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 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 is to connect the heart and soul of Africa with the heart and soul of America through sustainable design.

"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

"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