Restoration Hardware, often abbreviated as RH, is a luxury home furnishings company known for its high-end furniture and home décor. RH offers a wide selection of sofas in various styles that are popular with consumers looking for quality craftsmanship and design. However, some shoppers have questioned whether RH sources its sofa manufacturing from China versus domestic production in the USA. This article will examine what is known about where RH sofas are made.
RH Brand Overview
RH (formerly known as Restoration Hardware) was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Corte Madera, California. The company has over 70 retail stores across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In addition to brick-and-mortar shops, RH operates an e-commerce site and mail-order catalog.
The brand is best known for luxury furniture, lighting, bathware, décor, and outdoor items. RH carries both reproductions of antique and vintage pieces as well as collections designed in-house. The style could be described as classic to contemporary. Price points are at the high-end of the market.
RH refers to itself as RH, no longer using the full Restoration Hardware name. The company rebranded itself in 2012 to emphasize a focus on luxury design and craftsmanship. At that time, it also began featuring large home furnishings galleries in many of its retail stores.
RH Furniture Manufacturing
In the furniture industry, there are a few key terms that help identify where products are made:
– Made in USA/America – All or virtually all components assembled in the US. Complies with FTC requirements.
– Assembled in USA – Parts sourced globally but assembled in the US. Does not comply with FTC standards for Made in USA labeling.
– Designated Market – Made exclusively for a retailer in an overseas manufacturing hub. Example: “Made in China exclusively for RH.”
– Direct Sourcing – Retailer works directly with foreign manufacturers overseeing design & production.
RH utilizes a combination of the above furniture production strategies. The company directly sources many of its products from multiple countries including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe and Asia.
Some products are designated market meaning they are produced exclusively for RH in a specific country such as Vietnam or China. Other items may be assembled in the USA from parts made globally.
In recent years, RH has expanded its efforts to increase domestic US manufacturing. The company has invested in several US factories and artisan facilities. However, overseas production is still a major part of RH’s supply chain.
Where Are RH Sofas Made?
In analyzing all of the available information on RH sofa manufacturing, the evidence indicates most styles are produced overseas. Exact countries vary by collection and fabric choices.
Here are some details on where specific RH sofa collections are made based on the company’s website listings and product tags:
– Belgian Linen & Belgian Linen Slipcovered lines – Made in China
– Chippendale collection – Made in China
– Cloud line – Made in China
– English Roll Arm – Made in China
– Modern – Company website states “crafted by hand at our Asian atelier” indicating China or elsewhere in Asia.
– Pavilion – Made in China
– Slope Arm – Made in China
– Square Arm Slipcovered – Made in China
– 19th C Leather Chesterfield & Leather Tuxedo – Made in China
There are a few exceptions where certain RH sofa frames may be made domestically but the manufacturing location is still overseas:
– Some customizable sectional pieces are cut and sewn in North Carolina using materials sourced globally. The parts are then shipped and assembled in China.
– The frames for leather sofas are built in Mexico while upholstery is added at RH’s factory in China.
In summary, while RH utilizes some US facilities, the majority of the company’s sofa collections are made in China based on a review of available manufacturer details. A few styles involve domestic framing or cutting of leather before being shipped to Asian ateliers for completion. However, most RH sofas predominantly appear to be manufactured in China.
Quality Considerations on Chinese Manufacturing
The fact that most RH sofa production takes place in China does not inherently mean lower quality furniture. When examining any imported furnishings, there are several factors that determine the overall construction and durability:
– Design – A thoughtfully engineered sofa frame with strong joinery will last longer than cheaper fast-fashion furniture regardless of where it’s made. RH invests heavily in design.
– Materials – Higher grades of wood, leather, and textiles impact durability. RH uses high-end materials sourced globally.
– Craftsmanship – Skilled workers taking time on construction and finish details are important. RH has owned factories with experienced artisans.
– Oversight – Hands-on quality control and production supervision by the retailer makes a difference vs relying on contractor factories. RH has employees directly overseeing its China production.
– Time Investment – Handcrafted furniture made slowly with precision yields better quality than mass-produced fast furniture. RH products involve considerable time and hand-finishing.
