Fabienne Delvigne
Fabienne DelvigneMore Info
Her Story
Since 1987
Fabienne Delvigne is a Belgian milliner and has specialized since 1987 in the design and manufacturing of Haute Couture hats, jewellery, headgear, handbags and other fashion accessories. After studying Marketing, she launched her own company and became an iconic designer in Belgian fashion.
The elegant headwear that Fabienne Delvigne has created since the late 80’s has secured the Belgian milliner’s position as the go-to designer for members of the Royal Families of Belgium, The Netherlands, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and Sweden.
Her know-how has been rewarded since 2001, when she was initially awarded the official patent of « Belgian Royal Warrant Holder ». Fabienne Delvigne’s sophisticated and timelessly chic millinery has won her wide acclaim and this title was followed by the appointment of Fabienne Delvigne as a member of the Chamber of High Commerce « Brussels Exclusive Labels » in 2004. The same year, Fabienne Delvigne participated in the « 5 femmes de goût » catwalk show and conference at the Royal Evian alongside Chantal Thomass, Pascale Mussart (Hermès) and Anne-Sophie Pic (starred Chef).
In 2013, for the inauguration of H.R.H. King Philippe I, his wife Queen Mathilde wears the « Envolée » hat made of abaca fibre and silk. The trim of this hat symbolizes two wings that the designer imagined to symbolize the takeoff of Belgium under the reign of the new royal couple. Shortly after his nomination, H.R.H. King Philippe, like his father King Albert II had done in 2001, granted Fabienne Delvigne the title of Supplier to the Court of Belgium, perpetuating her position as a provider to the Belgian royal family.
Fabienne Delvigne collaborates with other fashion houses such as Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Dior or Natan. In 2007, she created a hat for the Van Cleef & Arpels catalogue.
Very imaginative, she likes to collaborate with other talents to express her know-how in new and original ways, but always with refinement.
In 2014, for example, she was asked by the Carrières du Hainaut to design their new booth at the Biennale de Courtrai (a design and decoration fair).
Two years later, her talent was once again asked to create hats for Maison Guerlain launching their new perfume « Intense » for the « La Petite Robe Noire » collection.
She has also made crystal or chocolate hats and, more recently, she collaborated with BMW and created two hats for the launch of the new i8 Roadster.
Reasonably eccentric with a touch of originality, her fashion accessories are aimed to make woman look more beautiful and attractive. Her style is definitely feminine, aerial and innovative.
In 2008, the Studio Collection offering hats for everyday wear was launched, it is also available for gentlemen. Today, these collections can be purchased through her e-shop launched in 2018.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of la Maison, Fabienne Delvigne retraces her extraordinary career as a Belgian entrepreneur, hat designer and holder of high luxury craftswoman. Her book “Sublimer par la différence” is prefaced by Stéphane Bern and Diane von Furstenberg.
In the year 2021, the Caring Hat project was born. This line of hats, turbans and caps is designed for people suffering from alopecia (hair loss) as a result of cancer treatment or a serious illness.
Fabienne Delvigne’s hats and accessories are designed and handmade in her designer’s studio in Brussels.
Fabienne Delvigne Portrait Red Hat
The designer regularly holds conferences on the magic of her craft as a designer and on the « Art of Elegance ». These conferences can be held in her workshop where you will be able to discover Fabienne Delvigne’s universe during a privileged visit in an exclusive and unique setting.
rue André Fauchille, 8 Brussels 1150 Belgium
Isabelle Baines
Isabelle BainesMore Info
Isabelle Baines lives and works in Brussels. She graduated from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the costume design section under Mme. Mary Prijot, and worked for theatres in Brussels, Paris and Geneva. Prior to presenting her first knitwear collection in 1985, she worked for Ann Salens in Antwerp and M. Baron Industries in New York City. Isabelle Baines opened her first boutique in Brussels in 1986 and launched the knitting workshop in 2003.
Atelier
All Isabelle Baines designs are conceived and developed at her workshop in Brussels, where an artisanal, handcrafted approach reigns supreme.
