n.d.c. made by hand
n.d.c. made by handMore Info
SIMPLICITY, QUALITY, CONSTRUCTIONAL KNOW-HOW,
ORIGINALITY, EXQUISITE FINISHING
INDIVIDUALISM
n.d.c. made by hand was created in 2001 by two friends passionate about shoes. Unable to find the shoes they really wanted to wear, they launched the brand to fulfil their personal need.
n.d.c. made by hand immediately opened a new dimension in men’s and lady’s footwear, offering luxurious materials, comfortable lasts and rejuvenated classics. The collections aimed to be appealing to a wide range of customers — trend setters, luxury lovers, quality freaks, etc — who are in pursuit of understated individualism.
NOM DE CODE
The brand name nom de code — or ‘code name’ – reflects our conviction that the strength of the brand is the product itself. Four key factors define every n.d.c. made by hand collection: simplicity, quality, originality and constructional know-how.
HAND CRAFTED
All of our shoes are hand-crafted by the best European artisans using only carefully selected hides from Italy’s expert tanneries. Our passion for footwear is reflected in the use of quality materials, traditional shoe constructions — blake, goodyear, sacchetto, espadrille, etc — and exquisite finishing techniques. We do our best to turn every pair into a hand made work of art.
Flagship Store 36, rue Léon Lepage Brussels 1000 Belgium
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AMELIE GOMET
Amélie is an artist and jeweler.
She discovered jewelry and silversmithing at New York University in 2015, during a year of exchange at an art school.
She moved to Brussels the following year where she continued her training in jewelery at the Arts et Métiers en Joaillerie et Fonte Injectée. At the same time, she obtained her Master in Sculpture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels.
Each of his pieces is inspired by a little story, a memory, an end of the outside world, a shape, a painting or even a poem.
Amélie creates unique, poetic jewelry that combines craftsmanship with a portable dreamlike universe.
She likes to think of the body of the garment as a facade, a section of wall, a garden on which her jewels come to match.
The imprint of the fingers, the stone that follows us, the curves of the ear, a work that we can no longer get rid of, everything is a question of traces, of memory, of thread, of little bits of stories in this first collection.
Roxane Ballon
Roxane BallonMore Info
/ WHO AM I
I am a Fashion Designer based in Braine-le-Comte, Belgium.
I graduated from the School of “Francisco Ferrer” (Brussels) in the field of Fashion Design.
I specialize in Accessories Design, with a special focus on leather goods, where I was able to build an extensive expe- rience working for leading brands such as Maison Delvaux.
/ MY PHILOSOPHY
Authenticity • Innovation • Sustainability
My view of fashion is strongly influenced by craftsmanship, culture and art.
My designs are refined and functional with high-end cuts, materials and finishes.
It is important for me to design premium contemporary products, which are authentic, innovative and sustainable.
141 Rue d’Écaussinnes Braine-le-Comte 7090
Els Vansteelandt
Els VansteelandtMore Info
Els Vansteelandt (°1961) started as an independent gold and silversmith in 1997. She designs jewellery and objets d’art. Her work is displayed in museums and galleries in major cities in Europe.
Els works both in her own studio in the green outskirts of Brussels and in an open workshop and showroom in a more urban setting in the centre of Brussels.
Anything can be inspiration for me. I just need to look around, observe, let my imagination start to flow and connect shapes. The emotional impulses that inspire me to design, lead me straight to the precious metal. I begin working with an idea about the form a piece of jewellery or an object will take. Much happens as I work, and I let my material take the lead. Whether this process results in a brooch or a silver spoon… cannot be predicted. Unforeseen events and unexpected variations make my material an endless world to explore and discover.
Rue du Rempart des Moines 15 Papenvest 15 Brussels 1000 Belgium
Marianne Timperman
Marianne TimpermanMore Info
Marianne Timperman works and creates with her daughter Valerie.
Marianne Timperman carries out worldwide research to find artisans capable of using old teschniques in jewelry making. She looks at their work and studies their expertise.
She creates models combining contemporary creativity and ancient techniques. Some of the processes she uses are very old, like the watermark or granulation.
