The Durlet company was established in 1966 by Egide Durlet. A family business, it was joined two years later by Pieter Vanzieleghem, Durlet’s stepson. The entire team consisted of five people. From the very start, Durlet stood resolutely for top quality and innovative designs. And always in cooperation with outside designers – in those days a revolutionary concept. The models are the creations of the trend-setting German designers Waldmann, Gölz and Schmidt.
Interieur Kortrijk
Already in its first year, Durlet took part in the Brussels Furniture Exhibition: the start of a success story. In 1968, Pieter Vanzieleghem oversaw the birth of Interieur Kortrijk where he remains to this day a member of the Board of Directors. Meanwhile, the furniture exhibition expanded into a biennial world-renowned design show. For Durlet, it still remains an important two-yearly event.
Leather
In 1970, Durlet focussed on the processing of leather as its core activity. Until that time, they had worked primarily with fabric. Very soon, Durlet acquired a name for its selective range of leathers, which soon became one of the trump cards of the company.
In 1980, Egide Durlet passed away unexpectedly. Fortunately, succession was assured with Pieter Vanzieleghem. The company has a sizeable market outside national borders as well. Innovative marketing campaigns strengthened the make and brand awareness of Durlet.
Contract market
From the ‘90s onward, Durlet took on the contract furnishing market and quickly became known for its craftsmanship. Over a short period, the firm executed a number of important contracts, including the Flemish Parliament in Brussels and various other prestigious private and public contracts.
Third generation
In 2003, Anton Vanzieleghem, Pieter’s son, joined as member of the management of Durlet after several years of outside experience. As the third generation, he ensures that Durlet will remain first and foremost a family enterprise with sound values and a clear long-term vision.
Design awards
Durlet has already been crowned numerous times for its efforts in the field of design. In 1986 it won the New York “Roscoe Award” for its trend-setting design. In 1988, it was nominated for “The European Community Design Prize”, because, as a medium-sized enterprise, it successfully combines design and good management. In 2007, Durlet was awarded the
Henry Van de Velde Award. According to the judges, Durlet has “for years been a model for the introduction of design as part of their business strategy.” Furthermore, they named Durlet as “one of the first enterprises in Belgium to recognise the economic added value of design and to fulfil a pioneering role in that field.” Durlet looks forward to travelling further in the future along the path it has taken.