For our limited-edition ‘Atelier Collection’, we use only the finest quality Italian merino wools, in a carefully chosen palette of colors. All our garments are knit, hand-sewn and finished by us at our workshop – right down to the buttonholes! Some sweaters, made of very fine threads, are produced under our personal supervision by a specialist family-run workshop in the Marche region of Italy. We’ve worked for them for years, and they understand our spirit and standards. Your Size, Your Color! Ask about having your sweater custom-made.
Kristof Buntinx
Kristof BuntinxMore Info
Brussels designer Kristof Buntinx has already created a furore with his God Save the Queens shirts and gained international fame with a boxer short collection with which he targeted Russian anti-gay laws.
Protest and irony are therefore no strangers to Buntinx, but he also dresses Belgian celebrities in little bespoke gems just as much as he has children photographed as superstars. The exiled Sint-Truiden native has been working under his own label for more than a decade. An official introduction is called for!
Kristof Buntinx was born on 10 September 1975 in the Limburg town of Sint-Truiden. He quickly showed an interest in fashion and design and proceeded to draw from a model and attended sewing and pattern design classes. Buntinx completed internships with several major fashion labels such as Levis jeans and the Amsterdam fashion duo Viktor & Rolf.
His own image language
After his initial designs for the Cinderella Shop in Antwerp he sank his teeth into (and left his fingerprints on) a series of coffee mugs for Godiva. Soon Buntinx would tackle hats, a trick he was able to repeat in 2012 for Royal Ascot.
Shortly thereafter, the Pain clothing line followed, with its own photo series in collaboration with Stijn Vanorbeek. Still inspired by the world of image creation, Buntinx worked with filmmaker Ilke De Vries, this time to explore moving images. The film Vision was the result, in which the designer searched his own conscience by referring to a personal crisis.
Artist’s blood
Between 2008 and 2010 Buntinx focused on hats and a full line of accessories.
Triggered by his own life and personal developments, language associations and puns took up an increasingly important place in his work. Like any true-blue artist, Buntinx also creates from an inner drive. “I have always been crazy about fashion, but designing also proved to be beneficial for my mental health. It is my “therapy with a capital T,” the designer states.
Once Buntinx found his way, an increasing number of opportunities came up: in 2011 the Toga 125 Fashion Awards and a fashion show in which his design Ceci n’est pas un Advocaat shone. That same year Modo Brussels, the MIAT in Ghent and Hong Kong Design week also followed. A prominent fashion watcher from the UK even called Buntinx the most eccentric fashion designer of the Modo Brussels event.
The future is now!
Loved by the international fashion blog scene, Kristof Buntinx does not shun controversy. For example, he came up with a series of socially committed designs such as his answer to the Antwerp rainbow controversy, the God Save the Queens T-shirt’, his Russian boxer shorts, which even reached the American media and the crown jewels for King Philip.
During the last festive period Buntinx surprised friend and foe with a range of crisis jewellery, which questions material luxury. The Christmas dresses designed by Buntinx for Dana Winners’ Christmas tour and for Marlène de Wouters, the presenter at the Queen Elisabeth competition earlier in 2013, were, on the other hand, downright luxurious.
Kristof Buntinx certainly aims to let his designs speak for themselves in 2015.
Stay tuned!
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Ria’s hand-made hats
As a trained sculptor, Ria searches out different and surprising shapes, creating unique hats in her own style.
Which hat to choose?
A hat will fit on any woman’s head, but not just any hat. For each hat, we talk through the design with you to find the perfect hat to make your personal beauty shine through. We also mold the edges to give it that perfect finish. A hat that makes you look beautiful, complements the wearer and not the other way around.
Materials
Hat-making is a profession, a true craft. Felt, Sisal, Wool, Yarn and other fabrics; each requiring a different kind of preparation process to be then crafted using different techniques. Ria’s fashion training together with many years experince give her a natural advantage.
The approach
A hat worn for a special occasion requires a rather different approach than one that would be worn on a daily basis. A common starting point is taking a piece of material from the dress to be worn, with which Ria can start to colour match. A colour can then be used in just a piece, or for the whole hat. The shape, colour and fabric should form one entity.
