priced per unit; no subscription component.
2. Wholesale / Trade Sales via Stockists: Products sold through a curated network of international stockists including boutiques and design retailers in Canada, Australia, South Korea, Switzerland, and online platforms such as Wescover and That Cool Living.
3. Custom / Made-to-Order: Custom and made-to-order pieces are produced upon request, with a 50% deposit required at ordering and the remaining 50% upon delivery. Lead times are approximately 10-12 weeks for custom orders. LITHIC Lounge Chair is made-to-order with 12-16 weeks lead time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maha Alavi Studio Ltd. designs and sells handcrafted cast metal hardware (knobs, hooks, pulls, appliance pulls), sculptural homeware (bookends, bowls, candleholders, trays, vases), solid-wood furniture (LITHIC lounge and dining chairs), a small jewellery line, and a Vintage Market of sourced antiques. Each metal piece is hand-sculpted in clay or wax, cast in solid bronze or brass at a family-run foundry in Northern India, and hand-finished, with furniture fabricated in Canada using sustainable practices. Products are sold per unit through the company's own Shopify storefront and through international stockists and trade accounts, with custom and made-to-order pieces available on 10–16 week lead times.

Product overview

Maha Alavi Studio Ltd. is an industrial design practice operating between Toronto and Tokyo, offering handcrafted hardware, homeware, furniture, and jewellery. The product portfolio centers on cast metal hardware (knobs, hooks, pulls) organized into design series including CERCLE, CUBE, MOMI, MOORE, OLIO, LITHIC, and FAUNA, complemented by standalone pieces like TUBE Bookends, TOTEM Appliance Pull, and LUA Knob. Homeware includes sculptural vessels and accessories, while the furniture line features solid wood chairs. The company also offers a Material Library for finish selection and a Vintage Market sourcing antiques from Japan and Korea. All cast metal pieces are manufactured in a family-run foundry in Northern India, with furniture fabricated in Canada using sustainable practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CERCLE Series: Hardware series reimagining foundational geometry in material form.
• FAUNA Series
• ISLE Series
• LITHIC Series
• MOMI Series
• Material Library
• Jewellery
• Vintage Market

