0 8 0 9 Years Years Years Years Years B r e t z I n t r o WOW, 130 years! There’s a lot that can happen in such a long time... 1560months full of ingenuity and madcap ideas, packed with innovation and staying power. Dreamscapes made in Germany for no less than five generations. Today, the family business is run by Norbert Bretz and Carolin Kutzera. Here, they share their secret of eternal youth: courage. Carolin: Looking back, we’ve always had the courage to stay true to ourselves and not pander to the mainstream. Our company has also witnessed many turbulent chapters in its long history, and has had to reinvent itself time and time again. Yet if we hadn’t been ready for change and challenges, we’d no longer be in business. This willingness to take a gamble is also reflected by our designs. During product development, we often find ourselves saying: “Damn it – how is that even going to work?” But we stay stubborn, we give it a go, we try things out, we provide honest feedback – and we always find a way. The end result is never just a ‘sofa’ per se, but an item with a soul, with a story to tell, full of emotion. Following your gut feeling is always important – and furnishings are no exception. Typically, our customers will pick out the design that first caught their eye, before they start thinking it over and narrowing things down. So, it’s a love-atfirst-sight moment. Norbert: From travel to extreme sports or projects at work: I’ve said yes to plenty of things in my life that others would’ve had turned down. Sometimes, you need that walk on the wild side. Our enduring success is down to the fact that our furniture breaks with convention and not only in terms of its visual appeal. Our work is based on a handicraft. Our seasoned upholsterers and needleworkers are exceptional artisans, which gives us the opportunity to fully realize our idiosyncratic style and quality that others will never achieve. Making it this far also means standing firm in the face of criticism from know-it-alls. And giving our staff space to explore new horizons, go their own way – even be a little wayward! Extraordinary things happen when everyone does what they do best. We want to invite our customers to commune with their inner child, to indulge in those things they’ve always dreamed of and to lose themselves in the joy of the moment. As an interior brand, Bretz meets two of life’s most basic – yet contrary – needs. On the one hand, its creations invite us to embark on a fantastic journey full of unbridled adventure. On the other, they offer us a safe haven and inner sanctum. This is what makes True Characters – while they never lose their air of mystery, they make us feel right at home. These ideas become a reality in an artisan workshop where Bretz infuses more than a century of traditional German upholstery with the spirit of innovation. Modular and multipurpose pieces are created by a passion for the unusual paired with sophisticated methods of production. Only when a sofa, bed, armchair or accessory has been finished to the very last detail can it fulfil this intricate vision. Free spirits and eternal enthusiasts know that longing for more that pulses through everything that Bretz does. Fall onto a Bretz – and you’ll find support and limitless inspiration. And maybe an answer or two to the question: “So, what do you truly long for?” “If we hadn’t been ready for chal lenges, we’d no longer be in business.“ „You have to stand firm“ So, Fami ly Bretz, what keeps you young and fresh? „An analogue oasis for the senses, away from our busy l ifestyles and digital distractions. You can’t prompt engineer a sofa.” Norbert: Thirty years ago, when we started to make the things we truly cared about, our Wildcat and Zebra velours gave us our first runaway success. Wildcat suits Bretz, as it stands for this untamed kind of character. A big cat has an air of hauteur tempered by its delicate frame. We’re relaunching this velour to mark our 130th anniversary.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTkyMTI=