When Snehal Malani Tapadia couldn’t find children’s furniture that was safe, sustainable, bright and stylish, she decided to roll up her sleeves and build it herself, literally! Her “Eureka” moment came when she realized India was craving child-safe, toxin-free, high-design furniture that wasn’t boring or mass-manufactured. Snehal’s brand X&Y Furniture was born out of that gap… blending modern tech with handcrafted artistry to create furniture that’s both Instagram-worthy and built to last. As the spirited Founder of X&Y Furniture, this Mumbai-based design visionary is today redefining how the youngest generation learns, plays, and dreams.

Snehal’s X&Y Furniture specializes in eco-friendly, beautifully crafted wooden furniture for children aged 0-14 years. Whether it’s a whimsical play corner at home or a dynamic classroom setup in a K12 school, Snehal’s mission is clear: out with the plastic, in with the planet-friendly wood.

Before launching X&Y Furniture, Snehal was already sketching her way to success. Armed with a solid background in architecture and design, she honed her skills as a Senior Architect and Team Leader at Planet 3 Studios Architecture Pvt Ltd (2016-2019), and earlier as a Principal Architect at InArch Studio. With an eye for form and function, Snehal has always believed that good design should do good too.

Her Mission – At X&Y Furniture, sustainability will not just be a buzzword — it will be the blueprint. And indeed, it is! Every piece is crafted from FSC-certified Baltic Birch plywood, finished with non-toxic paints and polishes, and built with child-safe round edges. From mini-Montessori chowkis and darling little library shelves to playful pretend-and-play setups, every item is as kind to the earth as it is to little hands.

Customization is key here: whether you’re a parent looking to sprinkle magic into a nursery or a school wanting to set up safe, smart learning zones, X&Y Furniture tailors solutions that fit like a glove, while championing the ‘Make in India’ movement with pride.

Today, with her head full of big ideas and her heart set on a greener future, Snehal and her brand X&Y Furniture is crafting more than kids furniture, she’s building a world where kids can learn, play, and grow safely, beautifully, and sustainably. Here, in an exclusive interview, Snehal Malani Tapadia speaks to Sumita Chakraborty, Editor-in-chief, TheGlitz, about why she started her brand X&Y Furniture, why she firmly believes in green sustainability and more…

Over To Snehal Malani, Founder X&Y Furniture

What inspired you to transition from architecture to founding X&Y, and how did your background in architecture influence the design of children’s furniture?

The transition from architecture to founding X&Y was driven by a deep desire to create meaningful spaces for children—starting with the furniture they interact with every day. While working as architects, we often saw how children’s environments were treated as an afterthought—generic furniture, poor ergonomics, and little focus on child development.

Our architectural background gave us a holistic view of how space, form, and function intersect. We brought that same design sensitivity to children’s furniture—thinking not just about aesthetics, but also scale, safety, and how each piece supports a child’s growth, independence, and imagination.

Architecture also taught us how to work with materials responsibly, which naturally led to our commitment to sustainability and the use of eco-friendly, FSC-certified plywood. In a way, X&Y is an extension of our architectural philosophy—only now, we’re building environments from the furniture up.

X&Y emphasizes sustainability, using FSC-certified Baltic Birch plywood and eco-friendly processes. Can you tell us about the challenges you’ve faced in sourcing sustainable materials and how you’ve overcome them?

One of the main issues we’ve faced is the limited availability and longer lead times associated with responsibly sourced timber. Since we’re committed to maintaining strict eco-friendly standards, we can’t just substitute with readily available alternatives, which sometimes puts pressure on our project timelines.

Another challenge has been cost. FSC-certified materials and non-toxic finishes often come at a premium, which can affect pricing strategies—especially in a cost-sensitive market like school furniture.

To overcome these challenges, we’ve built strong relationships with a select group of suppliers who understand our sustainability goals. We’ve also worked on optimizing our design and production process to reduce waste and maximize material usage. In some cases, we plan our procurement in advance to account for longer delivery cycles, ensuring that our production isn’t disrupted.

Ultimately, we believe that these efforts not only align with our values but also add long-term value for our clients who are looking for healthier, more environmentally responsible learning environments.

You’ve mentioned a gap in the Indian market for sustainable, child-safe furniture. How do you envision X&Y filling this gap, and what has the response been from parents and schools so far?

We noticed that while there’s growing awareness around sustainability and child safety in India, the furniture options available for schools and homes weren’t keeping up. Most products were either imported or expensive or made locally by carpenters onsite with materials that weren’t safe for children—chemically treated plywood, sharp edges, poor ergonomics, and little thought to environmental impact.

With X&Y, we set out to change that. Our vision is to offer well-designed, child-safe furniture made using eco-friendly materials like FSC-certified Baltic Birch plywood and non-toxic finishes—at a price point that’s accessible for Indian schools and parents.

The response so far has been incredibly encouraging. Schools are excited to align with NEP guidelines and are happy to see furniture that’s both functional and aesthetically uplifting. Parents, especially the younger generation, are actively looking for sustainable, safe options and love the fact that our furniture supports their child’s well-being while being planet-friendly.

Customization is a key part of your business model. How do you work with schools and parents to create personalized furniture solutions?

Customization is at the heart of what we do, because we believe every learning space—and every child—is unique. We start by engaging closely with schools and parents to understand their needs—whether it’s specific age groups, available space, curriculum style (like Montessori or play-based learning), or even brand colors.

For schools, we often create layouts and furniture sets that align with their teaching philosophy.

These kinds of challenges keep our design process exciting and deeply collaborative. And since we manufacture in-house, we’re able to turn ideas into high-quality, customized pieces fairly quickly.

In your opinion, how does eco-friendly furniture play a role in children’s overall well-being, both in educational settings and at home?
Furniture impacts how children sit, move, and interact. Using non-toxic finishes, smooth edges, and ergonomic proportions ensures safety and comfort. Plus, when kids grow up in eco-conscious spaces, it subtly reinforces sustainable habits from an early age.

X&Y supports the “Make in India” movement. How do you ensure that your products not only promote sustainability but also contribute to local manufacturing and the Indian economy?

All our products are manufactured at our in-house facility in Mumbai, ensuring complete control over quality, safety, and sustainability standards. We source raw materials from within India and work closely with skilled craftsmen to bring our designs to life. By keeping our manufacturing local, we’re able to stay sustainable, reduce our carbon footprint, and contribute to the “Make in India” vision in a meaningful way.

Looking ahead, what are your plans for expanding X&Y? Are there any new product categories or collaborations in the works that we should look forward to?

Looking ahead, we’re excited to grow X&Y both in reach and innovation. Our vision is to become a one-stop destination for sustainable, child-centric furniture that supports every stage of learning.

We’ve already expanded our portfolio beyond early years to include library solutions, soft seating, collaborative learning setups, and furniture for higher grades—all thoughtfully designed with a focus on ergonomics, child safety, and sustainability. These additions are helping schools create cohesive, engaging environments from preschool through secondary education.

On the growth front, we’re actively working to expand our presence across India and into neighboring South Asian markets, where the demand for eco-conscious, well-crafted educational furniture is rapidly rising.