Brandbook 2023

DEDON Story

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DEDON Story

1990 The injured professional soccer player Bobby Dekeyser (Bayern Munich, among others), founds DEDON while in hospital. He is 26 years old.

1993 At a trade fair, Dekeyser meets a trust worthy producer from the Philippines and decides to invest in the development of an ‘outdoor living room.’ A few days later, he and his entire family travel to Cebu for six months. 1996 Bobby Dekeyser travels to furniture trade fairs around the globe. DEDON moves production to Thailand because his partner in the Philippines sold his company.

1994 Production starts; intense research on the synthetic fiber.

1995 The Dekeysers move to a croft in the Lüneburg Heath, which becomes the company’s new headquarters. The barn becomes the warehouse. Packing of goods is done in the garden. Number of employees: five. 1998 Stardesigner Richard Frinier, the “King of Outdoor Furniture”, from Los Angeles, starts creating collections for DEDON.

1997 Instead of rattan, the frames for the furniture are made of aluminum. There is also innovation in the production of fiber: new color developments create a breakthrough. 2000 Despite distinctly higher costs, DEDON opens its own production plant on the philippine island of cebu, the mecca of the art of weaving. Number of employees: 380. Designer Frank Ligthart (Antwerp) joins the company.

1999 DEDON Fiber can be used in evermore versatile ways: the look and material behaviour have now been optimized.