KI Europe has announced an exciting new partnership with Material Source Manchester, marking a significant milestone in the company’s 30-year history.
For the first time, KI Europe has an additional, dedicated showroom space and a base outside of London, joining the vibrant and design-led hub at Material Source in Manchester.
KI now has a branded display pod at Material Source, along with furnishing three additional rooms in the space.
The KI pod is a wooden stand displaying the array of finishes KI offer across Polypropylene, Metal RAL, MFC and MDF worktops. These samples are for inspirational purposes, for visitors to take home, along with collecting samples from across Material Source and building mood boards and colour palettes.
There is a dedicated section showcasing the new Sutton chair, featuring a full-size in Terracotta and Denim alongside a selection of mini chairs in the colour range for visitors to take home. A further board features an exploded Grafton Chair highlighting some of the unique features, including the distinctive polypropylene back design, an upholstered and polypropylene seat pad and the optional tablet arm.
“With a changing landscape and KI’s focus now on specific markets, it became clear that having another location outside of London was important to help our wider aims," says Alison Mallett, Director of Education Furniture, KI Europe. "With the great work Material Source has done to date, this location was top of my list. They have created a comfortable and welcoming space for designers and architects to come together, working collaboratively, using the wide variety of products and materials on display to build exciting new interiors.
KI’s presence at Material Source is more than just visual, it’s a fully immersive, functional, and collaborative environment with KI furnishing the theatre, workshop and a KI meeting room. The 80-person theatre is fitted with Grafton HD Chairs and 4 matching Grafton HD Stacking Stools, featuring Rainforest green backs and Agua Pearl Seagrass upholstered seats. The KI Meeting Room is a versatile space featuring KI-nk Tables on castors in Oxide Red, Grafton four leg chairs, Fleet Lounge seating, 800 Series Shelving , and the Hatton Chair and Stool. Whilst the Workshop features 18 Bejot Epocc stools upholstered in Agua’s VerdeEco Blossom fabric, complementing the communal U-shaped bench setup.
Each of these areas reflects KI’s signature style, quality, and ergonomic design. All upholstered products have been produced in partnership with Agua Fabrics, who have supplied suitable fabrics for the space. Both companies are partners at Material Source and share a commitment to high-performance finishes and sustainable materials.
Beyond the display, KI’s team will be using Material Source as a Northern base; hosting meetings, connecting with clients, and running events in the space. As Material Source is often used by architects and designers to discuss finish and colour palettes with clients, KI’s presence will enable seamless furniture specification alongside surface materials.
KI furniture is also featured in the new Material Source London, with the co-working space finished with Work 2.1 Contour Sit-stand desks paired with Grafton HD Stools, along with the theatre seating featuring Grafton HD Chairs alike to Manchester.
On Thursday 12th February 2026, from 4–7pm, KI is hosting an evening of drinks, pizza, and relaxed networking at the Material Source Manchester Studio. A great chance to meet the team and get an exclusive first look at the brand‑new display pod along with three newly furnished rooms. RSVP to attend here.
This move represents a key step in expanding KI Europe’s physical footprint in the UK and further supporting the A&D community with high-quality, flexible, inspiring spaces for all educational, hospitality and workplace solutions.
