Collaborative Showroom — NYC 2024–2025

In a city as fast-moving and densely packed as New York, carving out space both physical and conceptual for thoughtful collaboration is no small feat. NoMad Collab is the product of that ambition. Tucked into the heart of the NoMad neighborhood in Manhattan, this shared showroom is more than just a place to showcase commercial interiors; it’s a living reflection of the relationships, values, and ideas that shape the future of design.

Born out of a shared belief in the power of partnership, NoMad Collab brings together six leading design brands — Heartwork, Hightower, Unika Vaev, Framery, Camira-Luna, and Clarus under one roof. Together, we have created a showroom experience that invites designers, dealers, clients, and the broader A+D community to explore what happens when design-minded companies work together instead of competing for space.

“We started talking about what it might look like to share the space,” Karen recalls. “Almost immediately, we saw how powerful it could be — not just for us, but for a community of brands that share our commitment to quality, to thoughtful design, and to doing business differently.”

Together, we reached out to peers across the industry; brands that could complement rather than compete. In the end, six brands came together, each with its own voice, but a shared understanding: good design is not just about the product; it’s about people, purpose, and place.

More Than a Showroom

At its core, NoMad Collab is an experiment in what happens when we let go of ego and embrace shared space. The layout of the showroom reflects this ethos. Instead of segmented zones or siloed brand areas, the space is seamless — each product, each vignette, woven into a holistic experience. It’s not about who made what; it’s about how well everything lives together.



This approach creates moments of discovery. Textures, colors, and forms that speak across collections. A modular sofa from Hightower nestled next to acoustic wall panels from Unika Vaev and organization solutions from Heartwork. A Clarus writable surface integrated into a meeting room designed with Camira fabrics. Framery pods offer pockets of quiet among open-plan layouts. It’s a curated collision of function and form, designed not just to show products, but to show how they might actually live and work together in the real world.

A Celebration of Women in Design

“It wasn’t necessarily the goal to create a female-led showroom,” says Karen. “But it’s no accident, either. The people who responded to our outreach — the ones who said yes were women who saw the value in coming together, in doing things differently.”

There’s a different kind of energy that emerges when competition takes a back seat to collaboration. Across brands, teams have shared resources, brainstormed events, and built a supportive ecosystem that reflects the values they champion in their own companies: transparency, integrity, and innovation.

Sustainability: Not a Checkbox, But a Conversation

In March of 2025, NoMad Collab hosted a Sustainability Social — an evening that brought together female founders, sustainability experts, designers, and industry thought leaders for a panel conversation on how to drive change through partnership. The discussion was honest, energizing, and true to the spirit of the space — collaborative.

Among the themes that emerged: the need for shared language around sustainability, the limitations of current certification systems, and the value of progress over perfection. Sustainability doesn’t need to be a lofty, technical goal, it can start with a simple question: “What’s this made of, and why?”

In that sense, NoMad Collab is a space not only for products, but for dialogue. For challenging assumptions. For rethinking how we specify, how we build, and how we define success.

Looking Forward

For those who have visited the space, the takeaway isn't just about seeing new products — it's about seeing what’s possible. Seeing that collaboration can lead to better design, more thoughtful spaces, and stronger connections. It’s about proving that when we make space for others, we all do better.

Though Hightower will be physically exiting from NoMad Collab this spring, the relationships, ideas, and momentum it sparked will continue. Hightower will maintain a strong presence in New York City, and the brands involved remain connected in mission and vision.

So yes, this was a showroom. But it was also a signal. A gathering point. A spark. An invitation.