Give your worn furniture a second life on a budget
Employing around 25 lakh workers within the broader furniture sector, Bangladesh’s upholstery trade is evolving into a repair economy that keeps furniture in use through affordable restoration
Not everyone in Bangladesh can afford to replace furniture every time it wears out, breaks, or looks old. In a country where the middle class continues to expand yet remains cautious about spending, buying a brand-new sofa set or dining table is often a luxury decision rather than a routine one.
Instead, a parallel economy has emerged—one that restores, reworks, and reimagines what already exists.
This is the furniture upholstery market of Bangladesh—a largely informal yet indispensable sector that sustains livelihoods, preserves household assets, and aligns—perhaps unintentionally—with global shifts toward sustainability and reuse.
A market built on necessity
Globally, the upholstery industry is vast and segmented. The finished upholstered furniture market alone is valued at over $129 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed $170 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of around 5.3% to 5.7%.
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Alongside it, upholstery fabrics account for another $21 to $23 billion, while the repair and restoration segment—closest to Bangladesh's reality—has reached approximately $6.2 billion and continues to grow as consumers opt to restore rather than replace.
In Bangladesh, the upholstery sector operates at the intersection of affordability and practicality. The country's home textile market, valued at roughly $491 million in late 2025 and expected to reach over $622 million by 2031, feeds directly into this ecosystem. Upholstery fabrics, ranging from artificial leather to cotton and jute blends, are not just export commodities; they are the backbone of local repair culture.
Dhaka's upholstery market is spread across several key commercial hubs, including Panthapath Furniture Market (opposite Bashundhara City Shopping Mall), Gawsia Market, the Bata Signal area, and Gulshan 1's DNCC Market. Together, these locations form a vibrant network of workshops and storefronts where workers repair, restore, and remake furniture to serve a wide range of customers across the city.
Kabir Ahmed, a staff member at Teksoi Furniture at the capital's Bata Signal intersection, said, "We repair everything from sofas to chairs. There is a huge market. Not everyone can afford to buy new furniture every now and then, but we make their old pieces as good as new. The prices are very affordable."
His words reflect a larger truth. Upholsterers in Bangladesh are not merely technicians; they are problem-solvers for a cost-conscious society. Their work includes changing the "poshish" (outer covering), replacing flattened foam with high-density alternatives, and repairing internal structures such as springs and webbing.
Affordability is key. A standard sofa re-cover costs between Tk1,800 and Tk3,000 per seat, while dining chair upholstery ranges from Tk600 to Tk1,000 per chair.
The market is changing fast. Customers want better finishing, more design options, and quicker delivery. At the same time, many skilled workers are still learning through traditional methods. We need training and support to bridge that gap, otherwise small workshops will struggle to compete with big brands.
Even premium fixed sofas start at around Tk2,800 per seat. For many households, these figures represent a fraction of the cost of new furniture.
Stories of repair and memory
For customers, the decision to repair is rarely just financial; it is also emotional.
Sajid Rahman recounts his recent experience: "I bought this sofa set three years ago. I broke it by accident. When I called them to repair it, they only charged me for the parts and no service fee. They were great, and the quality was amazing."
In another corner of the workshop, Mujahid Ali points to a wooden chair—its surface freshly polished but its design unmistakably old.
"I had a set of tables and chairs," he says. "I inherited them from my family. These are authentic wooden pieces. My father made them around 17 years ago. The fabric was torn and the foam had flattened, so I came here to repair them."
These stories reveal a dimension that statistics cannot fully capture. Upholstery in Bangladesh is not just about extending the life of furniture—it is about preserving continuity, heritage, and sentiment.
While the upholstery trade operates largely through small workshops and micro-enterprises, its scale is far from small. According to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) the broader furniture sector accounts for approximately 9% of manufacturing employment in Bangladesh, engaging around 25 lakh workers. A significant portion of this workforce consists of informal artisans, including upholsterers.
Tonmoy Kumar Sarker, a delivery man with over a decade of experience, offers a glimpse into the volume of activity.
"I have been in this business for over 10 years," he says. "I deliver repaired furniture every day. On average, I deliver 12–13 pieces daily, so you can imagine the magnitude of this market."
Materials and trends
The materials used in Bangladesh's upholstery market reflect both global trends and local realities. Artificial and PU leather have surged in popularity due to their durability, affordability, and low maintenance.
At the same time, eco-friendly options such as cotton, linen, jute blends, and bamboo-derived fabrics are gaining traction, particularly among the upper-middle class and export-oriented manufacturers.
Digital printing has also reshaped the industry. The demand for "all-over printing" designs has pushed textile factories to expand their capabilities, allowing customers to customise furniture in ways that were once limited to high-end markets.
Globally, upholstery trends are shifting towards performance fabrics—stain-resistant, antimicrobial, and highly durable materials that are becoming the new standard. Bangladesh's market is gradually aligning with these changes, though cost remains a decisive factor.
Colour preferences are evolving as well. While cool greys dominated the past decade, warmer tones—cream, beige, and earthy shades—along with textured fabrics like velvet and corduroy, are making a comeback. Even within modest budgets, customers are increasingly seeking a balance between functionality and aesthetics.
Despite its importance, the upholstery labour force remains largely informal. Traditionally, skills were passed down through apprenticeships, with artisans learning on the job rather than through formal training.
Today, however, the industry is at a crossroads. As large furniture brands expand and mechanised production becomes more common, there is growing demand for workers who can operate high-speed sewing machines, handle precision foam cutting, and meet standardised production requirements.
This shift has created a gap. Independent upholsterers continue to dominate the repair market, operating from small workshops and offering bespoke services. Meanwhile, factory-based upholsterers, often linked to export industries, benefit from better wages and safer working conditions.
Ariful Islam Pavel, owner of Kaththokkra Furniture at the Panthapath Furniture Market, spoke about both the process and the materials behind the craft.
"Every piece we work on starts with inspection. We check the frame, the springs, and the condition of the foam. If the wood is strong, we keep it—that is the beauty of old furniture in Bangladesh. Then we replace the foam with high-density options like super soft or rubber foam, depending on the customer's budget," he said.
"Most customers now prefer artificial leather or PU leather because it is affordable and easy to maintain. But we also use fabrics like velvet, chenille, cotton, and even imported Turkish and Chinese textiles for a better finish. Some customers want eco-friendly options like jute or linen blends, especially for modern designs," he continued.
"After selecting the material, we cut and stitch the fabric carefully to match the design. Then we fix it with precision, ensuring there are no wrinkles. Finally, we polish the wooden parts and add finishing touches. A good upholstery job should make the furniture look completely new," he added.
He also pointed to the industry's broader challenge: "The market is changing fast. Customers want better finishing, more design options, and quicker delivery. At the same time, many skilled workers are still learning through traditional methods. We need training and support to bridge that gap; otherwise, small workshops will struggle to compete with big brands."
In recent years, the upholstery market has adapted to urban lifestyles through on-demand services. Companies and local workshops now offer home visits, where technicians inspect furniture, provide instant quotes, and often complete minor repairs on-site.
The furniture upholstery market in Bangladesh is not just a service sector—it is a socio-economic system. It connects textile producers, carpenters, transport workers, and small business owners. It supports millions of livelihoods while offering affordable solutions to households that cannot afford constant replacement.
