City Sport Caps
City Sport CapsMore Info
The
City Sport
Story
WHEN VICTOR DECLERCQ,
a leading fabric trader, got the idea to set up a cap mill, he could never have foreseen the success his company was to experience 100 years later.
He founded his company, together with his wife Marie Olivier and seven craftworkers from Diksmuide.
At heart, Victor was a born trader who upheld the traditional principles of a well-groomed gentleman. He was renowned for his big pointed moustache that was manicured every day by a private barber.
Over the years, CITY SPORT became an established name for high quality caps as an exclusive fashionable accessory for the discerning gentleman. The company has always offered a wide variety of caps in exclusive styles and fabrics.
The fourth generation now reaps the rewards of the preceding generations and is now preparing the future, however without losing contact with the family traditions and creativity.
The City Sport cap is now exported to all European countries, and even to Canada and the USA. But the spirit and production still lies in Ardooie, a small village in the neighbourhood of Bruges.
CITY SPORT caps, quality caps since 1898.
Anke Tacq
Anke TacqSint-Hadrianusstraat 29 Wijgmaal 3018 Belgium
Elvis Pompilio
Elvis PompilioMore Info
1987 was the starting point in the career of the hat designer Elvis POMPILIO. From a simple show room to boutiques in Brussels, Antwerp, Paris and London and worldwide distribution: major Department Stores in America (Bergdorf, Saks, Bendel, Barneys, Neiman Marcus …), the best Boutiques in Europe and a network of points of sale in Japan including Takashiyama, his business has expanded very quickly to an annual average production of 30.000 hats, hand made.
He skilfully styles the heads of celebrities from all over the planet : Madonna, Amelie Nothomb, Blondie, Lio, Harrison Ford, Mickey Rourke, Arielle Dombasle are regular clients, as well as members of the royal families of Great Britain, Norway, The Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium. Appointed Officier de L’Ordre de Léopold II, his work can also be found alongside Amelie Nothomb at the Grevin Museum and he works with Chanel, Mugler, Feraud, Céline, Bikkembergs, Anteprima… on their Haute CoutureJ and ready-to-wear collections.
He has moved in another direction when he ended these activities and concentrated on a Boutique-workshop in Brussels (which retained the styles he is known for: Knitted hats, Adaptable Hats as well as many one-off creations).
After a Pop Up store in Paris in Maria Luisa’s boutique in the Printemps department store together with a Wedding collection in the same surroundings and a period of intense collaboration with Anne Demeulemeester and also Veronique Leroy, Véronique Branquinho and Axelle Red he recently decided to give another twist to his career by closing his shop and exploring the more artistical side of his personality while coming retruning to his roots with a new show room together with his work shop on Avenue Louise 437 at 1050 Brussels.
2014 might see him as designing costumes for an Opera, creating a table for San Pellegrino , or expanding his business in Shanghai and doing many other things (e.shop) while keeping open collaboration with his designer(s) friends and creating hats for the Queen of Belgium.
AVENUE LOUISE 437 Brussels 1050 Begium
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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
Escuyer
EscuyerMore Info
Our Story
Escuyer is the destination brand for anyone who appreciates well-crafted items for men.
Escuyer’s vision is a simple one; we aim to be the go-to destination for men who are looking for functional and esthetic accessories. And for the proverbial man who has everything Escuyer provides the perfect gifts!
Our mission is to offer simple, necessary, beautiful and qualitative accessories that will enhance men’s daily dressing experiences. When using our accessories we want men to feel confident because they know they are wearing a unique piece made by the best craftsmen in Europe.
– Concept –
Escuyer offers subscriptions of socks, t-shirts and underwear for men who want more free time and quality basics.
WHY
At Escuyer we believe that most men prefer to do other things with their free time than go shopping for basics.
The name Escuyer comes from ‘Esquire in old french. As in the Middle Ages the squire was there to help the knight, today the brand Escuyer is there to help men by offering them quality essentials and more free time.
HOW
Escuyer is more than a conventional underwear brand.
We offer men an internet-based subscription program that makes buying premium quality basics easy. By choosing a subscription you will save precious time and continually have fresh basics delivered at regular intervals.
Escuyer does not only offer a selected range of well-designed basic apparels, we also introduce our customers into a particular world with our own lifestyle, culture and interests.
WHAT
Escuyer’s essentials are designed to be elegant, simple and perfect for everyday use.
We offer a unique internet-based subscription that will allow you to save precious time and continually have fresh basics in your drawers delivered at 3, 4 or 6-month intervals. If you prefer not to subscribe, Escuyer‘s items can also be bought individually.
