Paris Forino, a New York–based interior design practice, has received certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the main body responsible for certifying women-owned businesses in the United States. The firm is among a small number of interior design studios nationwide to be awarded the designation.
WBENC certification formally recognises businesses that are at least 51 per cent owned, managed and controlled by women. The status places Paris Forino within a national network of women-owned enterprises and is expected to support the studio’s engagement with corporate and public-sector partners seeking to work with certified suppliers.
The certification highlights the firm’s approach to leadership, creativity and representation across the interior design, architecture and real estate sectors. More than half of Paris Forino’s team is made up of women, reflecting the studio’s focus on female leadership within a commercial design environment.
“This recognition is deeply meaningful to me as both a designer and a business owner”, said Paris Forino, Founder & Principal. “It’s about celebrating women who lead, collaborate, and continue to push boundaries in an evolving industry.”
For more than ten years, Paris Forino has developed a practice that connects design with property development, working with real estate partners across New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C., as well as in other major U.S. cities and international markets. The studio is known for its use of colour, texture and refined materials, which has become a recognisable feature across luxury residential and hospitality projects.
Several developments designed by the firm have posted strong sales results. The Edison Gramercy was noted for its “unprecedented sales velocity”, while The Steiner launched as Manhattan’s number one-selling residential building. More recently, La Maison Collette in Greenwich Village launched in September 2025 with 70 per cent of homes sold off-market and reached 87 per cent sold within five weeks of public release. The project’s three penthouses were sold in around four weeks, with two ranking as the highest sponsor-signed contracts in Greenwich Village that month. La Maison Collette also recorded the highest sales in Manhattan during Q3 2025.
With WBENC certification in place, Paris Forino is expected to continue extending its presence in the U.S. and overseas. The designation also enables the firm to access WBENC’s professional development network, which connects women-owned businesses with corporate buyers, government agencies and other certified enterprises. WBENC said its certification framework is designed to widen opportunities for women-owned companies through partnerships and supplier diversity programmes, supporting growth and broader participation across the economy.
