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Tribù garden furniture: For 17 years they've been in the garden at feelathome

Project Nieuwbouw met karakter 13

magazinetribù tuinmeubelen 15 jaar ambassadeurschap bij feelathome

Tribù garden furniture: For 17 years they've been in the garden at feelathome

Since 2009 we have been working together with Tribù. That’s now more than 17 years. Long enough to know what a brand is really worth. Not on paper, not quickly discovered at a trade fair, but experienced in daily practice. On our terraces, in our gardens, with our customers.
 

"They have never regretted it," Geert always says. "Neither have we."

But the beginning was anything but obvious.

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2009. The sales rep who didn’t want to come.

We had been interested for a while. But the then sales manager of Tribù wasn’t keen. A small shop in Boortmeerbeek they’d never heard of. Why drive there?
 

It was ultimately through a contact at Indera, a fellow supplier, that Tribù finally visited. And what happened: there was an immediate click. They came, they saw, and the collaboration was a fact.

"They have not regretted it, I always say. We have also been designated by them as Tribù ambassadors. They see our way of presenting as an example of how their collection can be shown. Not in isolation, but combined with other brands, in a context that feels real. Sometimes they bring dealers from abroad to visit our showroom." 

— Geert (manager)

The timing was right too. In 2008–2009 the outdoor market was a different landscape. Lots of white, lots of plastic, lots of aluminum and stainless steel. People were tired of maintaining wooden garden furniture and were looking for something else, but still reliable. Exactly at that moment Tribù launched the Neutra series by Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen: sleek, architectural, clear lines. We immediately saw what this brand was and what it could become.

Below is a photo of our garden in 2009, still timeless. Although the style, atmosphere, and level in 2026 will be totally different. 

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Ghent, 1966. And the road to 88 countries.

The story of Tribù begins with Henri De Cock, who started as an importer of garden furniture in Ghent in 1966. In 1987 his son Lode took over and decided to stop importing other people’s furniture. He started designing his own designer garden furniture. The first own collection, Praslin, appeared in 1992.

In 1999 Tribù made its debut at the Salone del Mobile in Milan: the world’s largest design stage. As an outdoor furniture brand. They were taken seriously right away.

The name says a lot: from "De Cock" to Tribù, the Italian word for tribe, for family. In 2013 Tom and Koen, the third generation De Cock, joined the daily management. Today, Tribù is internationally active in more than 88 countries.

"The Art of Leisure"

Tribù’s philosophy is called "The Art of Leisure". The belief that outdoors is an extension of indoors: the same comfort and the same attention to design.

That sounds obvious in 2026. But in the early nineties, when outdoors still meant plastic chairs and impregnated wooden tables, this was a radical choice. Tribù did it anyway and stuck with it.

As Tribù itself describes: "Discreet. Luxurious. Never flashy."

From architectural to timeless Mediterranean

Anyone who knows the early Tribù collections and compares them to the current ones sees a clear evolution. In the early years, the Natal and Neutra period of Wim Segers and Vincent Van Duysen respectively, the style was more architectural, with cleaner lines. Today it is warmer, more timeless, more luxurious. Mediterranean in atmosphere.

That is exactly what appeals to us. Not furniture that demands attention. But furniture that elevates an outdoor space without talking about it.

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You don’t understand Tribù from a catalogue.

Everything is outside, really outside.

"Because everything is in our garden, it gives a very realistic picture for the customer. Styled as it could be at their home too. We don’t have to invent flower scents or bird sounds. They’re there anyway."

— Anke (Stylist & Manager)

You understand it by sitting in it. By feeling the fabrics, understanding the proportions, knowing how a module relates to your terrace.

In our gardens in Boortmeerbeek, almost all Tribù collections are set up as they are meant to be: outside, in the green, in the sun, in real proportions. Not as exhibited objects, but as spaces.

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Materials that last decades

At feelathome we always recommend teak. It ages beautifully if you let it, and after a good maintenance session it looks like new again. Yes, you have to clean it, but that’s an investment that rewards you year after year.

Teak

Tribù sources its teak from three selected plantations in East Java, Indonesia, managed through its own subsidiary Tribù Asia. Harvested according to strict ecological standards. The result is teak that is responsibly sourced and develops a warm, silvery patina over the years. A table that is more beautiful after ten years than on day one.

Aluminum

Powder-coated, rust-free, light but tough. In collections like Natal Alu, aluminum offers a sleek, architectural counterpart to the organic warmth of teak. What most people don’t see, but what makes the quality difference, is how the joints in the aluminum are made. Those invisible details are where Tribù proves its craftsmanship.

Tricord®

Tribù’s own weave. Hand-woven, UV-resistant, weather-resistant and yet soft. You feel the difference from the first touch.

The collections

Tribù Senja: a top seller, year after year

The Tribù Senja remains an absolute bestseller. Especially in the curved amorphous setup as it is now with us: with the low dining table and two Cesta swivel chairs in the bronze shade.

"The whole set radiates a lot of warmth. It’s a combination that appeals."

— Anke (Stylist & Manager)

Studio Segers, Belgian architects, designed the Senja as a modular system that adapts to your space. The backrest in Canax® hemp weave is light, almost sculptural. Choose from 112 fabrics. For years a reference in European outdoor design.

The Senja also has a special personal connotation for us: feelathome has a holiday home fjord hut on the Norwegian island of Senja. That connection, between name, island and feeling, is now deep.

