Behind the scenes at Arte, the brand that is shaking up the world of wallpaper

Philippe Desart, Arte’s chief executive, remembers sitting in the unsettling silence of the brand’s Paris showroom after its opening in 2010. It was Déco Off week and the streets were bustling with activity, but he recalls: “We were just really unknown.” The situation couldn’t be more different today, with Arte’s wallcovering launches reliably drawing crowds of eager people are what the brand will do next.

The company’s evolution has been as unique as some of its designs, but it is safe to say that the company that is now run by Philippe and his brother Steven (they took over from their father Jean-Pierre in 1990). 2009) is ready to celebrate his successes.

Wallpaper is a long-standing love for the family: the brothers’ grandfather, Julien, had a company that imported other companies’ designs into the Belgian market, but it was Jean-Pierre who had the vision for the family to create their own patterns should. The factory in Zonhoven, deep in the Belgian countryside, is now 22,000 square meters in size and last year alone produced almost 10,000 kilometers worth of wall coverings.

The building recently underwent a minor facelift, with the creative studio (led by design manager Frederik Decoopman) at the heart of the operation given a riot of colour. It’s a fitting makeover for a brand that isn’t afraid to do things differently.

According to Philippe, a collaboration with the Dutch brand Moooi, founded by the also rebellious spirit Marcel Wanders, helped Arte “get out of the box”. The results are certainly unforgettable, like the “Extinct Animals” collection, whose patterns are inspired by both real (the dodo) and imaginary animals (the bearded leopard and the blushing sloth, to name just two). Arte’s latest releases are less fantastical, but just as striking, detailed and crafted.

The ‘Pampas’ range is inspired by the grassy plains of South America and all patterns are woven from plant fibres. A highlight is the ‘Matiz’ design, featuring geometric sections of woven grass joined together to create a natural texture. Also notable is “Brushed Suede,” which implements painting techniques in wall coverings. And look out for ‘Sherwood’ (named after the forest in Nottinghamshire), a panoramic wall covering printed on linen to create a realistic, canvas-like work of art.

Arte is not content with simply being creative, but also wants to be a leader in sustainability. “I’ve always been nervous about greenwashing,” admits Philippe, “because I think we still have a lot of work to do,” but all of the brand’s wall coverings are FSC certified, the paints used are water-based and the packaging is recycled The factory has 3,000 solar panels on the roof and there is a robust waste management and recycling center on site. “We want to do it well,” affirms Philippe. That cannot be denied. arte-international.com