Accessories
For those who aren’t really looking for a hat, Ria also designs various kinds of headwear (Tiaras, Diadems etc.) which are of course a must at any wedding.
Winter-hats
Besides winter-hats, each year Ria designs a selection of matching hat and scarf sets. The shape of which is of significant importance.
Sluizeken 29 Gent 9000 Belgium
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Ma première collection, je l’ai faite pour un marché de Noël à Jodoigne, le petit bourg où j’habite. Cette collection avait suscité de l’enthousiasme autour de moi, un vrai démarrage sur les chapeaux de roue !
Quand je repense à ces tout débuts, j’ai parfois la nostalgie d’une démarche très libre, instinctive, parfois bien téméraire face aux obstacles techniques.
Il s’agissait alors de chapeaux pour tous les jours, en polar, en velours, en lainages, même en tissu d’ameublement…
J’ai pu me sensibiliser aux formes et aux volumes et ainsi découvrir leur effet plus ou moins harmonieux
Très vite j’ai eu envie de créer un autre type de chapeau… Des chapeaux d’été et des chapeaux plus sophistiqués et originaux pour les mariages.
J’ai pu dénicher çà et là quelques moules à chapeau dans des brocantes… Utilisant « à défaut » seaux en plastique d’un diamètre correspondant à celui d’un tour de tête, plats en bois… Jusqu’au jour où j’ai eu l’opportunité d’acheter un lot entier de formes à chapeaux dans une maison de mode qui fermait…
Au fil des années, j’ai élargi la gamme de mes ressources… Passer du travail du para sisal, au tissu sisal, au visca, rami, buntal et bien sûr aussi découvrir le plaisir de « tirer des feutres » en hiver… De challenge en challenge, j’ai reculé mes limites techniques, consultant au besoin des modistes confirmées pour recevoir aide et conseil. C’est ainsi que j’ai appris la teinture, le travail du crin, de la toile élastique et de la sparterie, la maitrise des apprêts aussi…
Quand on me demande quel est mon style, j’ai souvent du mal à répondre… Oui j’ai mes goûts personnels et aussi ma patte, ma sensibilité. Néanmoins plus que mon style à mettre en avant, je me sens au service du style de ma cliente… C’est très moteur pour développer ma créativité de rencontrer les femmes qui porteront mes chapeaux… Tant de personnalités avec chacune, bien sûr, leurs palettes de couleur, morphologies de tête, de visage, de silhouettes. Créer chaque fois pour quelqu’un d’unique est un exercice permanent et donne un supplément d’âme à mon travail.
Dès mes débuts, j’ai travaillé avec un statut « d’indépendante complémentaire » compatible avec mon travail d’infirmière. Grâce à quelques expositions, j’ai eu mes premières clientes ensuite le bouche à oreille a fonctionné….
Ce dont je suis fière :
De la couverture du vogue américain, d’avoir été dans les coulisses par mes créations de certains grands mariages belges, de quelques expos-ventes à Paris (Carré rive gauche), mais par-dessus tout, ce dont je suis la plus fière ce sont tous les retours positifs de mes clientes qui me partagent par une photo, un petit mot, un coup de téléphone leur bonheur d’avoir porté une de mes créations…. C’est vraiment cette reconnaissance là qui dynamise mon travail !
Ce que je pense de l’avenir de ce métier.
Malgré la crise économique, je crois en l’avenir de notre métier. L’histoire de la mode témoigne qu’en temps de crise plus que n’importe quand, les créateurs sortent leur génie !
J’aime le slogan de la Grande Bretagne d’après guerre: « Go ahead, get a hat !». S’habiller avec recherche et fantaisie comme un acte de résistance aux difficultés et à la morosité ambiante !
Notre époque est intéressante dans la mutation qu’elle traverse… Nous sommes en occident inondés de textiles de fabrication asiatique….Une production qui n’est pas que « bas de gamme » mais qui est néanmoins marquée par la mondialisation et la production de masse. Dans ce contexte, l’article personnalisé, le « supplément d’âme » d’une pièce artisanale a de l’avenir ! J’ose croire que la crise économique va nous pousser à consommer moins et mieux…
En habillement, les accessoires ont de beaux jours devants eux….
