Class of 2020: How Textile Designer Mili Suleman Is Preserving Old Techniques for Our Modern World

Apartment Therapy’s Class of 2020 Design Changemakers is a specially-selected group of the 20 people in the design world everyone should know about by next year. We asked experts (and you!) to tell us who they think should be included—see the rest of the nominees here.

Why Mili is part of the Class of 2020: “The home textile market often feels like more of the same—mass-produced ginghams, stripes, and polka dots. Plaids in the fall, florals for the spring. And that’s why Mili Suleman, owner of the textile company KUFRI, is a real design changemaker. She built a successful textile brand from the ground up—without any formal training in interior design or any big decorator connections—after taking a trip to her native India about six years ago and falling in love with the hand-loomed fabrics there. Sure, Mili had a background in graphic design and an understanding of the importance of preserving Old World techniques. But she’s created a line of beautiful fabrics that support artisans in villages and totally keep pace with home decor trends today. And she wasn’t afraid to cold-call showrooms or knock on the doors of big design firms to get the exposure she needed to launch her business, and that has made all the difference. Her pieces were made for pattern mixing, and I love that they have a handmade, modern heirloom vibe. KUFRI has already expanded into lampshades and wallpapers, and Mili also opened her first shoppable showroom in Dallas, TX, where she is based. I can’t wait to see what KUFRI does next and love watching Mili grow as an entrepreneur.” —Danielle Blundell, Apartment Therapy Home Director

The world is awash in textiles, but few have the fresh spirit and supportive ethos that Mili Suleman brings to KUFRI, her line of handloom woven textiles. Part of what makes Mili a design changemaker is her approach to weaving as story: In a time when mass-produced fabrics are readily available, Mili conceived of KUFRI as a new way to preserve and present the creative narrative of weaving, celebrating the raw idiosyncrasies of the designs and the talented but undersung artisans weaving them. 

Mili was born in Mumbai, India, and raised in Oman, and her multicultural background and passion for design led her to explore handmade textiles. Touring artisan workshops in India, she immediately fell in love with the craft—and didn’t let the fact that she had no prior experience in weaving stop her from turning her love into a business. Back home in Dallas, Mili dreamed up modern designs at home for artisans in India to bring to life. Every year, she returns to India to oversee production and explore new sources. 

“My goal became to create beautiful, natural, textured textiles that are as raw as the environment they’re made in but still contain a refined modernity suited for how we live today,” she says. 

Her mission to preserve handmade weaving in an increasing mass-produced age is (ahem) woven into every pillow, placemat, and lampshade. KUFRI textiles have a crisp modern sensibility, with quirks like slubs, bars, and variations that prove they’re unmistakably handmade—and undeniably beautiful. (KUFRI just won Best in Textile Design at the Papercity Design Awards this year.) The striking patterns and soft uses of color make for elegant, eclectic pieces that no machine could create, and KUFRI is dedicated to celebrating the hands behind each piece. Part of Mili’s mission is to provide employment to women and aging weavers. 

A graduate of Texas Christian University with a background in graphic design, Mili is also dedicated to building awareness and appreciation around textiles and often speaks on the topics of textiles, culture, travel and entrepreneurship. She also co-founded SHIFT, a group that brings together Dallas designers for monthly round-tables about challenges they’re facing and issues affecting the industry. “Because our lives are overtaken by digital aspects, it’s very important to create meaningful opportunities to gather in person if they don’t exist,” she says. 

Technology still plays a vital role for Mili’s creative process—she just doesn’t let it take over. By mixing handmade artistry with cutting-edge technology, she’s creating a modern niche for traditional methods and designs. “If I’m designing patterns, I still have to work on them further on my computer. Our wallpapers are digitally printed. If it wasn’t for computers and various softwares, we wouldn’t be able to create repeats and such easily. But now we can mix both and keep things experimental and progressive.”

What makes Mili a design changemaker is that her passion doesn’t stop at good design: It extends wholeheartedly to the people who make good design happen. With her fresh approach and willingness to take risks, she exemplifies the qualities of the Class of 2020. And with her approach to problem-solving, thoughtful design, and more conscious living, she echoes the design principles that Samsung applies to our everyday appliances for smarter homes and easier living. “It’s very forward-thinking of Samsung to open conversations like this amongst artisans and other niche groups,” she says of the 2020 Changemakers series. “Ideas can come from anywhere!” 

We asked Mili what projects she’s excited about and where she sees the design world going next.

Apartment Therapy: What do you remember as being design inspirations growing up? What is your inspiration now?

Mili Suleman: I grew up in the Middle East, and we went to India mostly for summers, so my design inspirations came from Arab and British-Indian and tropical architecture. But I was never attracted to the glam and loud side of Bollywood. I always preferred the softer, calming side of fashion and design, in general, coming out of these countries. 

Now, I’m drawn to the wabi-sabi aspects of design and life…the imperfectly perfect earthy colors and landscapes of New Mexico, the Rockies, Japan. I never tire of Brutalist architecture.

AT: Is there a project you’ve worked on that’s especially meaningful to you?

MS: Our blockprint collection “Tesuque” (launching Feb 2020) is very meaningful to me—it’s my take on New Mexico. The patterns began as sketches and paintings drawing inspiration from old New Mexican furniture and architecture that are converted into woodblocks. The ground cloth is handwoven by our weavers. Finally, it was shot in New Mexico. The process was very holistic and, I feel, so is the result. 

AT: What three words would you use to describe your work or style?

MS: Natural. Textured. Soulful.

AT: What makes you feel at home in your own space?

MS: Oddly, my own home space needs the magical touch of an interior designer! Although, a vinyl record playing, a candle burning, and working on an oil painting or skimming through my library is a great evening at home for me. 

AT: How have you seen the design community come together to address the challenges it faces?

MS: In Dallas, a designer friend and I started an organization called SHIFT. It’s an organic group of designers, architects, and to-the-trade, and we meet once a month to discuss design and business. It definitely gives everyone the opportunity here to come together. 

Because our lives are overtaken by digital aspects, it’s very important to create meaningful opportunities to gather in person if they don’t exist. I do feel smaller groups like this are starting to pop up. 

AT: What do you see as the future of textile technology?

MS: Digital printers are going to get bigger, better, faster. And I think machines will have the ability to create actual surface textures on textiles. The questions on sustainability, when printing or weaving on machines, will continue to be explored.

AT: Any big plans for 2020 or beyond you can share with us?

MS: We have 3 collections planned for 2020. I hope to add a few more showrooms in key cities to represent our line. I’d love to squeeze in a trip to Peru or Japan. 

AT: Where do you see the design world going in 2020?

MS: Because of the oversaturation of same-ness on Instagram, I see designers getting back to old ways of discovering things…old books, authentic travel, hidden ateliers. I also feel the organic-modern home will continue to thrive, but as we rediscover things, spaces will become more personal with few treasures.