View the interior in our Norwegian hut

Anke's personal favorite

Tribù Vis-à-Vis

The Vis-à-Vis has existed for ten years and was recently thoroughly renewed.

"My favorite. We have it in a very nice setup, with a fabric we chose ourselves. There’s something about the Vis-à-Vis that encourages conversation. Two people, opposite each other, outside. So simple. So good."

— Anke

A piece of furniture that lasts a decade and then is refined again. That tells you a lot about how Tribù looks at its own collection: timeless and durable.

Tribù Nodi: comfort like an indoor sofa

The Tribù Nodi sofa in the deep version is with us under the Umbrís canopy. Deliberately chosen. Not because it isn’t weatherproof, but because the seating comfort is comparable to the best indoor sofas.

"Across the entire collection, Tribù is still leading in seating comfort. For decades they have strived to raise the level of outdoors to that of indoors. The Nodi is the most convincing embodiment of that."

— Geert

Not a supplier relationship but a real collaboration.

"If all our suppliers worked at the same level as Tribù, our job would be a lot easier. It’s not a customer-supplier relationship. It’s really working together and pushing each other to reach a higher level."

— Geert

What that means in practice: Tribù always visits, even the CEO. They listen, they take notes, and they actually do something with it. Thanks to the long-standing relationship, feelathome gets special treatment: early access to new collections, exclusive choices, direct line for service and after-sales.

There’s also something that is rarely said but says it all: Tribù considers feelathome a true brand ambassador. They see our way of presenting as an example of how their collection can – maybe even should – be shown. Not in isolation, but combined with other brands, in a context that feels real. Sometimes they bring dealers from abroad to visit our showroom and inspire them. "I think that says enough."

 

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Special mentions

Tribù Mood: teak and Tricord®

Also by Studio Segers. Mood combines teak with hand-woven Tricord®. Airy in silhouette, deep in comfort. For those who don’t want to choose between aesthetics and use.

Tribù Elio: Yabu Pushelberg for outdoors

Yabu Pushelberg, the Canadian design duo known for the world’s most demanding hotel projects, designed the Elio collection. Sculptural teak frame, hand-woven Tricord®. Sitting in an Elio feels unlike what you’d expect.

Tribù Natal Alu: for the sleek garden

Aluminum frames, powder coating, weather-resistant cushions. Minimalist in line, but never cold. At home with a contemporary villa or a pure Mediterranean garden.

Frequently asked questions about Tribù garden furniture

Where is Tribù made?

Tribù is a Belgian family brand, founded in Zutendaal (Genk - Limburg) in 1966 by Henri De Cock. Teak comes from sustainably managed plantations in East Java, Indonesia, via its own subsidiary Tribù Asia. The brand is now led by the third generation of the De Cock family (Tom and Koen) and is active in more than 88 countries.

What is the difference between Tribù Senja, Vis-à-Vis, Nodi and Mood?

The Senja (design: Studio Segers) is modular and flexible, ideal for large terraces, available in 112 fabrics (even some exclusive feelathome fabrics), also available in the curved configuration with low dining table and Cesta swivel chairs. The Vis-à-Vis is an iconic two-person outdoor piece that was recently thoroughly revised, particularly inviting due to its face-to-face setup. The Nodi offers indoor sofa comfort outdoors, especially in the deep version. Mood combines teak and Tricord® for a warm, organic whole.

How do I maintain Tribù teak?

Teak requires little maintenance. The wood ages beautifully if you let it. If you want to keep the warm tone: a yearly cleaning with Tribu Teak Cleaner is enough. After a good cleaning it looks like new again. We recommend also protecting it with a Teak Protector or Teak Sealer after cleaning. Every year in May, feelathome in Boortmeerbeek organizes a free maintenance workshop, especially for customers who want to learn to maintain their Tribù collection. 

Can Tribù stay outside all year round?

Yes. Tribu garden furniture is designed for all seasons. Teak ages beautifully if you leave it outside. That’s its nature. Cushions are best kept dry in winter. With protective covers, everything stays optimal and ready for the next season.

Is Tribù suitable for a smaller terrace?

Absolutely. The modular design of all Tribù seating allows you to fully adapt the configuration to the available space. Our interior architects in Boortmeerbeek (Leuven-Mechelen) are happy to help you find the best setup for your situation, at no extra cost.

How does Tribù differ from other luxury outdoor brands?

Tribù is a Belgian family business with more than 55 years of history and its own teak subsidiary in Indonesia. The brand stands for "Discreet. Luxurious. Never flashy." but also for comfort, and that’s what we at feelathome find most important. A philosophy visible in every detail, even the invisible ones: like the way aluminum and teak joints are made. At feelathome, Tribù is presented alongside other premium brands such as Atelier Vierkant and Dedon and many more, for a total vision of the outdoor space as an extension of the living space.

Where can I view Tribù in Belgium?

Preferably with us of course at feelathome in Boortmeerbeek, region right between Mechelen, Leuven, Antwerp and Brussels. All collections are outside, in real proportions, as it should be. Not in a sterile showroom, but in a real garden. Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday 10am–5:30pm, Sunday 1pm–5:30pm. By appointment also outside these hours.

Article written by the feelathome team, now with almost 25 years of experience with total projects. 

All photos are our own projects or our showroom.