Thoughtful Design
Sabai co-founder Phantila Phataraprasit ’12 is building a sustainable furniture company that does not sacrifice her customers’ values.
BY ASHLEY FESTA
Imagine furniture that’s trendy yet timeless, affordable yet considerate of the environment. While this combination might seem too good to be true, Sabai Design CEO and co-founder Phantila Phataraprasit ’12 offers selections that check all the boxes.
Phataraprasit’s inspiration for her sustainable furniture company rests on environmental durability and a desire to create comfortable, stylish spaces that “don’t sacrifice your values.”
“There’s been a shift in my generation,” she says. “People want to create a space of comfort at the end of the day — or during the day when they’re working from home — and I found that was difficult for a young professional on a budget.”
Phataraprasit was further motivated after learning about the furniture industry’s impact on the planet. She discovered that millions of tons of furniture waste end up in landfills every year, and she grew increasingly concerned about the harmful chemicals that seep into unsuspecting consumers’ skin, as well as the amount of fuel wasted by shipping imported materials across the world.
“My mom ran eco-lodges, and I grew up learning about climate change and pollution,” says Phataraprasit, who was raised in Bangkok. “I’ve been focused on sustainability in my own life, like buying secondhand clothing and eating less meat.”
After earning her B.A. in economics and political science from Columbia University in 2016 (she completed her J.D. at NYU School of Law in 2020), Phataraprasit and her co-founder, Caitlin Ellen, launched Sabai Design in 2019. The pair had initially worked together in college to found Columbia’s first credit union. Since teaming up for a second time, their company has grown steadily.
Sabai Design’s made-to-order furniture uses recycled and upcycled fabrics and plastic-free shipping. Because materials are sourced locally, the company experienced less disruption to its supply chain during the pandemic. Instead of waiting three or four months for furniture orders from most companies, Sabai’s customers typically waited only four weeks for delivery.
In addition to its mission of sustainability, Sabai prioritizes design, craftsmanship, and accessibility. And Phataraprasit is especially proud of two programs — Repair Don’t Replace and Sabai Revive — that reduce the amount of furniture sent to landfills. With a focus on extending the life of items, Repair Don’t Replace allows customers to take their furnishings apart and replace only the damaged or unwanted segments. (Imagine your pet destroys the arm of your sofa — instead of trashing the entire piece, you can simply buy a new arm.) With Sabai Revive, the company guarantees it will take back a piece of furniture, resell it, and give the customer a portion of the proceeds.
Phataraprasit cherishes the positive customer feedback she’s received, and says it validates her business and motivates her on hard days.
“There’s no roadmap,” she says. “It’s my responsibility to make things happen, and that’s the unique thing about managing my own company. It’s daunting, but also exciting and fun.”