Direct-to-consumer home goods brand The Citizenry has expanded into custom furnishings with a new made-to-order upholstered bed collection. The company, which began as a soft goods maker, dipped a toe into furniture with occasional pieces such as side tables and benches, as well as some seating and headboards. This will be its first complete bed offering.
“After finding successes in smaller pieces, we saw an appetite for larger, statement furniture and couldn’t think of a better place to start than the bedroom,” said Citizenry founders Carly Nance and Rachel Bentley. “Our assortment of bedding has really resonated with our customers, who continue to come back for more, and we wanted to be able to offer a whole room assortment that upheld the same Fair Trade standards and craftsmanship that we are known for.”
The line includes three designs—the Drift, Laurel and Ridge—available in nine different linen or linen/cotton blend upholstery options, with sustainably sourced American maple and walnut accents. The Citizenry partnered with a North Carolina workshop to produce the beds domestically.
“When searching for the best furniture artisans worldwide, we found them in North Carolina. Here the craftsmanship goes back generations and each piece is still made by hand,” said Nance and Bentley. “Our artisan partners on this project are extremely passionate about their craft, using only solid FSC-certified maple and walnut that is sustainably sourced. With so many furniture pieces on the market crafted with low-quality stained wood or veneers, we wanted to offer a collection that truly celebrates these natural materials and American craftsmanship.”
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Working with small-batch artisans has been a focus for The Citizenry. Late last year, the company launched a rug line in partnership with The Afghanistan Project, which helps women find a sense of agency and earn income practicing traditional rug-weaving techniques.
With this furniture collection, Nance and Bentley said they’re taking that small batch concept to the next level by offering custom-made pieces. Along with using FSC-certified wood for the beds, these pieces were designed to be sustainable by lasting for years to come, avoiding ending up in a landfill.
“While we know that ‘small batch’ is usually better, custom-ordered pieces are truly the smallest batch you can invest in,” they said. “By offering custom-made furniture, we can eliminate the waste typically incurred in material sourcing or extra products. As the trend cycles continue to change quickly and fast-furniture expands, we hope to be a leader in conscious consumerism, offering an alternative with these timeless designs without the environmental impact.”
The Citizenry’s upholstered bed collection is available now on the company’s website, ranging in price from $2,595-$5,895.