Family businesses often combine tradition and innovation in a very special way. Today, the exhibitors of the Living segment, BW Bielefelder Werkstätten and Eva Solo, tell their own fascinating stories.
BW Bielefelder Werkstätten
BW Bielefelder Werkstätten – for interior design lovers worldwide, this name stands for high-quality furniture. However, it all started with a love of textiles: in 1946, the merchant Josef Anstoetz opened his wholesale business for decorative and upholstery fabrics in East Westphalia: JAB – short for Josef Anstoetz Bielefeld. The company grew rapidly. In 1951, his nephew Heinz Anstoetz joined the business and took over full responsibility when the founder died unexpectedly in 1955.
From left to right: Stephan Anstoetz, Chris-Jacob Schminnes und Claus Anstoetz.
But evidently the entrepreneurial spirit runs in the family: Heinz Anstoetz systematically expanded the company, founding BW Bielefelder Werkstätten in 1956, which he later expanded to include the ipdesign brand. In the 1970s he invested in IT, and in the 1980s in an innovative hotel project in which he brought the JAB home collections to life.
Today, his sons Stephan and Claus Anstoetz, together with Chris-Jacob Schminnes, manage the internationally operating JAB ANSTOETZ Group, which offers a diverse portfolio ranging from home textiles, sun protection solutions and floor coverings to accessories and upholstered furniture. The team is currently expanding the production and storage facilities of BW Bielefelder Werkstätten, thus continuing to invest in the future.
Timeless aesthetics from the manufactory
Despite all modernisation, every piece is still made individually and with great attention to detail at the BW Bielefelder Werkstätten, now as in the past. The craftsmen and women must possess a great deal of skill. From cutting the designs and coordinating the thread course to the fabric sewn to size and fixing it with hundreds of tiny nails – everything is done by hand.
The creators work with renowned designers to further develop their collections. A current example is the ipdesign sofa series LOOP, designed by Werner Aisslinger, which will be presented at Ambiente 2025 in the Interior Looks area in Hall 3.1.
Eva Solo
On the one hand, idyllic nature, on the other, the vibrant life of Copenhagen. The small town of Måløv is certainly not a bad place for a design-oriented company. And yet there is so much more to it than that: the Eva Solo brand is celebrated worldwide for its contemporary design. No wonder, because reinventing old things is in the DNA of this family business. Founded in 1913, Eva Solo is now run by Jan Engelbrecht.
Jan Engelbrecht.
His grandfather named the company after his daughter Eva, Jan Engelbrecht's mother. The company produced high-quality functional products for the classic housewife, including unforgettable icons such as the bread machine from 1952. However, the family was quicker than others at recognising the signs of the times. When the role of women changed and homes became more open, Eva was one of the first to develop beautiful household helpers that people would be proud to show.
Eva times four
Over time, this innovative spirit has given rise to three strong brands: Eva now focuses on genuine kitchen products. Eva Trio was created in 1977 in collaboration with Ole Palsby. It is a project close to the family's heart that they continue to this day in the spirit of its creator with a product range from kitchen to table. The latest brand "Please Wait to be Seated" was bought 2023 and expands the programme with furniture, lamps and accessories.
However, the Eva Solo brand was to play a special role. In 1997, a small series of 'Solo goods' was launched, characterised by simplicity, clean lines and a high practical value – and it struck at the heart of the zeitgeist. With long-term consequences: due to its great success, Eva was renamed Eva Solo in 2010. Nowadays it's the main brand which covers the entire home with design products for many purposes and rooms, including the outdoor space.
The family business is growing just as thoughtfully and courageously as it designs its items. In the 100 years since, the 'little daughter' Eva has developed into a modern, internationally active design company with around 60 employees that knows and appreciates its roots. That is why the headquarters, from which the products are distributed worldwide, also remains in the Danish idyll: in beautiful Måløv.
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