Creating Forever Furniture That Fosters Connection, Inclusivity And Well-Being with Susan Pilato, Mantra Inspired Furniture
Redefining Sustainable, Inclusive, and American-Made Design
A Mission Rooted in Sustainability and Values
Mantra Inspired Furniture, founded by Susan Pilato, is changing the way commercial furniture is made and used. At its core, the company combines sustainable design, inclusive practices, and ethical American manufacturing. Every collection is crafted to support well-being, foster human connection, and reduce environmental impact.
Under Susan’s leadership, Mantra has become a nationally recognized brand. With award-winning designs and advocacy for neurodiverse-friendly spaces, the company is proving that commercial furniture can be both purposeful and timeless.
From Family Mantras to Entrepreneurial Vision
Susan’s journey began with the guiding wisdom of her father, who shared eight mantras that continue to shape her leadership. Those lessons in integrity, perseverance, and responsibility not only inspired her entrepreneurial path but also gave the company its name: Mantra Inspired Furniture.
For more than 30 years, Susan and her business partner, Donna Counts, worked as commercial interior designers. Their experiences with clients revealed the enduring value of solid hardwood furniture, which lasts decades compared to cheaper, short-lived alternatives. When the industry shifted toward particleboard and MDF, Susan and Donna saw an opportunity to protect craftsmanship, sustainability, and quality through their own furniture line.
American Craftsmanship and Amish Partnerships
One of Mantra’s defining strengths is its partnership with Amish and Mennonite artisans. These skilled craftspeople carry on generations of woodworking tradition while embracing modern efficiencies, such as lumber scanning technology that minimizes waste.
Unlike overseas mass production, these partnerships allow Mantra to deliver American-made furniture with six-to-eight-week lead times competitive with fast furniture imports but with far greater durability and sustainability.
Inclusive and Neurodiverse-Friendly Design
Mantra Inspired Furniture is also pioneering inclusive furniture design. The company’s award-winning Unity Table exemplifies this approach with rounded edges, calming wood surfaces, and modular construction. Designed for ease of assembly and reduced shipping impact, Unity also supports the needs of neurodiverse individuals, making workplaces more comfortable and productive for everyone.
This approach reflects a broader philosophy: what benefits those with unique needs often creates better environments for all users. By integrating inclusivity into design, Mantra is shaping the future of accessible commercial interiors.
Transparent Sustainability with the Carbon Calculator
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at Mantra—it’s measurable. On the company’s website, customers can use a carbon calculator to determine exactly how much carbon is stored in their hardwood furniture.
Unlike MDF or particleboard, which require energy-intensive resins, solid American hardwood naturally captures and stores carbon throughout its lifecycle. By sourcing responsibly harvested species such as cherry, walnut, maple, and oak, Mantra supports forest stewardship and strengthens rural communities that rely on sawmills.
This commitment to transparency positions the company as a leader in eco-friendly furniture and helps educate buyers on the long-term benefits of solid wood.
Awards, Recognition, and Business Lessons
Since launching, Mantra Inspired Furniture has received national recognition, including Best of NeoCon Sustainability Awards and Interior Design’s HiP Awards. But for Susan, awards are only part of the story. She credits the company’s success to strong relationships, networking, and an unwavering belief in purpose-driven business.
Her philosophy is simple: “Do what you love, the money will come. Always pay it forward, and success will follow.”
Advocacy, Education, and the Future of Furniture
Mantra is more than a manufacturer, it’s also an advocate for sustainable and inclusive design. The company offers CEU-certified courses for design professionals, sparking conversations on accessibility, DEI, and sustainability.
Looking forward, Susan and her team are committed to expanding their reach, continuing to innovate with neurodiverse-friendly design, and inspiring the industry to embrace values-driven manufacturing.
Conclusion: Furniture That Makes a Difference
With every collection, Mantra Inspired Furniture proves that commercial furniture can be sustainable, inclusive, and American-made. By prioritizing solid hardwood craftsmanship, eco-conscious practices, and human-centered design, Susan Pilato and her team are building more than furniture—they’re building a movement.
Explore their award-winning collections at www.mantrainspiredfurniture.com.
