Masterfully Weaving Art and Business
Hartmann&Forbes is the passion of its founder, Michael Jones, who started the company in 1998. A former international trade merchant, Jones frequently traveled abroad for business. On a trip to Southeast Asia, he was captivated by a chance encounter with artisans practicing the ancient art of hand weaving. He watched as craftspeople harvested raw, organic materials and delicately hand-tied them into weft fibers. Using traditional techniques, the artisans transformed natural materials into magnificently crafted textiles. Jones realized not only his own admiration for the ancient art form, but also that this small, cottage industry represented the opportunity to revolutionize custom window coverings in the modern design marketplace.
Ever since, Michael has focused his passion for design and innovation: cultivating harvesting-weaving facilities across the globe, growing an international network of to-the-trade showrooms, and establishing Hartmann&Forbes as a leader in a niche luxury market. Indeed, within a few years, he has led Hartmann&Forbes from a start-up to a major supplier and leading provider in the interior design market.
In the spirit of true entrepreneurship, Jones has fostered a corporate culture that encourages product experimentation, design innovation and a go-forward atmosphere that quickly takes products from a single idea to a viable design choice in the marketplace.
In the midst of this growth, Michael remains focused on the company’s employees, showroom partners, designer clients and vendors who work together to deliver natural window coverings that are a symbol of quality, luxury and environmental sustainability. Jones has worked tireless to build a company that is committed to growing, harvesting and managing natural materials in a manner consistent with protecting the environment – a nod to his Portland roots.
In order to keep the company on the path of expansion and innovation, Michael has conferred his strong design philosophy and passion for excellence to a team of talented designers and managers, who help him implement his vision on a daily basis. Under his guidance, the company remains committed to handcrafting the highest quality products from only the finest materials, ensuring they remain a steward of quality in the window coverings industry.
Jones’ commitment to forward-thinking leadership and superior design has landed Hartmann&Forbes in some of the leading business, home, design and trade publications in the United States, including Elle Décor, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc., and Interior Design. His inventive and innovative designs have also led to two prestigious design awards from Interior Design magazine: a “Best of the Year Merit Award” for METROSCAPE™ and the “Roscoe Award” for the PAPYRUSWEAVE™ Collection. Under Michael’s guidance, Hartmann&Forbes made the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing companies and was the 24th fastest growing company in Oregon. As a leader and entrepreneur, Jones was named one of Oregon Business Journal’s 40 under 40.
Jones, a finance major from the University of Portland, holds an MBA from the University of Oregon. A native of Portland, he says that while his love of design and business defines his career, however, his true life's passion is his wife, Nancy, and their three children.
