"You can see that the products are handmade"

Last week our General Manager had an interview with Wonen360, an interior design platform in Belgium and The Netherlands.

If you want to read the original article in Dutch, please click here.

From attic room to own studio in Antwerp

General Manager Yves Casteels: "You can see that the products are handmade".

More than 15 years ago, the first Authentage indoor spotlights were produced. At that time this was still done in an attic room, but now all lighting products are assembled manually in a workshop near Antwerp.

Project by Jannet Butzinger Innenarchitektur for Helma Interior (Germany)

General Manager Yves Casteels: "You can see that the products are handmade. Our products mainly fit within the cottage style, but we notice that people are using our fixtures more and more to create a cosy atmosphere in contemporary homes".

The belgian company has meanwhile grown into an international player. With a team of 16 people it exports its products to many different countries. "90 to 95 percent of our customers are located in Europe, but we also deliver to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa", says Yves.

Design by AA+ Ontwerpbureau and picture by M. van Oosten

Last year, the lighting manufacturer, in collaboration with an American designer, reached the shortlist of the International design awards. In the end, the Bellefeu collection finished at the second place.

Normally, Authentage would have been in Paris for the fair Maison & Objet, but because it did not go through, they participated in the digital version. "It's not the same as the normal fair of course," says Yves, "but all in all we are satisfied. It cost us less time and energy".

He adds: "The current circumstances also have a positive effect on our company. After all, they force us to think about how we can continue to support our existing and new customers in other ways".

The focus is currently on next year. "We have now started to develop next year's new collection. The launch is likely to be around September 2021. In addition, we will be present at the fairs in Paris and Milan."

Please note that the pictures within this article cannot be used without the permission of Authentage.