Narbutas Furniture: From Ukmergė to Madison
On a sunny October evening, about 30 Madison residents gathered to experience Narbutas office furniture firsthand and learn about the Lithuanian company's journey into the U.S. market. The event took place at Building Services Incorporated Smart Spaces, thanks to Annikki Lehtinen, a Finnish-American who graciously hosted us for the entire evening. As they say, Lithuanians find neighbors everywhere.
Madison Vilnius Sister Cities organized the event for anyone interested in innovative furniture design, the story of Lithuanian companies entering the American market, and connecting with fellow organization members. Many attendees admitted this was their first time hearing about Narbutas furniture.
Milda Aksamitauskienė, President of Madison Vilnius Sister Cities, shared a memorable childhood story. Back in 1997, she watched "Panorama" and heard about a factory where everything was controlled by computers, at a time when she herself didn't even know how to turn one on.
Throughout the evening, guests tested various pieces from the Narbutas collection:
Živilė Kudzin, MVSC Vice President, relaxed in the MYAMI armchair—a green low-back lounge chair designed by MUCNYC design studio. Nearby stood a PARTHOS acoustic column, a tall green planter that combines aesthetics with sound absorption.
James Kudzin, MVSC member, gathered around the ZOOZOO table, part of an oval table and nesting ottoman collection designed by Annie Lee for comfortable collaboration and idea-sharing.
Asta Mullholand, MVSC member, settled into the SANDIE chair, a dark grey wing-back design by Baldanzi & Novelli that offers exceptional comfort.
Bradley Fisher, Narbutas' Chicago representative, walked attendees through the company's journey, from its beginnings and factory expansion in Ukmergė, Lithuania, to establishing its first U.S. office in New York City. What makes Narbutas unique is their sustainability commitment to keeping all production in Lithuania while collaborating with designers from around the world and winning international awards. The company prioritizes sourcing materials locally, near Ukmergė.
Narbutas is now focused on expanding into the southwestern U.S. region, and Madison represents an ideal market. With numerous biotechnology and technology companies in Madison and surrounding suburbs (Fitchburg, Verona), there is probably a strong demand for quality office furniture. While tariffs create some uncertainty, the opportunity is clear.
The evening concluded with an ambitious goal: in one year, we should reconvene to tour a fully furnished office showcasing more tables and chairs from the Narbutas catalog. The journey from Ukmergė to Madison is just beginning.