Our Materials & Sourcing
Every East at Main piece begins with a material chosen for its beauty, its sustainability, and the hands that shaped it. Here is exactly where our materials come from and why it matters.
We built East at Main on the belief that you should not have to choose between beautiful design and responsible sourcing. Every material we use, rattan, mango wood, coconut shell, capiz, abaca, raffia, and seagrass, is among the most sustainable available. Not because we say so, but because of where it comes from and how it is made.
This page shows our work. Every material, every sourcing country, every certification, laid out clearly so you can buy with confidence.
Our Sourcing Commitments
Every primary material we use is renewable, reclaimed, or a byproduct of food agriculture.
Our rattan is independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, not self-reported.
Indonesia and India are our primary partners, supported by artisan workshops in Vietnam, Malaysia, and beyond.
Every piece is made by hand by skilled craftspeople, supporting artisan livelihoods across Southeast Asia and South Asia.
The Materials We Work With
Where each material comes from, why we chose it, and what makes it sustainable.
Rattan
Our rattan is sourced exclusively from FSC-certified forests in Indonesia, independently verified to meet the Forest Stewardship Council's rigorous environmental and social standards. Rattan is a vine that grows to harvest maturity in just 5 to 7 years, and harvesting it actually encourages new growth. It is one of the few furniture materials that benefits the ecosystem it comes from.
Recycled Coconut Shell
Coconut shells are a byproduct of the food industry, the outer husks left after coconut harvest that would otherwise be discarded or burned. Our artisan partners in Indonesia collect, clean, and hand-inlay these shells into furniture and decor, creating pieces with a rich, mosaic-like surface that is genuinely one-of-a-kind. No virgin materials. No deforestation. Just remarkable craft from what nature already provides.
Raffia
Raffia is created from the dried, twisted fibers of a specific variety of palm leaves. The result is a natural material with a uniquely luxurious texture, soft but structured, with an organic warmth that no synthetic fiber can match. Our raffia pieces are handcrafted in Indonesia, where artisans have worked with palm fibers for generations. The material is fully biodegradable and harvested without harming the palm tree.
Mango Wood
Mango trees are harvested only after their fruit-bearing years end, typically at 15 to 20 years. Rather than being burned or discarded to make room for new planting, the timber is crafted into beautifully grained furniture by our long-term partners across India. Each workshop brings its own regional craft traditions to our collection, producing solid wood pieces with exceptional grain character and real material honesty.
Seagrass
Seagrass is harvested from shallow coastal waters, where it grows abundantly as part of healthy marine ecosystems. It offers rich earthy tones and a tight, dense weave that gives finished pieces a refined, natural quality. Seagrass is one of the ocean's most efficient carbon sinks, and its harvesting, done responsibly, supports both the material's renewal and the health of coastal ecosystems. Our seagrass pieces are sourced from Indonesia and Thailand.
Where Our Furniture Is Made
East at Main sources sustainable furniture and home decor from a carefully selected network of artisan workshops across Southeast Asia and South Asia. Indonesia and India are our primary manufacturing partners, supported by specialist workshops in Vietnam and Malaysia. Every relationship is built on direct contact, verified sourcing practices, and a shared commitment to artisan craft.
Certifications & Standards
We do not ask you to take our word for it. Where third-party verification exists, we pursue it. Here are the certifications and standards that back our sourcing claims.
Our rattan is FSC-certified, independently audited to verify it comes from responsibly managed forests that protect biodiversity, support local communities, and ensure long-term forest health. This is a third-party standard, not a self-certification.
Learn more at fsc.org →Our coconut shell and mango wood are sourced as byproducts of existing agricultural industries, no virgin materials, no dedicated resource extraction. These circular sourcing practices are verified through our direct supplier relationships.
We work directly with named artisan workshops, not anonymous intermediaries. This direct relationship allows us to verify sourcing practices, support fair wages, and maintain the quality standards our customers expect.
Beautiful design should not cost the earth.
Every piece we sell is a deliberate choice, in material, in maker, and in the impact it has on the world we share. Shop with confidence knowing exactly where your furniture comes from.