De nouvelles attitudes se développent : telle la démarche de recyclage …et dans cette mouvance un concept qui m’est cher, le concept du « réchauffé ». Ce concept n’a rien à voir avec celui du « seconde main »….Dans le «seconde main », l’objet en passant de main à main perd de sa valeur… Le concept du réchauffé est tout autre chose… Il s’agit d’une réappropriation d’un vêtement pour en faire un autre … Ce processus donne une plus value créative à l’objet qui est revisité et réinvesti dans un cycle de vie…J’aimerais pouvoir développer ce concept plus particulièrement pour mes chapeaux d’hivers, une ligne « streetwear » poétique…
Rue de la Grande Montagne 5 Jodoigne 1370 Belgium
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Raising the concept of a scarf to the status of an exceptional item imbued with character. That is what Emmanuel Demuynck of the Belgian company Monsieur Maison succeeds in time after time. And with flair. One could describe his creations as unique stories. They are almost poetic and above all beautiful. They are the fruit of an exciting search for rare couture and haute couture fabrics from days gone by, the unique combinations of which today constitute the clearly recognisable trademark of Monsieur Maison. With each of his scarves, Emmanuel creates a link to a very special figure from the 20th century.
The secret of the perfection of Monsieur Maison scarves lies in its capacity to create the perfect blend of designs, colours and fabrics.
The scarves are made in Belgian workshops which is a very conscious choice on the part of the designer. The workshops guarantee an outstandingly high-quality approach and the seamless translation of what Monsieur Maison seeks to communicate in its unique models. The handwork and the know-how result in quality and durability, two aspects that are very important to Demuynck.
Who is the designer Emmanuel Demuynck?
Emmanuel studied painting at the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in Ghent. In addition to designing this collection, he also offers his freelance services for design and merchandising projects. He is also a purchaser and consultant for Belgian labels and multi-brand stores.
Anke Tacq
Anke TacqSint-Hadrianusstraat 29 Wijgmaal 3018 Belgium
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About
After reading the book “The Emperor wears no clothes” by hemp advocate Jack Herer, Emilio De Baudringhien got inspired to start a company that would bring this amazing plant and all of its benefits, back to humanity.
Since hemp is a carbon negative crop we strongly believe it can be a key player in fighting global warming… think of it this way: we are growing a plant in 100 days that takes huge amounts of carbon from our atmosphere and stores it safely in the ground, actually increasing the fertility of the soil. After the plant is harvested we can use every single aspect of the plant for a different purpose, leaving no waste. All this with a minimum input of water and nutrients and no use of pesticides and herbicides.
1 acre of hemp takes in 10 times the amount of carbon compared to 1 acre of rainforest.
Emilio doesn’t consider The Ornament Hemp Co. a fashion company since we don’t follow fashion trends or seasons. Instead we see the company as a vehicle to support the hemp movement in all its forms.
Emilio never started this company for money gaining purposes. All of the money that comes in is directly re-invested in creating more products made from hemp to help increase global hemp crop production and help create a world with more durable products made from replenishable crops such as hemp.
At the end of 2017, Emilio set up a crowdfunding campaign to set up his label. Thanks to 110 lovely backers, Emilio got his project funded and was able to take off.
Herman
HermanMore Info
About
Since 1874, Herman Headwear has been a Belgian and international benchmark in terms of variety of hats and accessories. Our products cover a wide range of styles and models: caps, beanies, berets, chapkas, straw, felt or leather hats etc. Each year, we offer summer and winter collections for the whole family.
We launched our online sales site to give everyone access to our products. Building on a tradition passed down from father to son for over a hundred years, our main ambition is to share with you the love of a world we know well: that of the hat.
A world with varied atmospheres in which we invite you to stroll. Whatever your style – elegant, classic or fashion – and whatever the weather – rain, snow or sun – you will find the product that suits you on our site.
Rue Jean Meunier 6 Wellin 6922 Belgium
Meerspoort 33 Oudenaarde 9700 Belgium
Oscar Delghuststraat 60 – L4c RONSE 9600 Belgium