The family behind Jati’s enduring teak furniture

“I think it’s extraordinary that this business exists at all. You couldn’t start a business like this these days,” he says.

Established before the internet and social media could speak for it, Jati has been sustained largely through word of mouth, with many past customers now returning to refurbish or add to their Jati pieces that have been part of their homes for decades.

There has always been that same goal: to craft pieces that will be used by families for decades, not seasons, but now also a drive into the commercial spaces such as hotels, spas and restaurants.  

“Designing outdoor furniture has a lot of considerations to it lasting,” says Adam. “We only use A-grade, furniture-grade plantation teak that comes from the best part of the tree, never the sapwood.”

Naturally high in oils, teak is resistant to rot and insects, and its strength is particularly well-suited to furniture that will spend its life outdoors. Left untreated, the timber gradually weathers to a silver-grey colour, developing a patina that changes with time and reflects its years of use. 

“We don’t use any of the wood with knots. It doesn’t rot, it very seldom gets attacked by bugs. It’s why it’s been used for centuries in boat building.”

Through long family connections, Jati only manufactures with two premium partners in East Java, close to the teak plantations where the timber is grown, an almost impossible task to recreate in today’s world.

“It’s a beautiful industry where they’re constantly renewing the plantations,” says Adam. “It’s a beautiful thing to see where the trees are grown and then sorted and harvested.”

Once the wood is milled, it’s kiln-dried before being machined into the individual components of each Jati design, with many traditional furniture-making techniques such as mortise-and-tenon joints and wooden dowels used to allow the timber to move naturally in response to Australia’s climate.

Once the wood is milled, it’s kiln-dried before being machined into the individual components of each Jati design. While traditional techniques like mortise-and-tenon joints are still central to the process, modern methods are also incorporated, including the use of advanced glues and concealed aluminium inserts to unlock modern silhouettes.

“Ultimately, Jati honours its rich heritage and signature style while continuing to grow its exceptional collection of premium teak furniture, with the underlying consideration remaining the same: how the furniture will perform over time.”

This relationship between the material and the way the furniture is constructed has remained unchanged since the 1980s. But as Adam looks ahead, what is evolving is the design direction.

“I’ve taken on a lot of the design work,” says Adam. “As we are specialising in teak, the priority is responding to the material, its function, our history, and what’s happening in the world of furniture and design. It means visiting the factory and plantations often, finding inspiration from my background in art and design, and tracking where trends are going so we can create our own beautiful outdoor pieces that are long-lasting.”

Already, Jati has been exploring teak in new ways, including pieces that blur the line between sculpture and furniture, bringing a new feeling to their range and material.  Of course, not at the cost of traditional designs.

“To come up with fresh designs, and to see them come into play is really extraordinary.”

And while Adam shapes this new direction, his father, Zaid, now 84, still comes into Jati every day to remain connected to his life’s work. He gets to watch the business he built more than four decades ago move into the next generation of Australian outdoor spaces.

Explore Jati’s teak outdoor furniture on ArchiPro to use in your next project.