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The Bird sofa, by manufacturer and retailer EQ3
Words by: Julie Taraska October 05, 2023

We are shaped by the physical environment in which we live. In the case of EQ3, which manufactures and sells residential and commercial furnishings, being based amid the prairies of Winnipeg, Canada, has inspired the company’s prevailing aesthetic: beautifully restrained forms made with high-quality natural materials. It also has fueled EQ3’s passion for reducing its carbon footprint.

An EQ3 dining room vignette, anchored by the company's Arc table.

An EQ3 dining room vignette, anchored by the company's Arc table.

By maintaining autonomy over every phase of production, the company can consider the design of its furniture, lightings, rugs, and accessories as well as the process by which they are made. Product design, R&D, and custom upholstery manufacturing share space with executives at the company’s Winnipeg headquarters.

Creatives collaborate with those who produce their work, seeing, touching, and interacting with the designs to ensuring the quality of each collection. (EQ3 also owns a manufacturing facility in Indonesia and produces goods with partners in Denmark, China, Taiwan, India, and Canada.)

EQ3's Kendall desk, Tami dining chair, and pair of Arch wall lamps.

A Kendall desk, Tami dining chair, and pair of Arch wall lamps.

The company champions sustainability throughout its organization, rethinking how furnishings can be fabricated and sold. Eco-friendly initiatives include sourcing from local wood suppliers and building close to market to reduce shipping-related carbon emissions. The made-to-order upholstery model limits fabric waste.

EQ3’s Open Box program, where samples, floor models, and returns are sold at a discount in its showrooms in the U.S. and outlets in Canada, also allows pre-loved designs to find a second life.

A row of Lima counter stools, manufactured by EQ3.

A row of Lima counter stools.

A selection of EQ3 upholstery fabrics.

A selection of EQ3 upholstery fabrics.

In some cases, when EQ3 hasn’t been able to find a sufficiently environmentally sensitive solution, it has created one. An example is its high-performance fabrics, made without harsh chemicals yet still water-repellent and resistant to spills. Another is the water-based finish that it developed for its wood designs.

EQ3 calls its business “a modern Canadian approach to furniture and home goods.” Perhaps. But the resulting products honor the culture and land where they are created.

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