Each piece is unique because it is made entirely by hand and thus has a natural, uneven and charming appearance.
Our jewelry is silver, using natural stones and / or real pearls in certain collections. We can also make them in 18 carat gold.
Marianne Timperman has been creating jewelry since 1997 and opened her jewelry shop in Antoine Dansaert street in Brussels in 2000.
Ingrid Verhoeven
Ingrid VerhoevenMore Info
MY STORY
My work is influenced by the colors and shapes that I enjoy having around me. I like the precision and craftsmanship so many objects and art pieces – past and present – are made with. I also find pleasure in the playful and ordinary things I encounter in everyday life. This combination of playfulness and precise technique can be found in my collections.
Earlier work clearly communicates my affection for Modernism and Constructivism. And although gradually my work has become gentler and more female, still today these schools remain sources of inspiration. Both images are compilations of ‘sketches’ I made throughout the years. The picture also contains a favourite painting, in small print, of Wassily Kandinsky.
All rings, bracelets and necklaces, made in the workshop after March 2012, are marked with this graphic logo.
The jewelry is designed and produced in the private workshop in Antwerp. Some pieces, like the paper pieces, lacquered dots, rings and bracelets, take a few weeks to finish because they need time to dry and harden.
Important for me, and fun, is the research I do. Throughout the years I collected (and continue to do so) images of Art and Applied Art of favourite Artists. This study helped to build up a personal graphical style.
I do sometimes look at other (antique) jewelry, but my main sources of inspiration lay elsewhere.
The second step in the design process is sketching. Not only by making tests in metal, as shown above, but also by drawing and writing about the work
Besides working with classical materials like silver and gold, I look for other ways of bringing print and color into my jewelry. This often results in working with ‘ordinary’ office supplies, such as vintage Dymo tapes and Letratone prints, the latter were used a lot by graphic designers and architects in the Eighties. I also use ink, paint, markers and dry color pigments.
These non-common materials and various sources of inspiration, form a base for my work.
Generaal Eisenhowerlei 40 Antwerp 2140 Belgium
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100 % Made In Belgium.
Established in 2008, TAMAWA owes its clear identity to the Bakelite ball, used as the core material and component for all the products in its collection. It all started when designer Hubert Verstraeten met with Belgian snooker ball manufacturer SALUC, set in the region of Tournai in Belgium. From then on, SALUC would supply Aramith (Phenolic resin) to the designer who first started by self-producing two watches, followed by the design of a whole jewellery line, which inspired the name of the company – ‘TAMAWA’, meaning in Japanese; “ball on steel ring”.
Japanese inspiration
Tamawa Ball LampIn order to open up to wider creative possibilities, TAMAWA quickly decided to call upon emerging design talents such as Big Game, Belgian designers Sylvain Willenz and Alain Berteau, the artist Yann Lestrat, jeweller and silversmith Nedda El-Asmar. By bringing its own understanding and by translating in its on way the concept of the ‘mono-form / mono-material’ of the Bakelite ball, each designer has enriched the collection with unique items- Nedda El-Asmar, in creating memory form jewellery, Big Game with the BALL LAMP, Alain Berteau with a USB key and Pepper and salt mills and Sylvain Willenz with his coat-stand LOCK, wall hooks PIFF and suspension lighting RAY.
With an impeccable technical quality (shine & durability), in a wide range of up-lifting colours (white, blue, yellow, purple, black, orange, red and pink, all official snooker colours), the playful nature of the products goes far beyond the snooker ball rooms, all being as much of a reference to the iconic ‘Hang It All’ of Charles & Ray Eames than a playful approach to objects with its infinite colour combination.
In a very short time, TAMAWA acquired a legitimate Producer status.TAMAWA focuses on a method of production integrated to the company’s infrastructure, stock capacities and manufacturing facilities, all allowing creative as well as logistical flexibility. Surprisingly, the sphere allows never-ending ideas. However, TAMAWA’s challenge is to make sure it always maintains a coherent collection, with its particular attention to aesthetics and its interest for clever engineering. Design manufacturer 100 % Made in Belgium Collaborations with emerging designers With this very focus, TAMAWA can provide high quality objects at affordable production costs, enabling Belgian production and the use of a majority of European components. It is a real pleasure for TAMAWA’s Designers to come to the workshop and work on their ideas, to experiment on their project, going through different phases of the manufacturing process; from milling, drilling, high pressure-assembly, fine-tuning and testing to the final product.