Products and services

• CERCLE Series A bestselling cast metal hardware series featuring knobs (Small from $50, Large $135) and pulls (Thin from $95, Thick $140) inspired by natural geometry. Cast from solid metal and hand-finished in brass and bronze finishes for residential and commercial interiors.
• CUBE Series A retrofuturist-inspired collection of knobs (Large, Medium, Small) distilling 1960s design ideals into a quietly confident geometric form, available in Smooth Polished Brass, Chrome, and Natural Bronze finishes.
• MOMI Series An expansive series including pulls (Long $300, standard $165), knobs/hooks (Short Mini $130, Short $170, Long Mini, Long), and bookmarks (No. 1, No. 2 at $185) inspired by the abundance and soft curves of ripe fruit, offering organic grace in various finishes.
• OLIO Series A sculptural homeware collection of vases (No. 1-5 priced $375-$425 each) and pulls (OLIO Pull No. 1 $145) born from molten metals blending natural bronze, white bronze, and brass, transforming scrap metals into sculptural art celebrating circular design.
• LITHIC Series A furniture collection including the LITHIC Lounge Chair ($7,520) and LITHIC Dining Chair ($5,250), both made-to-order with a 12-16 week lead time. Rooted in ancient craftsmanship and inspired by prehistoric forms, featuring soft exaggerated silhouettes with solid oak construction and various upholstery options.
• FOAL Knob/Hook A hardware piece inspired by the quiet majesty of wild horses, hand-sculpted and cast in solid bronze and brass, embodying grace and resilience, with dual function as both knob and hook.
• TUBE Bookends Bookends priced at $825, formed from industrial metal tubing and reminiscent of instrument and industry. Asymmetrical by design with distinct stances, available in powder-coated colors and satin stainless steel.
• TOTEM Appliance Pull An appliance pull priced at $445, inspired by Japanese Kokeshi dolls, featuring stacked forms and balanced proportions. The first design crafted specifically for appliances, adding sculptural function to kitchens.
• STAR Knob/Hook A whimsical hardware piece priced at $125, inspired by night skies and constellations, cast in solid metal with points and curves reflecting light like distant stars; functions as both knob and hook.
• PETAL Knob/Hook A hardware piece priced at $85, taking form from the ephemeral blossoms of Lisbon's jacaranda trees, featuring soft organic curves with dual function as both knob and hook.
• OVAL Knob/Hook A hardware piece embracing timeless simplicity through rounded corners and defined edges, available in polished bronze, white bronze, and matte black finishes, serving as both knob and hook.
• MOORE Tray/Catchall A functional tray/catchall priced at $325, inspired by Henry Moore's sculptural forms with soft organic curves, echoing the exploration of volume and void found in Moore's landscapes.
• MOORE Knob/Hook A hardware piece inspired by organic silhouettes in Henry Moore's sculpture gardens, serving as both hook and cabinet knob with abstract, tactile forms.
• MIRO Knob/Hook A hardware piece priced at $250, inspired by the playful imagination of Joan Miró, cast from glass and brass, serving as both hook and cabinet knob with forms that reveal new nuances with light shifts.
• LUA Knob A refined knob priced at $55, inspired by the quiet elegance of traditional Japanese fans, exploring form through subtle folds and delicate angles to capture ceremonial movement and stillness.
• Homeware Collection A homeware collection including the ANJOU Candleholder ($550), BASIN Incense Holder ($285), and FROOOT Bowl ($1,650), rooted in cast metal artistry with sculptural silhouettes and refined details.
• Hardware Collection A handcrafted hardware collection of hooks, knobs, and pulls available in brass, natural and white bronze finishes, embracing new growth with nature-inspired designs.
• Jewellery Collection A jewellery collection starting from $355 that extends the language of hardware into personal ornament, presenting a study of geometry in architecture and objects re-scaled to the body in fine metal.
• Vintage Market Vintage-sourced pieces from antique markets across Japan and Korea, carrying stories of time and tradition with heritage character, offered as part of the studio's curated catalogue.
• Furniture Collection Thoughtfully crafted furniture bringing warmth, elegance, and lasting comfort, including the LITHIC Lounge Chair and Dining Chair crafted from solid wood with refined finishes, fabricated in Canada using sustainable practices such as upcycled and recycled materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Press coverage in 12+ publications across 2021-2024 including Wallpaper Magazine, AD Middle East, Remodelista, Sight Unseen, Azure Magazine, Globe and Style, and House & Home Magazine
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Linear StandardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian boutique design retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products. Located in Australia (Oceania region).
• Casson HardwarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian hardware retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio hardware products. Based in Canada.
• Souvenir StudioscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian design retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products.
• Bradford HardwarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian hardware retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products.
• Mararamiro HomecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian home goods retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products.
• Claude HomecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian interior design retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products.
• Shop SommercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian design boutique and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products.
• FF CollectivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth Korean design retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products. Based in South Korea.
• Galerie PhiliacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss gallery and design retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products. Also listed on 1stDibs.
• That Cool LivingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline design retailer and stockist of Maha Alavi Studio products.
• WescoverminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline marketplace for designer-maker products, featuring Maha Alavi Studio as a creator.
• Petra HardwarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaha Alavi Studio hardware featured as part of Petra Hardware's curated designer hardware collection. Featured in Sight Unseen, Wallpaper Magazine, and exhibited at New York Design Week 2024.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rejuvenation: Heritage American hardware, lighting, and home furnishings brand owned by Williams-Sonoma. Comparable as a designer-grade hardware retailer with strong trade credentials, multiple finishes, and a similar cross-category strategy (hardware + furniture + home goods).
• Apparatus: New York design studio producing sculptural lighting and objects with a handcrafted, gallery-led aesthetic. Comparable for its sculptural design language, small-batch production, premium ASPs, and designer-specifier customer base.
• Ferm Living: Copenhagen-based design brand offering furniture, lighting, and home accessories with a strong craft and material narrative. Comparable for its DTC + stockist distribution, material-driven design language, and broad homeware/hardware assortment.
• Schoolhouse: American design brand offering lighting, hardware, and home goods with a strong design-editorial voice. Comparable for its DTC-first model, designer aesthetic, and cross-category product breadth (hardware, lighting, homeware) targeting design-conscious consumers.
• Rocky Mountain Hardware: U.S.-based maker of artisan bronze architectural hardware including knobs, pulls, and bath fixtures cast in solid bronze. Comparable as a designer-grade solid-metal hardware brand with a foundry-based, hand-finished production model targeting architects and high-end residential projects.
• Sun Valley Bronze: Idaho-based manufacturer of solid bronze architectural hardware, lighting, and bath products. Comparable for its small-batch bronze casting, premium positioning, and trade/specifier channel focus overlapping with Maha Alavi's trade program.
• Tom Dixon: British designer-led brand offering sculptural lighting, furniture, and home accessories with global retail and stockist presence. Comparable for its founder-led design voice, sculptural cast-metal objects, premium positioning, and global showroom/stockist strategy.
• Allied Maker: Long Island-based studio producing handcrafted lighting and objects in brass, bronze, and glass with a small-batch, made-in-America ethos. Comparable for its founder-led studio model, hand-finished metal production, and design-collector customer base.
• MENU (by Lassen / A/S Menu): Danish design brand producing furniture, lighting, and home accessories with a sculptural, minimalist aesthetic. Comparable for its designer collaborations, premium homeware assortment, and global stockist network similar to Maha Alavi's reach.

Broad incumbents

• CB2: Crate & Barrel's modern, design-forward home furnishings brand. Comparable as a competing designer homeware/hardware retailer operating at a much broader scale and lower price point than Maha Alavi, providing mass-market context for the design hardware category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mahalavi

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 Maha Alavi Studio Ltd.