Elliot March and James White of MAWD and MAWDmade

As the cofounders of the MAWD | March and White Design, Elliot March and James White are no strangers to creating luxurious spaces that resonate with the senses. The interior design firm—which has teams in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Dubai—specializes in residential developments, upscale hospitality projects, and private homes. Notable works include the MARCUS Townhouse and retail experience and The Greenwich, a forthcoming 272-unit residential tower created in collaboration with Rafael Viñoly Architects.

Given MAWD’s breadth of experience, it is of little surprise that March and White are turning their hand toward furniture design. The initial MAWDmade collection features a trio of pieces inspired by British craftsmanship and Southern California’s natural landscape. Each comes with a Declare label, disclosing its materials according to the standards set by industry body The International Future Living Institute. All of the MAWDmade items are certified Red List-free, meaning that they are devoid of materials that pose serious risks to human health and the environment.

We spoke to March and White about the collection and the concept of sustainable luxury. Their edited answers follow.

How would you describe your design philosophy?
MAWDmade’s philosophy mirrors that of our interior design studio. We are committed to upholding the highest level of craftsmanship, incorporating rich yet functional materials, and crafting luxurious designs that stand the test of time. The pieces were created with the understanding that there are few furniture collections in the luxury sphere than incorporate sustainability.

Which of your  products are you most proud? Why?
When it comes to MAWDmade, [we’d say] the Connected armchair. It exemplifies sustainable luxury, maintaining comfort and richness while championing natural and innovative materials. We used beautiful, semi-aniline leather for it, with the hide produced in Spain and tanned with an agent created from fallen olive leaves.

We’re also excited by the Erosion side table. The stunning marble tabletop is actually a composite produced from the ‘crumbs’ that naturally occur when extracting marble. The surface remains luxurious while still having a recycled content between 98.6% and 99.4%.

What are your favorite materials with which to work? Why?
Right now, we are enjoying Piñatex, a vegan leather that is made from fibers extracted from pineapple leaves. The end product is durable and versatile, while upcycling waste from harvest cycles.

What is the most pressing issue in the interior design field today?
Sustainability. It’s often talked about how the building and construction industries contribute to over 42% of global carbon emissions. While there is an existing discourse around architecture and sustainability, there is less of a focus on how interior design also contributes to carbon emissions.

On a more personal level, the materials used in interior projects can directly impact the health and well-being of occupants—making it all the more pressing that we move towards more natural and conscious material choices.

What’s now?
We engineered the MAWDmade pieces from the inside out, with each made to order, a manufacturing process that will reduce the overall material waste. Redefining high-end design, the collection not only provides greater visibility for sustainable practices, but also promotes a circular future for the collection’s materials, 90% of which are recyclable following the object’s life span.

What’s next?
For nearly 15 years, our design studio has upheld the highest design standards and practices. Now, with an even greater eye on sustainability, we envision our studio’s commitment to conscious luxury will only increase. We are proud to have broken ground with the MAWDmade collection.