Exploring Timeless Elegance In Luxury Furniture: A Conversation With Kabir Bhasin, Founder Of East Lifestyle

FDT Bureau

East Lifestyle, a luxury bespoke furniture company based in Bangalore, is renowned for crafting timelessly elegant furniture. The brand’s team of top designers creates pieces that leave a lasting legacy for their owners. In an exclusive interview with FURNITURE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY (FDT), Kabir Bhasin, Founder of East Lifestyle, shared insights into the company’s design philosophy, products, market expectations, and more.

THE JOURNEY INTO FURNITURE
“I initially did not want to get into the furniture business. I wanted to get into banking, and I used to work for Citi Bank. But post my MBA and after witnessing challenges my father, who had started in the furniture business, was going through, I was driven to enter this space. That’s when I developed a love for it and started several businesses within the domain,” shares Kabir Bhasin.

THE BANGALORE FURNITURE LANDSCAPE
Bangalore, though not a traditional hub for furniture production, has a high concentration of panel craft units. “Within the domain of furniture, there is a panel craft unit anywhere you can throw a stone in this city,” he observes. However, he emphasizes that solid woodwork, once the domain of carpenters in smaller workshops, is now being taken over by designers establishing their own units.



THE LUXURY FURNITURE PYRAMID
Luxury furniture occupies the pinnacle of the market pyramid, with demand concentrated in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, and to some extent in Bangalore and Hyderabad. According to Bhasin, “Location plays a crucial role in a store’s success. High street locations attract foot traffic, but our store offers a boutique experience where clients visit by appointment.”

CURRENT DESIGN TRENDS
Mid-century furniture design has seen a resurgence in recent years. “We cater to a diverse clientele, customizing furniture to suit individual needs,” he explains. While East Lifestyle has a small ready-made collection, the focus remains on bespoke creations, ranging from classical gilded 24-carat gold furniture to contemporary mid-century designs..



THE MATERIALS AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
The company works with a wide range of materials, including imported fabrics, timber, and hardware. Bhasin highlights the evolution of fabric preferences, noting, “While cotton has  traditionally been popular, modern polyesters can be just as high-quality. We always recommend the best options to our clients.”



PASSION AND SCALE IN BUSINESS
Passion is a key driver in the furniture business, he advises, adding that scaling a business requires a clear focus. “If you aim for a large-scale operation, target the bottom end of the market with the highest demand. For a boutique approach, the upper end of the market is where you should focus.”
 

THE FUTURE OF INDIAN FURNITURE BRANDS
Reflecting on the state of the industry, he notes that India is still in the early stages of building strong furniture brands. “India produces some of the best solid wood furniture globally, but there’s a gap in design and industrialization compared to countries like Germany or Italy. However, with modernization, we can bridge this gap in 15 to 20 years.”



EAST LIFESTYLE’S EXPERTISE: SOLID WOOD
The brand specializes in solid wood furniture, which Bhasin describes as a “living” material that requires deep understanding. “Mastering the nuances of timber has been integral to our growth and expertise,” he adds.

THE POPULAR PRODUCTS
The company’s most sought-after products include three-seater sofas and occasional chairs. “Ultimately, custom-designed furniture tailored to our clients’ visions forms the core of our business,” he concludes.