By: Tom White
San Francisco-based home decor brand Marble Lotus is marking its one-year anniversary this month, celebrating 12 months of storytelling, creativity, and community engagement. Founded by Soni Mehra, CEO and Creative Director, the brand emerged from her own personal experience to furnish her new home with pieces that resonated with her South Asian heritage and identity.
“Our vision was clear: we wanted a space that not only reflected our identities but also celebrated our childhoods and heritage,” said Mehra. However, she noticed a gap in the market, with few brands truly honoring the stories of South Asian backgrounds and ancestors. This realization sparked the idea for Marble Lotus—an endeavor to champion cultural narratives through home decor and design.
Transitioning from the tech industry to design, Mehra found a vibrant, creative community in San Francisco, where residents take pride in their homes as sanctuaries for self-expression. The city’s natural beauty serves as a backdrop for creativity, says Mehra, inspiring her work as a designer and curator while fostering a deep connection to the natural environment that decorates the city.
Catering to individuals seeking to connect with their identities through their homes, Marble Lotus prioritizes the storytelling behind its products, shedding light on the artisans who craft them and their cultural significance. From its collection of exotic wallpapers to colorful Pichwai paintings and decorative marble decor, the brand’s focus on natural materials and inspiration from the aesthetics of nature underscores its commitment to authenticity – a message that has resonated with its audience.
Photo Courtesy: Marble Lotus
In 2023, Marble Lotus solidified its brand identity, launching an initial product lineup that showcased its distinct style of South Asian design. By the end of the year, the brand had expanded its product line from seven to 115 items, accompanied by a surge in sales, subscribers, and community engagement.
“One of our greatest successes has been the community we’ve cultivated on our social platforms and through our newsletter groups,” Mehra shares. “Over the span of just one year, we’ve connected with nearly 50,000 people online, engaging them through authentic storytelling on our social channels.”
Photo Courtesy: Marble Lotus
That community connection has been integral to the success of the business thus far. “We are increasing our revenues by 30% every month, and we are on track to grow our community even more,” she states.
Looking ahead, Marble Lotus aims to revitalize its brand image and expand its offerings into new product categories such as furniture, mirrors, paintings, artwork, and lighting with a new collection in collaboration with Currey and Company, which will be launching this month. And for those who need a more hands-on approach to their design, Mehra shares that Marble Lotus is preparing to launch an interior design studio by the year’s end, further showcasing its design expertise and a deeper connection to its customers through the art of heritage and decor.
Published By: Aize Perez
