São Paulo, Brazil-based furniture and lighting design brand Wentz presented products at ICFF 2019 in New York City, marking the very first time the brand has been represented in the United States.

House Tipster host and Arch-Interiors designer Christopher Grubb was able to speak with owner and designer Guilherme Wentz at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, where he shared the history of how his trendsetting contemporary brand came about.

“I started designing for different brands in Brazil five years ago, and two years ago we decided to have our own brand to put all the philosophy of the design together,” Wentz explained. “I worked with accessories, furniture, and lighting for companies, and we decided to put it all together in a brand.”

Wooden chairs, handmade Brazilian cane-inspired cotton seating, and solid painted tables done in artistic natural tones are staples of the brand’s furniture showcase.

“In most of our products, we look for very simple and clean lines,” Wentz shared.

“[But in these chairs] the main concept was the texture of the cane,” he added. “We wanted to show it off and make the backrest as big as possible to show the texture and combine simple forms.”

For the brand’s ICFF debut, Wentz showcased a grand white chandelier that simply stole the show – and is making a splash throughout other areas of the industry.

“This is our latest product, and it’s a finalist at the NYCxDesign Awards,” he said. The sculptural piece has definitely earned its place on that prestigious list!

“I wanted this to be as simple as possible, relating to nature somehow,” the designer said about his inspiration.

“I like the idea of stalks and other plants, and how I can mimetize this kind of information in a very subtle way on the products. That’s what I search [for] when I’m designing something.”

To hear even more about the latest news from Wentz, and take a closer look around the company’s ICFF booth, be sure to watch a recap of our Facebook live video with Christopher Grubb and designer Guilherme Wentz in the player below.

Stay tuned for more exclusive brand coverage and expert interviews straight from ICFF 2019, coming soon to House Tipster Industry.