About Us

Everyday magic comes from a love of furniture

Bretz combines two essentially contrary, but fundamental desires in life: On the one hand, our creations take you on fantastic journeys full of adventure and freedom. But, on the other hand, they wrap themselves around you making you feel safe and secure. That is what defines our True Characters – kind of impossible to figure out, but great to be around.

This vision takes shape in our manufactury where Bretz strides forth with a bold pioneering spirit while drawing on over a hundred years of German upholstery tradition. Born out of our passion for the unexpected coupled with sophisticated production techniques, we create exceptional modular and multifunctional concepts. Only when sofa, bed, armchair or accessory has been honed right down to the last detail, will they meet our exacting standards.

Free spirits and eternal enthusiasts know what it’s like to long for more, which also resonates with all of us at Bretz. Those who let themselves fall here will find support as well as boundless inspiration. And maybe one or two answers to the question: What are you really longing for?

Our furniture - As Special as You Are

“We are a real family business with a long tradition. Preserving values such as cohesion, respect and trust is important to us. This also includes open discourse and a constructive approach to different points of view.”

Carolin Kutzera, Managing Director

“Our furniture tells its own story, inspires the imagination and unites two fundamental but essentially contradictory themes of life. The longing for distant worlds contrasts with the desire for security. Where both find their place, everyday magic is created that inspires again and again.”

Norbert Bretz, Managing Director

History

1895
Foundation

Johann Bretz starts his own business as a mattress manufacturer and founds his first factory in Gensingen, Rhine-Hesse. His son Alexander expanded the range to include upholstered furniture. After the Second World War, he had to rebuild the completely destroyed factory from scratch.

1957
Down to earth

The company served the mainstream with furniture ranging from the kidney-shaped table style to Gelsenkirchen Baroque and grew continuously.

1973
Golden age & downfall

Karl-Fritz Bretz, Alexander's son, experienced the company's heyday in the mid-1970s with 1,600 employees and its demise a few years later in 1986 due to the economic crisis.

1987
Resurrection

Karl-Fritz Bretz founds the company with 5 employees. Shortly afterwards, he asked his sons Hartmut and Norbert to join the company, ushering in a new era.

1992
The transformation

“It was actually totally crazy,” says Norbert Bretz about the decision to save the company together with his brother Hartmut in 1992. Norbert and Hartmut Bretz were the fourth generation to take over. They focused on soft contours and strong shapes and turned the company into what it is today: a luxury brand that consistently cultivates exaggeration - extra-large, extra-colored, extravagant and therefore successful and unmistakable worldwide.

1995
Wild Thing

Bretz takes off with zebra and leopard patterns on the PopEi model and wins not customers, but real fans.

2011
Manufacturer and retailer

Bretz opens its first own mono-brand store in Cologne. To date, Bretz has 7 of its own brand stores in Hamburg, Berlin, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. There are also partner-operated Bretz stores and multi-brand retailers. Click here for our store finder.

2015
Let's Celebrate

Bretz celebrates its 120th anniversary. The year before, a new Bretz classic joins the collection. Ohlinda combines playful, lively design and practical modular versatility.

2017
German Brand Award 2017 Gold Interior & Living

Bretz was awarded the German Brand Award Gold in the “Industry Excellence in Branding” category in Berlin at the end of June, the highest prize for successful brand launches in Germany.

2018
5th generation

Carolin Kutzera, daughter of Hartmut Bretz, replaces her father on the management board. After completing her MBA, the qualified designer, who has been working as a creative director at the company since 2009, joins the fifth generation of the family to manage the company together with Norbert Bretz.

2020
Let's Celebrate again

During the imm cologne, Bretz celebrates its 125th anniversary in the Brand Store Cologne. In addition to business partners, fans and regular customers, some German celebrities were also among our guests. Anniversary armchair Johann is launched in a limited edition of 125 pieces.

2024
New Horizons

Conversion and modernization of production with additional integration of a photovoltaic system, which generates more energy at the company site than is needed.

Standing firm in the traditional upholstery trade, mentally in the future.

Manufactory

For the production of our furniture, we have always relied on traditional craftsmanship, people who do their job with passion, understanding and heart, and the best materials - and have been doing so since 1895!

Press Reports

Schöner Wohnen 06-2024 l Weicher, runder, noch komfortablerRead more
Goodlife – WohnDesign N177 | Auf der Suche nach sich selbstRead more
A&W 03-2023 | Wir sind nicht mehr so lautRead more
Home 09-2023 | Sowieso lebensfrohRead more
Goodlife – WohnDesign 05-2023 | Sinnlich. Subtil. Stilsicher.Read more
Weltkunst 03-2023 | Farben, Formen, Muster alles außer LangeweileRead more

Sustainability

Our corporate culture and our actions are determined by long-term values such as sustainability, social responsibility and a respectful approach to each other and our shared environment. We see ourselves as progressive in our thinking and solid in our financing. Since our founding in 1895, our products have met the highest quality standards and are designed to last. In Gensingen in the Rhine-Hessian region of Germany, we manufacture high-quality handcrafted products, far removed from mainstream, mass-produced goods and uniformity. In doing so, we protect and respect internationally recognized human rights.

Materials

The choice of high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship in production result in products of the highest quality - and what lasts a long time is replaced less quickly!

more information

Qualitiy

The choice of high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship in production result in products of the highest quality - and what lasts a long time is replaced less quickly!

Awards

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