Meet The Makers: A Story of Sustainable Interiors
Where Sustainable Interior Design Begins
Behind every material at Blackbird Collection is a person with a purpose. Someone who believes that design should serve both beauty and integrity.
Each collaboration begins with a conversation, a shared vision for creating interiors that feel timeless, tactile, and intentional. From custom upholstery to locally sourced materials and artisan finishes, our approach to sustainable interior decor is rooted in connection between designer and maker, between material and meaning.
Based in Kansas City, we work with trusted interior decor brands around the world who embody quiet luxury through thoughtful craftsmanship, creating pieces designed to live beautifully in real homes for years to come.
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California Natural Sheepskins: Natural Textiles and Conscious Production
On the central coast of California, James of California Natural Sheepskins has dedicated his life to creating an entirely “zero-waste process alliance”, one that honors both the land and the animal. His work begins where most would end.
California Natural Sheepskins is proof that sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing softness or beauty. Each hide is ethically sourced and naturally tanned, resulting in pieces that honor the landscape they come from. Durable, biodegradable, and unmistakably Californian.
The Custom Eero Saarinen Sustainable Sheepskin Womb Chair at Blackbird Collection.
From Sheep to Studio: How Local Craftsmanship Shapes Each Piece
At California Natural Sheepskins, the sheep they source are harvested for food through USDA-inspected Creston Valley Meats, the only open-to-the-public processing plant between Los Angeles and San Francisco. On the day of harvest, James from California Natural Sheepskins collects the fresh hides himself, ensuring that no part of the animal is lost or discarded.
In his non-toxic tannery, each hide is transformed by hand into what he calls “multi-purpose companion fleeces.” His approach is slow, deliberate, and rooted in respect, preserving the natural integrity of every hide.
Custom Upholstery Rooted In Unique Craftsmanship
Each sheepskin carries the imprint of the California landscape where it was raised.
No two are ever the same.
Our Partnership With California Natural Sheepskin
At Blackbird, we incorporate James’s sheepskins into our custom upholstery in Kansas City, layering the softness of the sheepskins over the strength of vintage craftsmanship. These pieces ground a room, reshape a chair (like the Sheepskin Side Chair), and infuse texture and soul into classic design.
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Our partnership with California Natural Sheepskin embodies what defines Blackbird: sourcing materials with intention and care, honoring the hands that prepare them, and weaving their stories into the luxury, sustainable furniture that becomes apart of your daily life. Furniture wasn’t meant to be manufactured fast and mass produced, it’s meant to stand the test of time and live and grow in your space as we move through life and to be as unique as each owner.
Michele Dopp from Fabric & Steel showcases her artisan-crafted textiles.Fabric & Steel’s work is rooted in integrity. Beautiful, rough, architectural materials paired with refined, lasting form. The textiles reflect the relationship between the ephemeral interior and the permanent exterior: how we live within walls, how fabric becomes memory, how texture tells time.
Blending Sustainability With Quiet Luxury
Each sustainable piece is thoughtfully designed and meticulously executed, not something to be consumed and replaced, but something to be cherished while standing the test of time. The designs capture the present moment while refusing imitation. They are modern, clean and of our time, yet destined to endure beyond it.
Fabric & Steel: Artisan-Crafted Textiles
In Brooklyn, New York, Michele Dopp has built something extraordinary: a studio where textiles and structure meet with purpose.
Thoughtful Design Rooted in California Heritage
Through her brand, Fabric & Steel, Michele creates artisan-crafted textiles that echo the dialogue between place and texture, between what is built and what is felt. Her fabrics are designed in Brooklyn, woven in Europe, and hand screen-printed in New England, every step of the process balancing architectural precision with intimate, luxurious design.
Our Partnership With Fabric & Steel
At Blackbird, Fabric & Steel’s textiles find new life in our custom upholstery practice. Her sustainable fabrics elevate structure with softness, wrapping architectural forms in intimacy and warmth.
This collaboration reminds us that when we create luxury interior decor pieces with intention and build with care, artisan pieces always outlasts trends.
Blackbird Collection Interiors: Curating Sustainable Designs for Modern Homes in Kansas City
Our partnerships with California Natural Sheepskin and Fabric & Steel represent more than beautiful design. They’re a commitment to conscious living.
At Blackbird Collection, we seek out artisans who share our philosophy: that modern interiors can be luxurious, sustainable, and deeply personal all at once. Every piece begins with a story : a meeting of material and hand.
The makers we collaborate with honor their craft, and from their work, we create custom furniture in Kansas City that honors how you live your life.
The future of design lies in the hands of makers who honor the past. These collaborations remind us that true sustainable interiors are not just in materials, but in mindset. A return to patience, purpose, and craft.
Each luxury furniture piece custom made by Blackbird can be customized and reimagined in texture, tone, and form to make it truly yours.
Because home isn’t just a place you live in, it’s something you build brick by brick and piece by piece.
Custom Ottomans By Blackbird Collection
About Blackbird Collection
A consciously curated lifestyle brand, Blackbird Collection blends sustainable fashion with thoughtfully selected luxe interiors, offering timeless pieces that embody quiet luxury. Founded by Amy Appleton Dreyer, the concept honors her Sicilian heritage and passion for exploration while championing sustainability and intentional living. With a mix of international designers, vintage finds, and small-batch brands, Blackbird invites you to experience sustainable fashion and luxury interiors in Kansas City.
Visit Us
122 Southwest Blvd,
Kansas City, MO 64108
Open Wed - Sat
11 AM - 6 PM
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Makers & Custom Upholstery Services
What makes Blackbird Collection’s partnerships unique?
Each partnership at Blackbird Collection is built on shared values of craftsmanship, sustainability, and integrity. We collaborate closely with designers and artisans (like California Natural Sheepskin and Fabric & Steel) who prioritize small-batch production, ethical sourcing, and timeless design, ensuring every piece tells a story of intentional creation.
How does Blackbird Collection approach custom upholstery and furniture design?
Our custom upholstery process blends comfort, artistry, and sustainability. Each piece is handcrafted using natural, durable materials and designed to complement modern interiors with a quiet, elevated aesthetic. Every curve, seam, and texture reflects our commitment to thoughtful design made to last.
INQUIRE ABOUT CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY >
Why does Blackbird Collection prioritize sustainable interiors?
Sustainability is woven into everything we do, from selecting eco-conscious materials to partnering with makers like California Natural Sheepskin and Fabric & Steel who share our values. Our goal is to provide luxury interior decor pieces that feel refined and responsible, creating spaces that honor both beauty and longevity.
How does Blackbird Collection support local artisans and makers?
Based in Kansas City, we champion a community of local makers and small-batch artisan makers from around the world whose work represents the future of design. Through collaboration, we bring together diverse perspectives and materials, highlighting craftsmanship that reflects both artistry and authenticity.
What defines Blackbird Collection’s approach to interior decor?
Our interiors blend quiet luxury with sustainable living. We focus on natural textures, timeless silhouettes, and bespoke furniture pieces that balance functionality and beauty. The result is a curated environment that feels intentional, lived-in, and deeply personal.
Where can I view or commission custom work from Blackbird Collection?
You can explore our sustainable furniture and upholstery collections online or visit our Kansas City space to experience each piece in person.