– Testing & Standards – Rigorous testing protocols for longevity via repetition and weight loads determines real-world durability. RH states its products meet stringent California air quality standards.
While locally-made custom sofas can provide maximum oversight over construction, imported luxury-brand furniture from respected companies like RH can rival quality furniture made domestically. Cost of direct US production is often 150%+ over overseas manufacturing.
RH Reviews: What Customers Say About Quality
Customer reviews provide helpful insights into the real-world performance and longevity of RH furniture. Overall, reviews of RH sofas are largely positive:
– Many reviewers say their RH sofa has held up extremely well over years of regular family use without sagging or other durability issues.
– Leather RH sofa owners comment on how their leather has softened beautifully over time while maintaining structural integrity.
– Customers mention high-end feel and appearance of materials used in RH furniture.
– Those who viewed RH items in person before ordering online say the quality met expectations set by furniture seen in the retail showrooms.
– Some reviewers say their RH sofa exceeded the quality of comparably priced brands.
There are a few negative reviews citing manufacturing defects, though those opinions appear rare:
– Isolated complaints of loose cushions, threads pulling, or seams splitting on RH sofas from customers who felt the issues surfaced earlier than expected.
– Some reviewers expressed disappointment when experiencing defects they felt were associated more with mass production than high-end bespoke furniture.
– A few shared quality was not on par with other luxury brands they had owned previously.
– Some durability complaints focused on kid and pet-friendly upholstery options not holding up to daily abuse.
Overall, the vast majority of buyers feel RH manufactures high-quality sofas & positive reviews reinforce the durability claims by the company. Isolated product defects can occur with any manufacturing process. However, RH sofas made in China generally appear to deliver the premium furniture experience on par with the brand image and pricing.
Production Strategy Allows for Quality Overseas
The fact that most RH sofa collections are labelled as “Made in China” does not automatically translate to inferior furniture compared to brands touting American-made products. Their production strategy allows for quality:
– RH utilizes dedicated company-owned factories in China rather than contracting production out to unknown third-parties. This allows direct design, material, process, and quality control.
– Skilled Chinese artisans working in RH’s overseas facilities bring generations of craftsmanship expertise to the sofa-making process.
– Select use of domestic US manufacturing for key furniture components like frames reinforces important foundations before final upholstery overseas.
– Given higher costs of US production, keeping the majority of manufacturing in China allows RH to deliver high-quality sofas while meeting lower price points desired by consumers.
– RH has made significant infrastructure investments in overseas production. State-of-the-art machinery, technology & process efficiencies in owned factories allow quality sofa-making without high-priced 100% domestic manufacturing.
Rh Sofa Styles Represent Design & Quality
Beyond where they are produced geographically, RH sofas exemplify the brand’s focus on design, materials, craftsmanship and endurance:
Timeless Design
RH sofa collections emphasize classic lines with an updated modern sensibility. Their in-house designers focus on silhouettes and details that stand the test of time vs short-lived trendy styles. This design philosophy inherently lends itself to longevity.
Luxurious Materials
Fabrics and leathers used across RH sofas represent the upper end of the spectrum in quality. Thick, rich upholstery wears beautifully. Kiln-dried hardwood frames resist warping. All materials are meant to be lived on for decades.
Old World Craftsmanship
With artisan-built frames, precision-cut leather upholstery, and hand-applied finishing, RH sofas still involve skilled craftwork and hand construction. This results in better quality furniture than those solely built via automated production.
Proven Durability
The overall RH sofa collections stand out through proven durability. Positive customer reviews over years of use, RH’s robust product warranties and quality guarantees reinforce that these sofas are built to last decades.
Conclusion
In summary, while the majority of Restoration Hardware sofas are labelled as made in China, this does not equate to inferior quality compared to furniture made exclusively in the USA. RH invests heavily in design, materials, construction techniques and oversight at their company-owned overseas factories. Customer reviews reflect satisfaction with the durability and luxury feel of these imported RH sofas. Those concerned with US manufacturing exclusively can request custom pieces. However, RH’s production model allows for exceptional quality and value despite relying largely on skilled artisans at their manufacturing facilities in China for the majority of styles. Their sofas represent luxury-grade furniture built to stand the test of time.