From a modest beginning of eight patterns, Brentano has been taking steps toward becoming a premier textile house. We launched our first designs in 1990 and have since been expanding exponentially. Currently, our staff consists of 22 employees at the new corporate office in Wheeling, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago. Our fabric collections are represented across the U.S. in 20 showrooms and worldwide in 4 international markets. These
showrooms offer access to the 120 patterns in our growing
textile design portfolio.
Our Fabrics
Brentano’s fabrics stem from the philosophy that the textiles must be beautiful, must be practical, and must perform superbly. Under this direction, we have designed many stunning residential and contract
upholsteries that pass up to 50,000 double rubs. Additionally, the majority of
window treatments pass 701 Small Scale.
Our high-performance textiles include:
- Crypton Fabrics: Specifically designed to be waterproof and antibacterial. Although originally suited for healthcare, it is increasingly being used contract, hospitality and residential markets.
- Faux-Leather: a polyurethane-based animal-friendly alternative to leather that is not only green, but also resistant to wear and easy to clean.
- Fire Resistant Fabrics: Extremely conscious of commercial usability, Brentano makes sure that many of their fabrics are inherently able to pass the 701 Small Scale, and almost all can be treated to pass it.
- Outdoor Fabrics: Able to withstand water condensation and ultraviolet rays, Brentano’s outdoor textiles are beautiful in sunny indoor areas as well.
- Eco-fabrics: Our
label features our environmentally-friendly fabrics, including both recyclable and biodegradable textiles made from bamboo fiber, wool,
recycled polyester and polyurethane faux leather.
The Owners
Textile designer Iris Wang and her husband E-Kwan Chen co-founded Brentano over 18 years ago. Looking back, Iris realizes that E-Kwan had "some nerve" to throw in his lot with hers to create a new company. Whereas Iris studied fine art at Kent State University, E-Kwan holds two masters degrees in science. This is not to say E-Kwan isn’t interested in art. "He used to come and watch me in the pottery studio and when I was printmaking at my university" Iris explains. Iris and E-Kwan divide responsibilities, with Iris taking care of Design and Marketing and E-Kwan responsible for Administration.
Company Development
Together the duo has created a thriving company, one that moved in February 2008 to a new space that has doubled the company’s size in square footage. This move corresponds with the launch of a new website, a redesigned image and innovative marketing strategies.
At first, Brentano focused primarily on the contract textile market. However, in 1998 Brentano joined with Donghia
Showrooms, a move that allowed for significant expansion into the residential and hospitality areas. Jeannie Mooney, the Showroom Manager of Donghia Atlanta, talks about how Brentano encourages people at various levels to play an active part in growing what she calls a "wonderful and very valuable line." Stephen Reichert, who worked for Pollack
in New York for nearly 15 years, says Brentano’s moderate prices and durable textiles helped broaden the appeal of the line to clients who were looking for "reasonably priced fabrics that both look good and hold up well to children, pets or just plain wear." Since our modest beginning, Brentano fabrics have been prominently featured in many large installations including the American Embassy in London, Microsoft in Seattle and most recently, the "
Smart Home: Green + Wired" exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
Our Team
According to
Iris Wang, a "company is a community." Early on, Iris felt a social responsibility to create a nurturing community. Under this nurturing umbrella, Brentano is an environment that educates, guides and motivates its employees. As a company, we are firm in our convictions, yet flexible and organic in our development. Every employee is respected for his or her hard work and talent, but also expected to function at least dually, with as much importance placed on contributions to a harmonious and happy workplace. Employees come to Brentano not only to work, but also to participate and help shape a prolific, multicultural environment that will continue to grow, teach, learn and provide—all with the help of each individual.
As we grow, we continue to invest time and energy in developing our company's "green mindfulness". Brentano believes that green awareness is not just a concept or a product, but a lifestyle. The world movement toward sustainability resonates in the workplace. We also hope that by encouraging employees to rethink their daily practices at work, they will take environmentally friendly habits home to share with family and friends.
Brentano is an equal opportunity employer.
Our Design Studio
Working in a temporary space can be chaotic. This is not the case in Brentano's transitional studio. Since relocating our corporate office in February 2008, Brentano's design team has been busy in a well lit and incredibly organized area. While they labor in this space, extensive new layout planning is underway for our new 2,000 square foot fabric design studio. Windows will line an entire wall, and coupled with the skylights, will allow an abundance of natural light. Iris envisions the windows opening into a tranquil Japanese garden, though she points out that first, there must be windows to open. Because we are building the new studio from scratch, the elements will be in keeping with Brentano's green mindfulness.
The studio, whether transitory or permanent, is a hub for creativity. For Design Director
Iris Wang, Designer
Aaron Mensik, Assistant Designer Erica Shamrock and Studio Assistant Lan Chenh, it is a meeting place for discussion and experimentation. The team pushes the boundaries of patterns, materials, weaves and color while maintaining usability. "We try things that are surprising and unexpected," explains Aaron. He also says it's in the studio that Iris most visibly lives up to her title of Director, singling out the strengths of original artwork and guiding its path. Additionally, sales associates offer critical input on geographical influence and designer trends. National Sales Representative Jeff Frank says it's his job to offer a different perspective and "bring back what the real people are saying."
Careful consideration is taken when choosing where to manufacture the fabrics, including travel to and thorough research of locations worldwide. It is important to Brentano to find the perfect mill to weave each pattern. Additionally, we are increasing business with a number of environmentally-minded mills. After the textiles are woven, they are stocked at Brentano's Headquarterss for purchase and distribution.