A pillowcase seems like a simple task at first glance. Until it turns out that the pattern must fall exactly perpendicular to the pillow, aligned to the millimeter. On the other side of the spectrum: protective covers for giant steel pipes and floating ropes for offshore. Each one a textile challenge that, at first glance, has nothing to do with the others, yet they all end up in the same place at De Kemphaan: with people possessing nearly sixty years of passed-down knowledge in textiles.
Sixty years of passed-down knowledge
Sixty years is not an abstract number. It means sixty years of getting to know fabrics: which fabric drapes smoothly, which is sturdy, which remains waterproof, and which must be breathable. It means sixty years of seeing designs fail and succeed, and learning from that what actually works.
But above all, it means something else: that knowledge does not stay with one person. It is passed on day in and day out, from experienced hands to new hands, right on the work floor. Every seamstress, every technician working at De Kemphaan today, builds on six decades of craftsmanship that is not found in a book, but is in their fingers.
And “Made in Belgium” is not a marketing slogan at De Kemphaan. It means the work happens here, with short lines of communication between design, production, and the client. No unclear intermediaries, no surprises after weeks of waiting.
Simply: ask a question and quickly receive an answer and a product that is correct.
All fabrics, all designs
What distinguishes De Kemphaan is the willingness to work with every fabric and every design, from the smallest decorative pillow to the largest industrial project. Not just the obvious tasks, but also the challenges where other parties drop out.
Small or large, decorative or functional: the approach remains the same. Listening carefully to what the product must be able to do and, from there, determining the right fabric and the right design.
It only seems simple once it is finished
A finished product often looks self-evident. A pillowcase, a protective cover, a sample book… it seems logical that it looks that way. But behind that end result, there is always a process of optimization.
Which fabric best suits the use? Which seam lasts the longest? How do you ensure a design is not only beautiful but also practical to produce and maintain? These are the questions the team at De Kemphaan deals with every day, in close consultation with the client. Not deciding what is good on their own, but working together with the client toward the best solution; step by step, until the design is completely right.
From fabric to leather: a workshop full of techniques
Our sewing workshop specializes in everything from fabric to leather. We master a wide range of stitching techniques: stitching, piping, hemming, bordering, overlocking, applying textile labels, snap fasteners, zippers, or reflective strips on clothing and bags. We also assemble sample books with (upholstery) fabrics, so you can always make the perfect choice.
This is possible because we have an extensive machine park and a well-equipped workshop: a CAD digital cutting machine with camera system, a laser cutting machine for complex patterns with perfectly finished edges, a cutting table up to 3.10 m wide and a spreading machine up to 2.50 m wide, 80 diverse sewing machines (single or double needle, overlock, safety, triplock, hemming, binding with tape, blind hemming), machines for buttons and buttonholes, for eyelets and riveting, an ironing table, and a mattress filling machine.
We specialize in technical textile finishing: the precise (laser) cutting, stitching, and packaging of diverse and heavier materials, from PVC-coated fabrics to high-performance fibers such as Dyneema®, Kevlar®, and Nomex®. Our added value lies in that machine park, combined with our own die-cutting department for leather, plastic, and rubber. This allows us to work flexibly and efficiently, regardless of the complexity of your project, from prototype to series production.
Important to know: this is not a garment workshop for regular clothing. De Kemphaan focuses on technical and functional textiles such as covers, bags, sample books, medical applications, and industrial solutions, not on making garments.
Your packaging can also be circular
A textile challenge does not always stop at the product itself. The packaging around it also deserves a thoughtful approach. Reusable and circular packaging solutions are rapidly gaining ground, and De Kemphaan actively responds to this: from the production of reusable pallet wraps to sustainable packaging systems designed to last for years instead of being thrown away after one use.
The same principle applies here: good material and smart design make the difference between something that ends up in the container after one use and something that can be deployed time and again.
A second life for material
That versatility does not stop with new products. Even at the end of a life cycle, textiles still have value at De Kemphaan. Upcycling is therefore a standard part of the way we work: material that seems written off is given a new function instead of being thrown away.
A discarded tent thus becomes the base material for sturdy pouches, or for curtains in a fitting room. An old advertising banner, which usually ends up in the container after a campaign, is transformed into a laptop sleeve. Always the same thought: good material deserves a second chance, and those who apply textile experience to it see a new product where others only see waste.
specializations
That combination of experience and versatility translates into a number of areas in which De Kemphaan has firmly specialized:
- Covers: from pillowcases to protective covers, in any desired size
- Sample books: accurately assembled for presentation and sales
- Medical textiles: where quality and hygiene leave no room for error
- Circular packaging: reusable and made to last
And that is only part of what passes over the work tables daily.
Do you have a textile challenge?
Whether it concerns a complex custom project or a simple repeat order: at De Kemphaan, it is all about thinking along. About asking questions, knowing materials, and arriving at the right design together with the client.
