Opening Our Doors: Discover Our Company Through Art
At Concordia Textiles, art has never been just about appearance. It has always had a clear purpose supporting innovation, encouraging new ways of thinking, and adding meaning to our work. To celebrate our 100th anniversary, we’re showcasing eight artworks that are far more than decorative pieces, they are deeply woven into our story. Each one symbolizes a core value, reflects a vision, or marks a defining moment in our journey as a company.
As part of this celebration, we also took part in the MaartKunstroute organized by the city of Waregem. By opening our doors to the public, we shared how art and industry can inspire and enrich one another and how certain works have helped shape the identity of Concordia Textiles over the years.
Arnaud Where It All Began
In 1972, Albert Tuytens, saw something surprisingly familiar in a sculpture by the artist Arnaud. According to him, the abstract copper shapes clearly referenced the letter "C" for Concordia and the "W" for Waregem. The piece was purchased and became the direct inspiration for the Concordia Textiles logo. It shows how intuition and imagination can go hand in hand. Where some saw only art, Mr. Tuytens recognized the visual representation off his company.
Bernar Venet
Three decades later, history repeated itself. The new generation of Tuytens discovered Arc 217.5° by Bernar Venet, a sculpture that once again suggested the letter “C,” but in a much more modern, minimalist style.
The purchase and installation of the artwork in 2000 not only marked the physical renewal of the Concordia building, but also a rebranding. The old logo was updated, with Venet’s visual language forming the basis for the new visual identity.
Bernar Venet’s work is sleek and strong, gracefully curved yet unbreakable just like Concordia Textiles over the past 100 years
Sint-Lucas Kunsthumaniora
In 2007, the third stage of the Tour de France kicked off in Waregem. Concordia Textiles seized the moment to launch a new collection of lining fabrics. The theme? Movement, speed, and progress.
Graduating students from Sint-Lucas School of Arts were asked to bring the theme of “ride” to life through a design featuring Concordia’s fabrics. One design rose above the rest, a composition that captured the meaning through its energy, gray tones and meaning.
This sparked a valuable insight: young creative voices can bring fresh perspective to established brands.
Art & Language
The artwork Incident in a Museum by Art & Language (Michael Baldwin & Mel Ramsden) explores invisibility in the art world. After being excluded from the Whitney Museum, the artists painted their own version of it complete with their own works on the walls.
At the request of Concordia Textiles, the artists created the painting in a way that each panel could stand alone without losing impact. This symbolism speaks to the essence of good entrepreneurship: knowing when to collaborate, and when to value independence.
Harumi Ori
Harumi Ori was born in Kyoto, Japan, and moved to New York in 1999 to study at the School of Visual Arts. She has lived and worked there ever since.
Her artistic process begins with photographing everyday scenes: people, cars, crowds, traffic... the dynamic rhythm of the city. She then transforms these snapshots into what she calls sculptures.
Elements such as crosswalks, traffic lights, and fluorescent colors symbolize safety and refer to the protective and safety garments that Concordia develops, produces, and markets.
Panamarenko
Panamarenko’s Quadro Flip Flop is not a plane, not a piece of art, not a prototype — it’s all of them at once. Inspired by a childhood dream of flight, Panamarenko believed insects were far more efficient flyers than humans could ever be.
But its true meaning lies in the technical journey behind it. The wings, crafted from fishing line, only took shape after months of testing and uncertainty.
That process mirrors the approach of the R&D team at Concordia Textiles. Innovation starts with an idea but it’s through experimentation, repetition, and persistence that real breakthroughs happen.
Anthony Cragg
Anthony Cragg’s work blends discarded objects with symbols of industrial power. A Mercedes star paired with broken bottles and stones: a striking contrast.
Each viewer sees something different: wealth or decay, power or environment, nostalgia or progress. It’s this openness to interpretation that makes the piece unforgettable.
In the same way, a potential client should walk away from a sales visit with something meaningful, a lasting impression that helps them remember not just the visit, but its significance.
Bradley Kronz
Kronz found an old painting at a flea market and gave it new life. The original wooden frame was replaced with one made of cardboard. The image itself was repainted, only the structure remained.
The result is a piece that perfectly reflects Concordia’s sustainability ambitions. Our collaboration with Purfi and our commitment to a circular economy are also about rethinking, restructuring, and revaluing what already exists.
The dark surface in the work symbolizes the past. The yellow light shining through an open door? That’s the future.
The Red Thread Between Art and Entrepreneurship
Eight artworks. Eight moments of direction and renewal. At Concordia Textiles, art has never been incidental. From our logo to our production process, from sustainability to collaboration, time after time art proves to be a powerful medium for progress and thought.
