House Babylon (Instagram), founded by Egyptian Mariam Elshafie, a lawyer by education, blends her legal precision with a passion for design. Born from the quest to “make what was a simple yet premium shopping experience accessible,” House Babylon is designed with intention and priced with transparency. The brand offers home and lifestyle essentials crafted with meticulous care. Each product is a timeless piece, combining elegance and comfort to enhance personal spaces. By eliminating retail middlemen and delivering directly to the customer, House Babylon makes luxury accessible while redefining industry norms. Committed to ethical practices, including sustainable sourcing and eco-friendly packaging, every item aligns with their values and provides peace of mind.
In what ways do you believe your background in law has influenced and shaped your journey towards founding House Babylon?
I loved my years studying law. From the first class I attended in my undergraduate studies until my last one five years later. The theories of law teach you history outside of the mundane way history is taught, but most importantly it teaches you how to discuss, listen and form thoughts in a structured way. Working in law, however, was far removed from the studies I adored.
Every step, from founding the company to running it as a young person in business, was influenced by my background in law. From using analytical skills to evaluate situations, to the attention to detail with sourcing to looking over contractual work, the skills and experiences from my legal career have really given me a solid foundation to build and grow House Babylon.
I think most importantly it has helped me get out of trouble. Understanding regulatory compliance, I believe, is one of the most important aspects of running a smooth operation.
What inspired your mission to make luxury more accessible and inclusive?
It was really a personal quest at first. Growing up in Egypt for the first 12 years of my life meant great weather, tasty fruit and really good sheets. I remember my mum would take us with her to the factory outlet for our home and table linen. At the time there weren’t really any bedding or home brands. In the 90s in Cairo you would go to the factory outlets and buy exceptional fabrics for very little. When I started looking for similar quality fabrics for a reasonable price in London in 2016, it seemed impossible. There is a sea of misinformation, fake Egyptian cotton and steep prices for average sheets. That personal quest quickly became a mission for me: To make what was a simple, yet premium, shopping experience accessible. Today we work with hotels and businesses on a b2b level and in our first meetings I always try to convince our clients to opt for the slightly pricier, but considerably better, option.
Can you describe any challenges you’ve faced in balancing exceptional craftsmanship with the goal of keeping products affordable?
When we say affordable we mean affordable in the product category. If we are selling a 600 TC certified Egyptian Cotton bedding we aim to offer it at the most affordable price possible. It doesn’t mean it is going to be cheaper than a bamboo bedding set.
Our candle collection, which we have now sold out, posed quite the challenge for us. Instead of going with a big supplier from Paris, we decided to work with smaller workshops in the UK to cut costs and be able to offer a completely natural soy wax candle with high grade essential oils for less. However, that didn’t work. We ended up spending as much as we would have making it in Paris.
What steps does House Babylon take to ensure ethical sourcing and fair practices throughout your supply chain?
We work with only three big factories for the bedding, bathroom and loungewear, all of which I personally know and visit frequently. We do, however, request various types of certifications from them every year to ensure transparency on all fronts. We also have our own studio in which we produce tote bags, fabric packaging and b2b orders for Studio Babylon. The studio has the capacity to produce big orders such as the Dior runway show furniture we produced.
If you could collaborate with any fashion brand, who would it be and why?
Loewe. Their minimalist aesthetic and artisanal craftsmanship have made them one of the most loved fashion brands in the world. I admire their craft prize competition and the simplicity they find in the artisans they choose to work with. It’s all about simple beauty, and that aligns perfectly with the ethos of House Babylon.
What’s the most rewarding feedback you’ve received, and how does it reflect your mission to make luxury accessible?
One of the most rewarding pieces of feedback we’ve received came recently after we launched in Egypt. Until a few months ago, my friends and family hadn’t had the chance to try our full range of products due to shipping restrictions. Since then, the number of people who have made repeat orders and told me they’ve replaced their old bedding with House Babylon products has been incredibly gratifying.
In a region known for its fine bedding, hearing that our products have become their new standard is a powerful testament to our mission. It reflects our commitment to making premium homeware accessible. This feedback not only validates our efforts, but also fuels our passion to continue providing affordable luxury to more people around the world.
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