The extra free time can be used to read the diverse topics on our website as well as experiencing them in reality.
– Product –
Escuyer basics are elegant, simple
and functional.
Our basics are made of the finest cotton, which makes them very soft and comfortable. Perfect for the guy who appreciates the mix of a quiet, clean aesthetic and top quality.
Escuyer is designed in Brussels. We handpick the best quality cotton from South America and produce our accessories at a great family-owned factory in Portugal.
– Brand Identity –
Escuyer’s brand identity
has been selected as one of the best identity
of 2014 by the Design Museum of London.
As its name suggests, Escuyer is dedicated to serve and facilitate the life of the busy working & entrepreneurial man.
Modern Practice has created a visual solution based on the heraldic system. This typographic reinterpretation of heraldry is not only strongly linked to Escuyer brand’s name, but also conveys the brand’s world.
While the “typographic heraldry” stands for Escuyer’s refinement, its multiple variations translate the flexibility and adaptability of the brand towards its customers.
Escuyer and Modern Practice have been nominated for “Designs of the Year 2014” (Graphics’ category) by the Design Museum in London.
Basicsneed Sprl Rue Africaine 2 Brussels 1050 BELGIUM
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MEET THE FOUNDER
WHO IS HIDING BEHIND THE PROJECT 1971?
This high-quality Belgian fashion brand was founded by current Creative Director Christelle Loozen.
With over twenty years’ experience as a freelance denim product developer for both national and international brands and designers, Christelle is now ready to take up her own challenge through her brand 1971, offering an exclusively-designed original, high-quality and ethical product, one that is as original as it is a ‘revival’.
‘I’m passionate about fashion and I always have been. Through 1971, I am offering clothes inspired by my childhood memories, my experience of motor sports, and my unconditional love for denim.
My clothes are designed to fit most people, providing a casual yet trendy touch. With my many years of experience, I have been able to source the best sustainable yarns and fabrics from across Europe.
I’ve made the decision to work with the same European suppliers I have already worked with over the last 15 years. We share the same goals and overall vision, leaving no room for compromise when it comes to product quality, environmental impact, and the provision of good working conditions for our employees.’
We choose only the finest materials and best factories to make our timeless products, with the hope that they will last you many years, even decades.
Our prices are calculated as precisely as possible, while our partners, from workers to stores, are paid the right amount, with each and every possible cent reinvested into the local economy of each country.
We believe in a fair economy that works for the everyday.
Gerard-Sart 1 Dalhem 4606 Belgium
Delphine Quirin
Delphine QuirinMore Info
The trunks belonging to Delphine Quirin’s grandmother were veritable treasure chests when she was a child. The dresses, suits and costumes that they contained would later go on to provide the future designer with an important source of inspiration. And already as a child, hats stood out above everything else as a thing of wonder.
History of Art studies completed later in life at the University of Liège left Delphine with a real store of data and a clear preference for the talents of artists as diverse as Vermeer, De La Tour and Edward Hopper.
After training as a fashion designer, Delphine set up her own design business in 1996 and started creating her first hats – unique and tailor-made creations essentially to accompany formal dress. She then opened a shop in the historic centre of Liège and continued to create the framework for what would soon become not just a business but an expression of her personality. Being open to a wide range of influences, she soon discovered knitting and this then gradually become her preferred production technique. She really played a trump card in Paris in 1999 when she drew attention to a mini-collection of gloves and scarves – and of course hats – created out of mohair and boiled wool.
Delphine had found her niche! She was now creating regular collections, and presenting and selling them at large trade fairs in several European countries, as well as in the US and Japan.
By following her instincts and desires, Delphine has reached her goal. She has elevated the hat back to its rightful position of elegance, saving it from the stagnation of long-produced designs. She has made it a practical and light daily accessory that can be worn in all circumstances. Delphine’s hats are a subtle mix of colours and designs, reflecting our own contemporary mix of cultures and ideas. And although they do not follow ephemeral fashion trends, they are in tune with the world around them and each piece tells its own story
Delphine is proud of her Liège roots and refuses to use industrial production methods. Her hats are made using traditional techniques by a small team of knitters, embroiderers and seamstresses, enabling her to oversee all the production stages, and at the same time, to take meticulous care in order to ensure that all of her knits are perfectly finished.
26, rue Pierreuse Liège 4000 Belgium
Florence Coenraets
Florence CoenraetsMore Info
Artiste plasticienne, Florence Coenraets propose, à partir de la matière, une expérience esthétique et émotionnelle pour repenser notre rapport au monde.
