Our Canvas is Exotic Wood
We empower communities in East Africa by collaborating with local artisans to design and build custom furniture. We are passionate about creating meaningful, sustainable pieces of functional art. These handcrafted pieces of furniture are made from 100% sustainably sourced exotic wood, only found in remote regions of East Africa. We have partnered with a non-profit organization that plants trees across the country of Malawi, for every Contour piece sold.
Our Story
Our Values
Our design company is based on four core values: Reinvest, Outreach, Sustain and Empower. We have a design workshop in Houston, Texas and Malawi, Africa. All of the original designs are created by an award-winning artist and a team of skilled artisans in our workshop in Malawi. They are then shipped to Houston and the compelling story behind each piece is shared with clients in America, and around the world.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower and connect Africa and America through sustainable design.
Rare Materials
We only use the very best cuts of rare trees that are sustainably sourced in East Africa.
Contour partners with Root to Fruit
"The seed soon becomes the tree and ever since Jamar Simien first saw the potential in those handcrafted mahogany bowls, the operation has been growing exponentially. With Ike Igbo based out of Lilongwe, Malawi and Brandon Destouet in Houston, they're building an infrastructure with the Malawi community, training and educating on best practices."
- Susie Tommaney, The Houston Press
Contour Functional Art
Our mission is to empower and connect Africa and America through sustainable design. From this connection, we are uplifting communities in East Africa through our outreach program called R.O.S.E. The acronym stands for the four pillars of our company: Reinvest, Outreach, Sustain and Empower.
The Contour Gallery
"Over the course of more than a few conversations with Jamar Simien, it became clear to me that his designs and his countless endeavors are all viewed through the lens of legacy. His multifaceted design studio Contour Functional Art has covered so much ground, literally, in a short period of time. Since the summer of 2018, he’s started Contour, taught art to African school children, planted over 100 African Mahogany trees, began the process of building a design school in Malawi, helped a group of Malawian craftsmen start businesses of their own, and tutored countless people on how to build up their community."
- Lawrence Dillon, Cite Magazine
From Malawi with Love
Recycled tumbled glass and copper beautifully handcrafted into functional art. Each piece of glass is found on the shores of Lake Malawi. We collaborate with local artisans in East Africa to handcraft one of a kind artwork that can be admired, but more importantly, used.
The Exclusive Contour Collection
Our collection of native African wood species is one of the finest in the world. No other design company in America features such an extensive variety of rare wood species that have been hand crafted into functional pieces of art. It's legacy, it's luxury, it's only Contour Functional Art.
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The Contour Blog
We’re All Connected
Contour Functional Art started because I had one goal- I wanted to make beautiful art that you can actually use.
You Can Do A Lot With A Little
Artworks in progress at The Jacaranda School for Orphans in Blantyre, Malawi, Africa.
