Long-term Endeavours – King

King has been at the forefront of Australian furniture design for nearly five decades, and its ethos surrounding sustainability is the bedrock of the company’s varied pursuits. Through a consideration for the life cycle of its products, environmentally focused initiatives and meaningful partnerships with like-minded organisations, King champions long lasting and enduring design with a quintessentially Australian edge.

Operating as a family owned and run company since 1977, King has cemented itself as a champion for high quality furniture. This is largely due to the company’s unwavering attitude towards longevity, as well as a growing consideration for the end-to-end life cycle of its pieces. In addition to these active initiatives, the company’s longstanding attitude towards design supports its mission to decrease the amount of furniture destined for landfill. Its exceptional steel frames are integral to this; engineered from high grade galvanised steel, they can be infinitely re-used, are entirely recyclable and come with a 25-year warranty. Tailored removable covers ensure upholstery can be cleaned, repaired and refreshed with ease (meaning King is still extending the life of some of its earliest designs) and its dedicated service, King Care®, brings this offering direct to clients’ homes.

Many King pieces are examples of the company’s commitment to furniture that balances high standards of aesthetics and beauty with an ethical and social responsibility.

As part of the King commitment to reducing consumption in the marketplace, King Care® also provides complete refurbishment options; sofas can be stripped back to the steel frame and rebuilt. Further, due to the modular nature of King furniture, clients can easily repair one item or replace the covers on a single module, as opposed to starting anew.

The company’s environmental conscience can be traced to the beginning of the design process; its leather is specifically sourced from two tanneries in Europe, both of which are renowned for setting the benchmark for sustainability, and customers can select fabrics that boast a greener approach. Richmond – a durable chenille inspired by the colours of the Australian landscape – is made from recycled materials including plastic bottles. Similarly, the 100 per cent recycled Avalon Rug is handwoven entirely from a type of yarn also derived from recycled plastic bottles. These pieces serve as examples of the King commitment to products that balance high standards of aesthetics and beauty with an ethical and social responsibility.

Aesthetically simple and clean silhouettes are the foundation of the King design philosophy, and these pared-back features result in furniture that transcends micro-trends and ages beautifully.

Lastly, lifestyle flexibility and timeless designs mean King furniture will endure. Modular designs with tool-free components allow arms, backs, shelves, tables and accessories to be reconfigured to suit changing lifestyles and spaces, leaning into adaptable design and providing owners with decades of use. Aesthetically simple and clean silhouettes are the foundation of the King design philosophy, and these pared-back features result in furniture that transcends micro-trends and ages beautifully.

Longevity is one of design industry’s main lines of inquiry in the pursuit of a more sustainable future, and the King commitment to crafting products that endure directly supports this. Its approach sets a compelling industry standard and demonstrates the junction at which style and a responsible approach to furniture design and manufacture meet.