Timeline: from 1972 till now
How it started
Three generations, two brands, one family business: the history of van Esch and Functionals dates back to 1972.
From Tanning Beds to Coat Racks
HJW van Esch, trained as a silversmith, is a craftsman at heart. In 1972, he started his own company: van Esch Metaal. He developed various products directly for companies in the Netherlands, always with metal and craftsmanship as the foundation. From baptismal fonts and ship fittings to metal greenhouses and even tanning beds. He also made coat racks and wardrobe systems.
2nd Generation: Craftsmanship and Focus
In 1988, HJW van Esch's sons, Ad and Simon, took over the helm. The brothers inherited their father's attention to detail and love for craftsmanship, but they also brought a new impulse. They decided to focus entirely on the development of metal coat racks and wardrobe systems. The indestructible products stand out for their functionality, simplicity, and craftsmanship.
‘Say coat rack, and you say van Esch’
In the 1990s, Ad and Simon further refined their focus. They concentrated on the business furnishing market, teamed up with leading designers, and laid the foundation for a reseller network throughout Europe. And with success. van Esch grew to become the coat rack specialist: ‘Say coat rack, and you say van Esch.’ In 2013, van Esch even designed a coat hanger for the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Functionals: Expect the Unconventional
Through their collaboration with forward-thinking designers, Ad and Simon saw opportunities to create other timeless and functional products, such as tables, chairs, and lighting. This led them to launch a new label in 2009: Functionals. Under the motto ‘Expect the unconventional,’ the quirky brand won the hearts of design lovers. Products like the Lloyd Table and Wendela Chair—collaborations with designer Serener—became design icons.
The Perfect Entrance
van Esch also continued to develop products for ‘The Perfect Entrance,’ because being well-received makes you feel welcome right away. This vision includes not only wardrobe systems but also products like display cabinets and waste separation bins. Bestseller Ditch, a collaboration with designer Frans de la Haye, is one such product. van Esch products can be found in offices, museums, and hotels worldwide, from Google’s headquarters to the White House in Washington. Over the past decades, millions of people have hung their coats on a van Esch coat rack. van Esch has produced more than 7.5 million hooks so far, and that number continues to grow.
3rd Generation: A bond as strong as steel
In 2024, the family business is preparing for a new phase. The third generation of van Esch is now also at the helm, and the van Esch and Functionals brands have grown increasingly closer. They share a love for metal, craftsmanship, attention to detail, and functionality. It feels like a natural step forward to merge van Esch and Functionals into one strong brand—a brand ready for the future, with more focus to better serve customers.
Starting in January 2025, van Esch and Functionals will jointly continue under the name Functionals.
2025: Organising Spaces
Functionals builds on the rich heritage of the family business. The new Functionals brand promise is: ‘Organising Spaces’. Functionals believes that comfortable working and living starts with a tidy and orderly environment. Because a well-organised space creates peace and quiet, around you and in your head. Functionals ensures a workspace, house, dressing room, reception area, cloakroom or showroom works for you with functional and carefully designed products that will last a lifetime.
