Isomi is a UK-based manufacturer specialising in modular, prefabricated furniture systems for commercial interiors. Known for its materials-led approach and focus on scalability, the brand has become a fixture in workplace, hospitality, and public-space design across Europe and North America. In an exclusive interview with InteriorDaily, designer Paul Crofts, who leads Isomi's creative direction and is also the designer behind the Knit One chair, outlined how the studio is responding to systemic waste in contract furniture.
© Isomi
Paul Crofts, who is responsible for Isomi's creative direction and is also the designer behind the Knit One chair.
'Isomi was born out of a very practical frustration,' Paul explains. 'The sheer waste involved in bespoke furniture, especially reception desks.' The company was founded as a response to inefficiencies in one-off production, particularly the waste generated by single-use tooling and non-recyclable materials.
To address this, Isomi developed a modular model: instead of custom manufacturing each new design, the studio invested in reconfigurable systems that could be adapted across projects. 'We flipped the model,' Paul says. 'Investing in the tooling ourselves and creating a modular system that could be reconfigured for different clients.'
© Isomi
The Knit One chair.
From waste-led beginnings to modular strategy
The brand's origins lie in redefining the economics and environmental impact of contract furniture. Crofts recalls how the process of designing bespoke reception desks resulted in substantial material waste. 'Only for it to be discarded after one job.' By designing repeatable modules with interchangeable components, Isomi was able to retain the design flexibility clients demand, without the inefficiencies of bespoke fabrication.
Expansion into soft seating
Isomi has recently entered the soft seating category with the launch of two new products: Knit One and Tejo Chair. Both chairs reflect the studio's core emphasis on sustainability and material transparency, while expanding its offering beyond reception and system furniture. 'Each material, each product, leads to the next idea,' says Paul. 'Our design language is evolving, but our approach hasn't changed.'
Knit One is Isomi's response to the volume of lounge seating discarded in commercial settings. Tejo, meanwhile, continues the studio's exploration of cork as a core material, building on previous cork-led collections introduced in 2024.
© Isomi
Tejo Modular Seating System.
Why 3D knitting?
The use of 3D knitting in Knit One is both a technical and strategic decision. '3D knitting is zero waste—no offcuts, no glue, no foam,' says Paul. 'It allows us to create complex forms and textural richness in a single material.' Unlike traditional upholstery, which requires multiple materials, layers, and adhesives, 3D knitted structures are monomaterial, lightweight, and fully recyclable.
'Knit One was the answer to a simple question,' Paul adds. 'How can we make a lounge chair that uses less, ships better, and lasts longer?'
Cork and circular material logic
With the Tejo collection, Isomi uses recycled wine cork stoppers to create a lightweight, biodegradable core. Cork is harvested without harming the tree and is naturally fire-resistant and carbon-sequestering. 'A regularly harvested cork tree absorbs and retains on average around 500 per cent more CO₂ than those which aren't,' Paul explains.
The material also aligns with Isomi's design principles: lightweight, durable, low-impact, and traceable. 'It performs beautifully and has this raw, honest quality that fits our ethos.'
Application and markets
Isomi continues to operate primarily within commercial interiors, supplying workplaces, transit hubs, hospitality lounges, and civic spaces. While the UK and Europe remain core markets, the company is also expanding its presence in North America and exploring future opportunities in Asia-Pacific.
'That's where our modular, material-led approach resonates most,' says Paul, referring to sectors where repeatable systems and low-maintenance finishes are increasingly prioritised.
Changing expectations among specifiers
Paul notes a shift in how materials are evaluated by clients and designers alike. 'Clients are more switched on than ever. They want design that's not just beautiful, but also accountable.' Transparency about sourcing, end-of-life strategy, and circular potential is becoming central to specification processes.
The studio also observes a growing overlap between consumer and contract expectations, especially when it comes to aesthetics and sustainability. 'We're seeing a strong appetite for lighter, lower-impact materials, especially when they come with a clear, transparent story.'
What's next for Isomi
Following its presence at NeoCon 2025, Isomi plans to expand both product categories and material experimentation. Paul confirms continued development of cork-based collections, further integration of knitted structures, and potential new launches geared toward modular contract seating.
'3D Knitting and cork is just getting started for us,' he says. 'There's a lot more to come, watch this space.'
© Isomi
More information:
Isomi
6 Seymour Court, Manor Park
Cheshire WA7 1SY
+44 (0)161 903 9797
www.isomi.com
info@isomi.com
United Kingdom