The Founders
From Belgium, with Love
Tucked away on the third and second storey of Tanglin Mall, House of AnLi furniture and homeware store was started in 2016 by the husband-and-wife team, Panagiotis and Anne-Jean. They are a true entrepreneurial team – both Belgian, although Panagiotis is of Greek origin.
After completing their Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics they both were awarded a grant from the Prince Albert Foundation (nowadays he is King Albert) to work overseas for one year for a Belgian multi-national company.
This is how Panagiotis came to work in the Singapore branch of Belgian float glass manufacturer Glaverbel, and Anne-Jean became Business Development Manager for Belgian chocolate manufacturer Callebaut. At that time, they established Anne- Jean’s handbag line House of AnLi.
From Belgium, with Love
Tucked away on the third and second storey of Tanglin Mall, House of AnLi furniture and homeware store was started in 2016 by the husband-and-wife team, Panagiotis and Anne-Jean. They are a true entrepreneurial team – both Belgian, although Panagiotis is of Greek origin.
After completing their Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics they both were awarded a grant from the Prince Albert Foundation (King Albert) to work overseas for one year for a Belgian multi-national company.
This is how Panagiotis came to work in the Singapore branch of Belgian float glass manufacturer Glaverbel, and Anne-Jean became Business Development Manager for Belgian chocolate manufacturer Callebaut.
At that time, they established Anne- Jean’s handbag line House of AnLi.
Anne-Jean had a huge desire to bring in some décor lines too as she has a real creative flair and a passion for putting things together. She knew some fabulous Belgian furniture, linen and accessory brands that would work beautifully in Asia.
The quality and craftsmanship are outstanding and the styles are different to what is already available here. She approached Flamant and Lit Cabane for the furniture ranges, Libeco for the beautiful linens and then sourced other products that complemented these ranges; they are all displayed in their home.
Though they work together, they make sure that their roles are very separate and defined. Their skill sets and what they like todo are very different, so it works. He deals with the paperwork and logistics and she is on the creative, design and development front.
Anne-Jean Liétaer
How did you start your business, House of AnLi?
My family background is in textiles. My grandfather had a swimwear and lingerie business, and even asa child I would design my own swimsuits – five or six at a time – and have them made up for me in the factory.
So, after a couple of years of employment in Singapore, in 1999 I felt it was time to be my own boss. I took a year’s sabbatical to explore the market, and finally came across a local importer of straw bags from Indonesia that I believed in. I took a sample collection back to Europe, bought a car so as to visit fashion and accessories companies all over Europe, and came back with a whole book-full of orders.
Anne-Jean Liétaer
How did you start your business, House of AnLi?
My family background is in textiles. My grandfather had a swimwear and lingerie business, and even asa child I would design my own swimsuits – five or six at a time – and have them made up for me in the factory.
So, after a couple of years of employment inSingapore, in 1999 I felt it was time to be my own boss. I took a year’s sabbatical to explore the market, and finally came across a local importer of straw bags from Indonesia that I believed in. I took a sample collection back to Europe, bought a car so as to visit fashion and accessories companies all over Europe, and came back with a whole book-full of orders.
Before long I was buying hats and bags from my own Indonesian sources, and gradually evolved from buyer into designer.Panagiotis joined the business 12 years ago. During the 15 years our fashion accessory adventure lasted, we built up the name of House of AnLi all over the world with my twice-yearly collections, most notably in Japan and Europe, where we worked with the best brands and were in all the best stores.
Before long I was buying hats and bags from my own Indonesian sources, and gradually evolved from buyer into designer. Panagiotis joined the business 12 years ago. During the 15 years our fashion accessory adventure lasted, we built up the name of House of AnLi all over the world with my twice-yearly collections, most notably in Japan and Europe, where we worked with the best brands and were in all the best stores.
How did House of AnLi switch from
fashion accessories to home furnishings?
About six years ago, I decided to follow my passion for interior decoration. And when we moved into this house in January 2011, my husband’s suggestion that we use the place as a showroom worked out well.
Actually, when I first established House of AnLi I wanted to become a buyer for the Belgian interiors company, Flamant, which has stores all over Europe. Whatever you see here in my house is part of the collections we bring in, including those carried by Flamant, and all very much in the Flamant style: displayed in context, in a real home setting, rather than ten sofas in a row or 20 lamps on a shelf.
Flamant did in fact become one of my customers for the hats and bags. Now I am a customer for their retailers. Our collections are mainly Belgian, along with some other European labels, in a toned down palette that works to create a “rustic chic” look. Accessories are generally both beautiful and utilitarian, including what we call les arts de la table – crockery, cutlery such as Laguiole (we’re its distributors in Singapore), and especially linen. Both for beds and tables, linen is amazingly suitable for the tropics, being anti-allergenic and very durable. We also bring in rolls of fabric for our bespoke upholstery and curtains.