Femke Furnée, founder of design brand FEST Amsterdam, is no longer involved with the company. After the brand relaunched under the wing of Zuiver Interior Group last summer, Furnée has now announced that she has stepped down from her role as Creative Director. "It was time to let go," the entrepreneur said.
© Femke Furnée
Although the acquisition by Zuiver Interior Group in August 2024 was accompanied by the announcement that Furnée would remain the creative face of the brand, it turns out she has not been operationally involved since June last year. With FEST now fully integrated into the Westzan Group, the founder feels the time is right to officially close this chapter.
From €3,000 to international label
The departure marks the end of an era that began in 2013. With just €3,000 in savings and a clear mission, to make design accessible to a wider audience, Furnée built FEST into a well-known player in the European interior design market. At its peak, the brand had seven of its own stores in the Netherlands and Belgium, and more than 100 retail outlets worldwide.
"What started in a small office grew into an international brand with an omnichannel model," Furnée reflects. She particularly emphasises her pride in the European production chain: "We produced almost all our furniture in Europe, with a large part even in the Netherlands. That is something I remain incredibly proud of."
The "full range" of entrepreneurship
FEST's journey has been one of extremes. After years of rapid growth, the brand faced bankruptcy in July 2024, after which Zuiver Interior Group (known for brands such as Zuiver, Dutchbone and Bold Monkey) stepped in to save the label. For Furnée, this period was a hard lesson in entrepreneurship. "Growth, creativity, building, scaling up, scaling down, falling down and getting back up again. I experienced the full spectrum. Entrepreneurship is wonderful, but at times also incredibly tough."
Future under the wing of Zuiver
With Furnée's departure, the future of the brand now rests entirely with Richard Halberstadt and Caroline van Velze of Zuiver Interior Group. The focus is currently on the Amsterdam-West and Rotterdam stores, as well as integrating the organisation's back end. Furnée says she leaves the brand with confidence: "FEST is now fully part of Zuiver. I am confident that the brand will continue to grow."
What's next for the entrepreneur herself remains to be seen, although she hints at new projects: "Bringing brands to life and building something beautiful from nothing—that's where my heart lies."
FEST Amsterdam timeline
2013: Founded by Femke Furnée
2013–2023: Growth to seven own stores and sales in 20 countries
July 2024: Bankruptcy of Mena Exploitatie B.V. (FEST)
August 2024: Relaunch under Zuiver Interior Group
April 2026: Femke Furnée officially announces her departure (effective June 2025)
More information:
FEST Amsterdam
www.festamsterdam.com
Zuiver Interior Group
Schoot 2
1551 NB Westzaan
+31 88 511 60 00
[email protected]
www.zuiver-group.com
