Looking sharp: WEIBELWEIBEL

It’s now almost 20 years since Johannes and Lukas Weibel took over the helm of furniture company Intertime from their father in Endingen, Aargau. Weibel Sr had founded the manufacturing firm in 1965 and launched the first Intertime collection five years later – to a very positive response from the market. 'But the market environment was very different back then than it is today. First and foremost, the market was dominated by the big international brands,' says Johannes Weibel.

The name Intertime was chosen to indicate not just the company’s intention of becoming an international player but also its aspiration to position itself 'between the times' and therefore as timeless. Five years ago, the brothers launched the WEIBELWEIBEL brand. Why? Johannes Weibel: 'WEIBELWEIBEL is our baby. WEIBELWEIBEL is us – Johannes and Lukas Weibel. Two brothers, one label, and the aspiration to reconcile bespoke seating quality and sustainable production. WEIBELWEIBEL brings the values that constitute our DNA into even sharper focus. While we want to continue to embrace our heritage, nobody has any associations with the new brand and that gives us new scope – in both a design and a business sense.'

Rather than aiming for breadth, the brothers want to establish an exclusive, personal network for the brand. 'But WEIBELWEIBEL is meant to be authentic, not elitist. We’re aiming for quality, not quantity.' Showing at the company premises – away from the hustle and bustle of international trade fairs – and giving customers an insight into the boutique manufacturing process is also part of the strategy. 'Both as brothers and as owners, we want to stand for the brand and build bonds.'

Text: Anita Simeon Lutz

Photos: zvg Intertime AG; WEIBELWEIBEL

WEIBELWEIBEL

c/o Intertime AG

Brühlstrasse 21

5304 Endingen

Tel. +41 (0)56 265 88 88

info@weibelweibel.ch