Mantra Inspired Furniture, a Best of NeoCon award-winner, celebrates sustainability, innovation—and anticipates the future
by Danine Alati
With a steadfast commitment to sustainability at the heart of Mantra Inspired Furniture’s ethos and deeply embedded in its product development, it’s no wonder the company won 2024 Best of NeoCon Sustainability Awards in two categories for its Unity Table Collection. As Matt Cheadle, creative director at Mantra Inspired Furniture (MantraIF), succinctly puts it, “Sustainability is far more than a mere buzzword for us; it is the cornerstone of every piece we design.” He further emphasizes that as a women-owned enterprise, the company prides itself on creating commercial furniture that not only enhances interiors but also aligns with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.
that appeal to facility managers and designers who seek sustainable solutions.
In addition to its two Sustainability Awards, MantraIF also earned a Silver Award and a Business Impact Award in the Tables: Café category for the Unity Collection. Susan Pilato, president and CEO of Mantra Inspired Furniture, reflects on the impact of her company’s participation in NeoCon over the past four years, describing it as a “game changer” and expressing a desire to boost the visibility of women-owned businesses in the industry. “There are relatively few women-owned manufacturers in our sector, especially from Virginia,” she notes. “We hope our presence at NeoCon will inspire other women to explore careers in manufacturing and design.”
The award-winning Unity Collection
The Unity Café Table particularly impressed the Best of NeoCon jurors, who praise it as a “timeless design” and “beautifully simple with impressive life cycle considerations,” describing it as a “refreshing piece to learn about.” One juror highlights its merits by stating, “This pure, solid wood table appeals to designers with a sustainability focus. Its straightforward assembly (with a base that fits together), availability in both square and round top options, and flat-pack design are noteworthy. The table’s solid wood construction contributes to natural carbon sequestration, underscoring its emphasis on the durability of high-quality furniture.”
Facility managers especially like the convenience of Unity’s flat-pack shipping capabilities and ease of assembly and disassembly. Overall, the judges appreciate that the solid woods comprising the tables are all American sourced from the Appalachian region, and the Unity Collection has Declare label certification and is Red List Free. Available in four wood species—cherry, maple, walnut, and white oak—the wood planks are glued and pressed together via an eco-friendly soy-based adhesive, enhancing the product’s environmentally sustainable story, and solidifying its standing as an award-winning collection.
Future directions for a solid-woods innovator
Building on the momentum of its 2024 Best of NeoCon accolades, the MantraIF Team is developing new products in the categories of height-adjustable and custom-fit tables.
“The positive reception of our Unity Table Collection at NeoCon and the ease of specifying a solid wood table have inspired us to create a brand new catalog that will make it easier for designers to specify standard table tops with accompanying bases or legs,” Cheadle offers. “Specifying simplistic and sustainable wood and steel products should be an easy process and isn’t always the case with other manufacturers. We’re working on changing that.”
With the leadership team helmed by Pilato, a 37-year industry veteran with a degree in interior design, Cheadle adds, “We inherently understand the specific needs, preferences, and challenges that designers face. This enables us to anticipate and address their requirements and needs more effectively and efficiently.”
With facility managers and designers in mind, the MantraIF Team has begun creating affordable, high-quality electric height-adjustable tables featuring solid American hardwood tops, which Cheadle notes is a rare offering in the commercial furniture industry. A battery-powered, cordless electric base option will be available. And as always, these tables will be produced in Virginia from locally sourced materials and easy to package, ship and specify, emphasizing longevity, quality and convenience.
In parallel, the company is developing a catalog of made-to-fit tables designed to be easy to specify, assemble, ship and afford. Cheadle explains, “This catalog will provide a quality alternative source to MDF and fast furniture options on the market today. These American-sourced, designed, and manufactured tables promise quality, longevity, sustainability, and quick lead times to designers and FMs.
Upholding core principles around design
Mantra Inspired Furniture is grounded in three fundamental tenets: American craftsmanship, investment-grade furniture and sustainability. Cheadle articulates: “Our furniture is designed by designers, for designers. We collaborate with American craftspeople, whose expertise and dedication contribute to the high-quality and inspired designs we create. More than functional, our pieces embody style, modern sensibilities, and enduring quality. Each design reflects our unwavering commitment—as solid as the wood we use.”
He adds, “Our designs are rooted in environmental consciousness, and we prioritize material transparency. Unlike many veneer products that use energy-intensive substrates and chemical glues, our furniture is crafted from solid wood. This choice not only reduces environmental impact but also ensures longevity. Our pieces can be refinished multiple times, extending their life span over generations.”
The MantraIF Team designs furniture that meets the needs of specifiers and facility managers while enhancing end-user experience. The solid American hardwood construction of these pieces ensures durability and longevity, reducing the frequency of replacements and maintenance, thereby minimizing disruptions. Additionally, when changes are needed, the straightforward assembly and reassembly of their pieces facilitate workspace adaptability, boosting productivity.
In alignment with the focus on neurodiversity in design, MantraIF uses natural textures and warm tones to create sensory-friendly environments. Cheadle adds, “Ensuring that our furniture is Red List Free also supports individuals with sensitivities or conditions such as autism, where exposure to chemicals can trigger adverse reactions.” This also ensures that its products do not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), thereby improving indoor air quality and reducing headaches, respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
With its premier principle of environmental sustainability guiding every stage of design, production, delivery and end-of-life, Mantra Inspired Furniture expertly crafts high-quality, American-made solid hardwood furniture that not only earns prestigious awards from competitions like the Best of NeoCon but also enhances end-user productivity and well-being while maintaining a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Danine Alati is a contract industry writer and editor with over 20 years experience and is an associate project manager with the Best of NeoCon product competition.