Akante was created due to two people from Lille meeting. Both passionate about design and industry, Olivier Vanhaecke and Olivier Tocino wish to revolutionise the universe of contemporary furniture.
It all begins in Chicago. Olivier Tocino is the sales manager for a french industry group, Olivier Vanhaecke for another french company. During a lunch organised by the French-American Chamber of Commerce, they meet.
They immediately become friends and decide to remain in contact although Olivier Vanhaecke was to leave for Japan and join a french offfice design company.
Olivier Tocino then leaves for China where he will first live in Pekin then in Shanghai.
They both come back to France. The idea of a company that would be able to answer to the dire need of originality and innovation in France's furniture field slowly begins to form.
THE AKANTE ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE.
TURN THE PAGE TO DISCOVER THE KEY DATES IN AKANTE'S HISTORY.
2012
Creation of Akante by Olivier Tocino and Olivier Vanhaecke. The first office in Seclin is rather small but brimming with ideas for the first Akante pieces of furniture. Akante quickly becomes a specialist of side tables and coffee tables. Its expertise earns the company a prize, laureate of "Réseau Entreprendre Nord".
2013
First attendance to the Esprit meuble furniture fair. The first Akante collections were on display.
2014
The Twist side table was the first Akante creation to win an award. It unique shape made it become an emblematic product of the company. It was first shown off in the Cologne and Birmingham furniture fairs.
2016
The Akante collections grew over time to inclued dining room elements such as the Luna dining table ; Akante's first and best dining table famous for its patented synchronised mechanism.
2017
Akante launches its first spanish ceramic range of products, that will quickly be offered on the entire collection. The first fabric chairs and the iconic Opera, Ovalia and Galet coffee tables are launched at the same time.
2018
The team gets reinforcements. There are now 9 employees. Akante moves to a new office in the Molinel Business Center in Wasquehal.
2019
Creation of our renowned Kheops dining table
2020
Opening of the first Akante showroom in the Netherlands (DWI). New evolution for the company accompanied by new offices on avenue de Flandre in Wasquehal (where Akante is now based).
2021
Export development, mostly in Germany and England with for example the purchase of a warehouse in Bicester. Creation of an outdoor range of products as well.
2022
The design team expands and Akante lauches a new website. The Akante showroom is unveiled, a 100m2 space to showcase the brand's designs. It also expands its field of expertise to the designers' market (architects, hotels, restaurants, offices...) There are now 25 employees.