Working with graphic design agency DONUTS.Brussels based graphic designers DONUTS were chosen to implement the brand’s identity. DONUTS created the TAMAWA logo, product packaging, brochures and the graphic identity of the website. All the advertising material put forward the idea of the sphere form and colours, in tune with the unique identity of the brand. Their aesthetic and their approach are in keeping with TAMAWA’s reality. It only takes a look at the introduction video on the website (“2 spheres, 8 colours, 64 rings”) to understand the tactile and versatile qualities of the brand’s collection.
TW27 & TW35 watches by Hubert Verstraeten.Tamawa Small Watch TW27
Watches are the emblematic pieces of the collection. TAMAWA’s watches are discernable illustrations of the brand’s values, demonstrating a real know-how of clockwork that only a few manufacturers can craft today. Composed of a spherical dial, a Bakelite ball and of a double bracelet, their design is the perfect reflection of the TAMAWA universe.
Tamawa LOCK
LOCK coat-stand by Sylvain Willenz.
LOCK is a reinterpretation of the archetypal coat-stand. Inspired by COATED, a former coat-stand project, Willenz developed LOCK, a simple and effective solution comprising a Bakelite ball and 3 sticks. The particularity of this coatstand lies in the simplicity of its elements and how they are put together. The 3 wooden poles are inserted through a cleverly machined Bakelite ball, which maintains them together thanks to a sole screw discreetly located under the ball . The softness of natural wood contrasting with the glossy Bakelite ball results in a joyful and playful item for the home.
Salt& Pepper Mills S&P 57 and S&P 76 by Alain Berteau.Tamawa S&P Mill
These two models of salt and pepper mills are composed of 2 and 3 Bakelite balls in order to reflect their method of use. Both designs use a unique system called Crushgrind (its material and its sturdiness allow to crush both pepper and salt with ease). S&P 57 and S&P 76 are playful and elegant seasoning items for the kitchen and the dining table
Piff by Sylvain WillenzTamawa Wall Hooks
PIFF is a family of 3 versatile wall-hooks. There is no use of glue; only pressure has been used to assemble all parts together. The PIFF wall-hooks are available in 4 colour ways. In All Black, all Red and in 2 colour mixes. Very easy to mount to the wall. Each PIFF comes with a special strong screw and a wall-plug.
Tamawa Ray Light
RAY pendant lighting by Sylvain Willenz
With RAY suspension light, Sylvain Willenz explores Tubular-Lighting once again, a few years following his personal project INNERTUBE (a rubber lightshade kept in shape with a circular TL). TL Lighting is rarely used in domestic environments. RAY makes use of TAMAWA’s specialized production techniques, expertise and understanding of Bakelite balls, consequently creating a domestic lighting fixture with a refined technical solution; an original and colour ful alternative to common TL connectors.
Ball Lamp by Big GameTamawa Ball Lamp
The idea to create a lamps as first object for the Tamawa home collection came very naturally. Big Game has the habit of stripping its objects of their,original function, creating the pretext for a new design. The Ball Lamp is a white glass globe resting on a ball the same size of bakelite, a confrontation of two different materials re into the work dhybridation, familiar ground and source dinspiration favorite of the trio. With the play of light that accentuates leffet juxtaposition of the two forms of spherical homothetic, the language is at once simple, delicate dunes while having strong visual presence.
