BRUSSELS, Belgium — is the center of the textile universe in Europe today as well as THE HOME FOR MoOD, but difficult business conditions are forcing Belgian textile manufacturers to work harder than ever before on innovative fabrics.

This also means that the very individualistic and independent nature of the Belgian business culture is being harnessed by economic forces to have individual fabric and furniture producers in Belgium work more closely with each other in groups. It was in this spirit that Axel Enthoven, the designer, conceived of this year’s Flemish Masters project.

DesleeClama developed a special knitted upholstery fabric for RecorBedding furniture that doubles as sleeping beds at night; Beaulieu Orotex developed an office divider scheme recycling needlepunch felt carpet; Concordia created a basecloth for the seating of De Zetel’s ‘Cup Cake’ chair; Beaulieu upholstery produced a line of outdoor fabrics for Passe Partout’s outdoor line—plug it in and it heats up! Joli and Flocart joined forces to create a flocked design in an outdoor fabric.

The result of this great effort appears on these F&FI pages along with the individuals who worked closely with each other to produce some unusual results. It proves that the sum of the parts can be greater than the whole.

    — Eric Schneider