Popular Textile Brand Kufri is Branching Out

For five years, Kufri has been a go-to source for designers and design-lovers looking for beautiful, sustainable fabrics, all of which are handloom-woven in India by men and women working in village co-ops. This spring, founder Mili Suleman is expanding Kufri beyond just textiles and pillows (though here are some beautiful new minimalistic additions), applying the same handmade care and principles of wabi-sabi (a Japanese word meaning the acceptance of imperfections) to wallpaper, furniture, lamps, and lighting. “It’s almost like a challenge, really—a personal challenge,” says Suleman. “Who is Kufri beyond just handwoven textiles?”

Designers and shoppers who make an appointment will be able to see it all come together in Kufri’s first physical retail space, situated on the outskirts of the Design District, which greets visitors with a styled showroom where everything, from the hand painted wallpaper to the Yves Klein-blue ceramic lamp can be purchased on the spot.

“It’s going to be a really intimate environment and experience,” says Suleman. “We’ll actually be cross string weaving in-house when designers come in, so they can really make that connection.”