Handmade with Passion

Whilst an expert's trained eye can spot the hidden qualities straight away, many of the outstanding quality features remain invisible to the normal observer. But there are some things everyone can see: the classic design vocabulary, timeless elegance and stylistic confidence that are the hallmarks of every model produced by Bielefelder Werkstätten, or BW for short. The company has been producing upholstered furniture in a class of its own at its Bielefeld site since 1956 and has always regarded itself as a manufacturer in the sense of the word's origin: a maker of hand-made goods. "No machine can match the degree of accuracy our work requires – it can only be done by hand," says works manager Meinolf Helmig with obvious pride.

As well as its strikingly confident design, there is something else that sets Bielefelder Werkstätten apart: the wide variety of exclusive fabrics and premium leathers it uses for its furniture. That's hardly surprising in view of the fact that BW is part of the JAB Anstoetz Group, which includes brands such as Chivasso, Soleil bleu par Wellmann and of course JAB Anstoetz – a textile empire with a workforce of 1300 and a global player in the interiors and furniture sector.

This heritage is obvious as soon as you see and touch the beautiful upholstered furniture, armchairs and recliners. Everything is made exclusively by highly qualified craftsmen who bring both their handed-down knowledge and a passion for detail to their work. A great many steps are required before "Hudson" or "Bella Vista" can show off their merits. The fabric experts ensure the material is cut so that the pattern matches flawlessly, the grain has to be perfectly aligned and the custom-sewn fabric accurately fixed in place with hundreds of tiny nails. This time-honoured craftsmanship gives rise to fascinating products that are held in high esteem by customers. The passionate care the Bielefeld craftsmen bring to their work produces results with a sensuous look and feel: finely sculpted forms and well-balanced proportions, precision right down to the smallest detail. The style, which has been developed in collaboration with renowned designers, is always expressed in the form of timeless aesthetics. And whilst creatives like Andreas Weber, Bernd Münzebrock or Edgar Reuter might pursue very different approaches, a contemporary interpretation of traditional forms is central to all their designs.

Because it takes more than premium upholstered furniture to create exquisitely designed living spaces, Bielefelder Werkstätten now also offers sophisticated furnishing concepts featuring tables, lamps and dining sets designed to complement the BW sofas and armchairs. The result: nuanced, harmoniously coordinated interior worlds that are made to last and retain their value. EB

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Photos: Heiner Köpcke, Bielefelder Werkstätten

BW Bielefelder Werkstätten
Heinz Anstoetz Polstermöbelfabrik KG
Potsdamer Strasse 180
DE-33719 Bielefeld
Tel. 0049 (0) 521 924 27 0
Fax 0049 (0) 521 924 27 80
bw-kontakt@jab.de
www.bielefelder-werkstaetten.de