From 1887 to the Present
We look to the future, firmly grounded in over 130 years of eventful company history. For us, looking back doesn't mean being trapped in the past, but rather constantly reminding ourselves of our origins. It shows us how to uphold our cherished values and never lose sight of our ideals and goals. Only in this way could we, with a clear conscience, find our way through the adversities of history to where we are today, and this is how we will continue to go forward.
We are a young company, despite our long history, with fresh wind in our metaphorical sails and always ready to explore new horizons. This includes not only current interior design trends, but also new techniques, materials, and ways to manufacture and finish carpets.
Over a hundred years ago, we were founded as the "Deutsche Kokoswebrereien" (eng. "German Coir Weaving Mills" to process coconut fibers and produce coir carpets. A revolutionary material that allowed to make simple rugs and runners affordable for all households and necessary for the halls of the newly arrived industrialization.
Today we find ourselves in a different reality, surrounded by strong synthetic yarns, cellulose fibers, and fabrics made from plants like agaves and seagrasses. A diversity of materials, manufacturing processes, and finishing methods.
And it is getting more and more. Choices become more opulent and therefore giving us ever more to work with and be creative with. The world of carpets is constantly expanding, allowing for increasingly impressive designs, and it's a world in which we feel right at home.
With this sheer 'desire' for the new, to find out what is possible, and looking back on the path we have taken, we continue to move forward and are delighted to take you with us into the future.
The story
Foundation
On January 20, 1887, Johann Heinrich Schürholz and Andreas Mathaeus Stevens founded the general partnership Stevens & Schürholz for the production of carpets and similar products.
On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary, the managing directors look back on an extremely successful company development, with an estimated tenfold increase in workforce and sales and expansion to various locations in Germany.
Die Familie Stevens verlässt das gemeinsame Unternehmen und das daraus hervorgehende Unternehmen Schürholz & Söhne schließt sich mit zahlreichen anderen Firmen zusammen der Werbe- und Verkaufsorganisation der Deutschen Kokoswebereien an, heute noch bekannt unter dem Namen DEKOWE.
The organization of the "Deutschen Kokoswebereien" is broken up by the government, whereupon the company Schürholz & Söhne abandons its location in Mönchengladbach.
During the Second World War, the business at the Dorsten site was kept alive by only a few old weavers, as the young employees had been drafted.
After the war, the slow reconstruction of production began, partly with returning prisoners of war, such as co-owner Hermann Schürholz. The family business Schürholz & Sons adopted the name of the old sales organization and was henceforth called "DEKOWE Schürholz Teppichfabrik".
The economic miracle is also noticeable at the Dorsten site, where production will soon be fully operational again and the portfolio will even be expanded through an investment in sisal fabrics.
DEKOWE Schürholz can now look back on three decades of innovation, in which new technologies and production processes were developed and brought to market. We are particularly proud of products such as TREPPICH©, of which the ten millionth has just been sold, or Carpetta©, which has been laid at the feet of German parliamentarians.
The company is celebrating its 100th anniversary. For comparison, a photo of the workforce in Dorsten in 1887 and 1987.
DEKOWE founded linea naturale Textildesign GmbH in Dorsten as a division of DEKOWE. The focus is on design and collection creation of floor textiles as well as advertising and sales of natural fiber carpets.
DEKOWE had to adapt to the pressures of globalization and close its factory in Dorsten. It became DEKOWE GmbH & Co. KG, a trading company and brand manufacturer within the Steffel Group, and remained a strong partner of linea naturale Textildesign GmbH. The latter then took over the contract sewing facility, the carpet workshop, and the office buildings at the former factory site in Dorsten.
Als Vertreter der fünften Generation wechselt Philipp Schürholz vom Konfektionsbetrieb in Rumänien zu linea naturale in Deutschland, um als Teil der Geschäftsleitung das Familienunternehmen, gemeinsam mit seine Mutter Angelika Schürholz, weiter voran zu bringen.
Philipp Schürholz takes over the company from his mother and restructures it massively. Linea naturale becomes Grundstoff GmbH. This involves restructuring the small family business.
Special machines are developed to bring the new Purstoff product to market and the company is digitized. On-demand production is perfected and the focus on the e-commerce sector is tightened.
DEKOWE returns home!
The current owner of DEKOWE GmbH & Co. KG is handing the business back to the Schürholz family, at the former home of DEKOWE, Marienstraße 51 in Dorsten, Westphalia. Grundstoff GmbH becomes DEKOWE Schürholz GmbH and the merger of the business areas is gaining momentum.
As a modern and newly positioned company, DEKOWE is becoming more flexible and agile, thus putting itself in an even better and more comprehensive position to offer only the best to its customers.
Back to the now and off to the future!
We do not live in the past but instead focus on a better future with ecologically valuable rugs and carpets. Become part of our success and discover what we can do for you as a reseller.