This Dutch company was founded in 1890 by Jules Wagemans as an upholstery business. Wagemans’ son expanded the company into a furniture manufacturer in the 1930’s and the company’s distinctive look – logo, brand name and furniture - was developed in order to compete in the market. The company’s name stems from the Latin words “ars” – knowledge or art, and “fortis”, meaning strong, powerful. In the 1950’s the company began developing the style that remains its signature to this day: modern, well designed and unique, and began hiring well known designers such as Gerrit Rietveld and Pierre Pollin. These designers made novel use of color and unique shapes in their furniture designs and attracted the attention of a public inclined toward design and architecture. A combination of modern technology and manufacturing novelty, in conjunction with fresh, unusual, colorful and sculptural designs, helped the company turn to the international market in the 1960’s. Throughout the years, the company has continued its collaboration with young, highly esteemed designers in designing unique and popular pieces of furniture. The company continues to market furniture that was originally designed in the 1960’s and became classic, and is still relevant and popular more than ever today.