Jewelry collection by Hubert Verstraeten
The TAMAWA jewelry collection plays on the beauty of the surface of the bakelite beads, which is reduced to its purest form of the jewel. The mini colored
bakelite beads can be used in diverse ways as they can be adjusted on watches, earrings, cufflinks and rings. For example, when forming part of a necklace, the beads follow the movements of the body harmoniously as they shift on a stainless steel base resembling that of a crescent moon or a smiley. Available in various sizes, the jewel becomes a landscape for open and innovative experimentation. They can be made up of one bead, two beads, three beads or more seamlessly assembled on a timeless string of pearls. Oversized as regards the traditional accessory, the beads may be worn on the fingers, wrist and body combining their smooth asymmetric design with originality for presentation in a pure classic style. Always combined with stainless steel, these accessories unite style and fashion with innovative design and are available in a rich palate of colors such as red, yellow, blue, orange, violet, rose, black and white. Assembled and intertwined seductively, TAMAWA plays on the contrasts, harmonies and beauty of the ideal object. Encrusted gemstones such as amethyst,
topaz, smoky quartz or diamonds serve only to enhance the discrete elegance of this collection. Luxury in Technicolor opens the door to many other possible variations of a similar theme using all the bead colors and gemstones. Glossy and glamorous, these micro Bakelite beads are like pearls, offering a way to customize your own jewelry box, with a personal touch and in a contemporary style.
rue des Vétérinaires 42 D mod. 02, Bât. 3 Brussels 1070 Belgium
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About Us
Our story is one about great things. About handy things. About beautiful things.
But above all, about friendship. About four childhood friends who found each other in an unbridled passion for quality and craftsmanship. At Comme Quatre there are therefore few restrictions. We just make what feels true to us. No extravagant fuss, but unarticulated simplicity. With the feeling of being a bit special.
We like to design everyday objects such as a stylish handbag, spectacle box, key ring, wallet, wallet or handkerchief with a few striking features such as the graceful cowhides. A creative trait that we like to mix with our insatiable hunger for adventure, variety and entrepreneurship. Talent is present as well. Each in his or her own way. And love. Lots of love. For each other and for the products we create, and that’s a fact.
Our Story
exquisite & honestly handmade
Not only a brand, Comme Quatre is a creative, playful and human project. All our products are handmade by traditional craftsmen whom we admire for their knowhow, entrepreneurship and courage. Together we create a sustainable product.
#nowaste
A Comme Quatre handbag, just like a pair of glasses, key ring, wallet, wallet or pouch is a nice example of upcycling. Say again? Upcycling goes just a little further than recycling: transforming old and allegedly unusable materials into something valuable and often more beautiful than before. In this way, our cowhides are upcycled from meat waste into a sustainable material that lasts for years and can be broken down by nature after use. The hides are also tanned plant-based, i.e. without the addition of harmful substances.
timeless class
Six collections a year? Not for us. By designing our cowhide accessories to look beyond the latest trends, they are wearable every season. Slow fashion it is. Quality leather products are handmade by traditional craftsmen. For example, a handbag, spectacle case, key ring, wallet or pouch by Comme Quatre is not only fashionable, but also durable.
unique
Each accessory guarantees 100% supple leather and natural cowhide. Each with their own unique print and ditto character. The pattern of the cowhides are different for each accessory, due to the colour differences in the coat of the cow. So every handbag, spectacle case, key ring, wallet or pouch from Comme Quatre is slightly different and always gives a distinctive touch to your outfit.
Our Team
Miloud, chief workshop
“Working with natural products is what I have done all my life. More than 15 years have I been working in this atelier. I am in charge of overseeing the production process, creation of the malls, cutting the hides and leather, and the final inspection of the finished goods.”
Fatima, artisan
“I am the youngest of our team and still in ’training’, learning how to prepare the different components of our products for the knitting team. I love the fact that we start with a cowhide and finish with a bag or accessory which will be cherished by someone for many years. ”
Mbark, artisan
“I have been working in this workshop for more than 15 years. I am mainly in charge of the different knitting machines which we use on leather, cowhide and tissues. I love this variation in my job, and like the fact that we can participate in the creation process of the products.”
Belaid, artisan
“I have been working for more than 10 years in this workshop, but I have been in the fashion industry all my life. I am in charge of assembling the products. I like the interaction between the craftmen and the fact we actively participate in the design and creation process ”
Hafida, artisan
“I am assisting Mbark and Belaid in the preparation of the different parts they need to assemble, in between the different stages of the production, I implement the zippers and closures. I like the fact we create beautiful products.”
Our Values
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A TALE OF BEAUTY AND BELIEF
Laar 29 Aartselaar 2630 Belgium