State of the Art

Driven by craftsmanship

Since 1987, State of Art has been bringing craftsmanship and iconic design together in timeless men's fashion.

Who we are

A team of passionate professionals

State of Art consists of a team of enthusiastic professionals with a passion for their craft. From designers and marketers to administrative colleagues and our in-house Porsche specialist: everyone makes a valuable contribution to our shared mission.

The values rooted in our history as a family business still form the foundation of our organisation. Drive, loyalty, and craftsmanship are central to this. From our headquarters in Lichtenvoorde, located in and around the former knitting factory where it all began in 1936, we work every day on the further development of our brand.

"From family business to business family, therein lies our strength."

OUR CRAFTSMEN

Our brand values

Our values

Samen

Professionals, suppliers, partners, and customers—together, we achieve more.

Trouw

Our word is our bond; and a promise is a promise. You can count on us.

Ambacht

Craftsmanship is a passion for the trade, with an eye for detail and respect for tradition.

Tof

Sometimes things should just be fun, look cool, or be a little different.

Echt

Authenticity is of paramount importance. This way, we stay true to ourselves and to you.

Our Brand Story

Ze zeggen wel eens:

“De kleren maken de man.”

Onzin.

Wij maken de kleren.

De man, die maak je zelf.

In wat je doet.

Wat je drijft.

In wie je bent.

Waar je vandaan komt.

Met wie je lacht, leeft en liefhebt.

In die eigenheid zit echtheid.

Dat is wat ons verbindt.

Het zit verweven in ons DNA:

oprecht vakmanschap.

De eerlijke liefde voor product,

en het scherpe oog voor detail.

Het is de rode draad

doorheen onze rijke geschiedenis.

Want wat met hart en ziel is gemaakt,

wordt een leven lang gedragen.

Het kleedt generaties.

Het wordt tijdloos.

Stap dus binnen met zekerheid.

En stap buiten in stijl.

Welkom bij State of Art.

History

A rich history

State of Art has a rich history in terms of quality, design, and craftsmanship. In the early eighties, Albert Westerman Jr. discovered the enormous potential of the knitwear market. The quality of the products from the knitting factory was so high that the market demanded its own brand. Albert shared his insights with retail expert Hans Kuijf. Albert knew everything about quality production, and Hans knew the retail world inside out. A winning combination.

1936Albert Westerman Sr. establishes a knitwear factory for baby clothes in Lichtenvoorde. More than forty million baby clothes leave the factory.

The 1960sStart of private label production in our own knitting factory.

1987State of Art is born. At the MODAM fair in Amsterdam (now MODEFABRIEK), Albert Westerman Jr. and Hans Kuijf present their collection of high-quality sweaters for the first time from a small but proud stand. The success is immediately overwhelming, with retailers queuing in droves.

The 90sExpansion of the product range.

2004Opening of the first proprietary State of Art store in Belgium, in Knokke, following the internalization of the franchise network through acquisition.

2007Opening of the first State of Art stores in the Netherlands, in Utrecht and Breda. This marks the beginning of the brand's own store expansion in the Dutch market.

2013Strategic shift to direct-to-consumer (DTC), with accelerated investments in the proprietary store system and e-commerce platform.

2024Opening of the new flagship store in Antwerp, fully furnished according to our renewed store concept.

2026State of Art is a resilient, established menswear brand that is an integral part of Dutch and Belgian high streets and the online shopping world.

Love for classic Porsches

Craftsmanship on four wheels

At the age of ten, Albert Westerman Jr. fell in love with a Porsche 356 1500 S Cabrio. That first encounter grew into a lifelong passion and formed the basis for a remarkable collection of over forty classic Porsches, featuring iconic models such as the Porsche 550 Spyder and the Porsche 718 RSK.

Sports cars are made for driving. That's why the entire car collection is maintained with the utmost care by our own in-house RDW-approved garage. The same craftsmanship and attention to detail that we put into our fashion collections can be seen here in every restoration. The cars are regularly featured in photoshoots, fashion shows, rallies, and other events.