A partir des plumes, sa matière première, sa démarche artistique évolue pour englober une réflexion plus large sur notre manière d’habiter un territoire et de cohabiter avec d’autres espèces.
« From feathers to birds », est une série d’œuvres réalisées à partir de plumes récoltées sur un territoire défini. Cartographie sensible, chaque pièce témoigne de notre cohabitation avec d’autres êtres vivants.
Particulièrement sensible à la vibration qui émane de chaque matériaux, dans la série « Offrandes » Florence explore d’autres matières et, comme pour les plumes, les manipule avec attention et amour.
Guidée par les spécificités de chaque matière, elle coud, assemble, relie… Elle laisse libre cours à ses gestes pour faire parler les matériaux entre eux et demeurer dans ce nouvel espace de rencontre.
Pour ces collections de coiffes, Florence Coenraets s’inspire des coiffes et parures ethniques aux symbolismes puissants, des parures des Rois et des Dieux, du pouvoir des parades nuptiales et autres rituels.
La coiffe célèbre la beauté humaine, c’est cette célébration que Florence vous invite à explorer avec puissance et audace à travers son workshop créatif « Je Suis Mon Roi ».
37, rue de Bordeaux Brussels 1060 Belgium
Acie’s Cabinet
Acie’s CabinetMore Info
Handmade. Unique. Belgian.
Hi!
Welcome to Acie’s Cabinet.
First of all, I would like to thank you for taking your time to visit my website. I really appreciate it.
My name is Amber. I’m a bookworm, cat lover and potterhead; I’m a creative soul and am a fan of nordic noir (or ‘noir’ in general, really 😉).
In 2017 I started my small company Acie.
In this digital cabinet, you can find all manner of accessories for yourself, your house or your family and friends.
After having received multiple trainings (fashion design, historical costume, leather works and bookbinding), I combine different trades in unique items.
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There are certain choices I make for ecological reasons. In my personal life, this means I never travel by aeroplane (or, indeed, seldom travel at all), and in my professional life as well, I strive to have a low impact on the environment.
The number of items I produce out of one particular fabric is limited, and never will two accessories look 100% alike. Because I create items in small amounts, it is perfectly possible to create different kinds of accessories with one fabric. I design and make everything in my atelier in Belgium.
Most items are packed in upcycled boxes, and are shipped with pre-used packaging as much as possible.
Materials
The fabrics I use are purchased or designed in small amounts. Not only does this intensify the uniqueness of the accessories, it also means I have very little “waste”. I save all the scraps of fabric that are left from projects, to create new pieces with later on.
Furthermore, I buy from local shops and fairs and often go to factory sales, to rescue fabric that would otherwise be thrown away.
Linen is one of my favourite materials to work with. Linen is made from the fibres of the flax plant. This plant does not attract a lot of harmful insects, which means farmers don’t have to use pesticides to protect their harvest.
Flax needs very little water and produces a lot of fibres. Isn’t that just great?!
Leather is a material that is often not considered environmentally friendly. There are a lot of chemicals involved in the tanning process. However, there are a few steps we can take to make it a bit less harmful:
The leather I use to create bow ties with, are scraps from a shoemaking factory. The leftover pieces are too small to cut into shoe panels, but are perfect for the creation of bow ties! Zero waste fashion: check!
If I need bigger pieces of leather, I go to local shops to purchase leather that is already on hand. This means leather is never ordered or designed especially for me. Sometimes I even get the chance to find some second hand rescue leather, which always makes me very happy! The scraps from these hides are also saved to produce small items with, for example The Book Manager.
If leather is cared for properly, it will last many, many years. By buying less but better, we can all help a little in our ‘Save the planet’-mission!
Schooling
As mentioned above, I received multiple trainings:
Fashion design
Bookbinding
Leatherworks
Furthermore, I did courses in millinery, historical costume, and I learnt how to mend clothes.
I always continue to learn. I think it is important to keep improving your skills, and thanks to the combination of courses, I’ve learnt a few tricks of the trade. Or, rather, trades 😉.
Please roam freely! The pictures on this website show the kind of items I usually make. You can place an order in my webshop.
If you see an item you like, but would prefer a different colour or material, don’t hesitate to contact me for a custom order.
See you soon!
Amber
Meerspoort 33 Oudenaarde 9700 Belgium
Oscar Delghuststraat 60 – L4c RONSE 9600 Belgium