In the high-end wallcovering industry, we are the only company that is both a designer and a manufacturer. That gives us a competitive advantage when it comes to quality and product knowledge. For our medium-levelled range, our competition lacks the design approach of real editor. So, there is literally no need to source wallcoverings anywehere else: we can do the entire project. It is like buying tailormade suits and basics in the same store from a sales person that shows the same enthusiasm for both and is caring about your total outfit and it’s durability.

You can have both an aesthetical or a technical reason. The wall is probably the most dominant surface in an interior and surprisingly enough it is often ‘designed’ in the last phase of the design process. In hospitality or public buildings, there is a true demand for protection of the wall. You would be surprised how easy a protected wall is in private residences as well.

We consider ourselves advisors when it comes to walls. Designers know perfectly well what they want their project to look like. They just have no idea of the technical possibilities or maintenance issues. Especially in hospitality the latter is a topic. Well, we are real experts.

We have our own training center for installers recognised by the Belgian authorities. But mostly, we have surrounded ourselves with professional partners around the world, like Home Fabrics in South Africa, that can assist you locally. But probably the best way to help you, is by making our products simple to install. Consider them plug-and-play. Even if the look very sophisticated, delicate or hand-made, you can always install them like a regular wallpaper. No real need for skilled carpenters if you want a wooden finish, just use Arte’s wood veneer wallcoverings.

We realize 70% of our global turnover is in Hospitality. Maintenance, durability and fire-rating are just part of the concept from the first moment of development.

The jungle of sustainability claims in the world today can sometimes leave me feeling frazzled. The most important thing for a designer is to source products from reliable supplier. Being EU based, there is a real guarantee when it comes to that. We have some of the most strict ecological and social laws. No child labour in Belgium and, in order to obtain a building permit for a production plant, we need to purify our wastewater and generate our own energy with renewable sources. For me sustainability is an attitude. A designer can trust that we manage our company in the most sustainable way possible. This doesn’t mean that we are 100% ecological, we still need to improve.

We are a CO2 neutral company, certified by Vinçotte. This means that we invest in reforestation and water supply to compensate our emissions. But more important for us is that the certification obliges us to keep looking to lower our emissions as every gram is costing us money. On the production side, we manage quite well to reduce emissions. Transport is the difficult part, as most of our customers want their on-stock goods to be delivered asap.

Arte is owned by two brothers with a very simple goal: they want to create the most beautiful wallcovering company in the world. Beautiful when it comes to aesthetics, but also beautiful when it comes to sustainability. In Flanders we use the word ‘schoon’ which means both beautiful and clean. We just want to be part of the most beautiful interiors in the world. Luxury without having to feel guilty. Don't underestimate the power of soft furnishings in the wellbeing of people in a space.