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About Boshra
Boshra (بُشْرَى) (f.): good omen, good news, good tidings Boshra Bagherpour is born in Tehran, Iran, in 1985.
Political instability in Iran soon forces Boshra and her parents to leave the country. She settles in Belgium where she has a positive and happy childhood, surrounded by love, colour and creativity. From a young age, Boshra looks up to her mother, Pari, who is a fashion designer with an exceptional talent for drawing and painting. Inspired by her mother’s creativeness, Boshra soon starts creating her very first designs. From figures and patterns to fashion and accessories. As Pari passes away at an early age, Boshra’s passion fades and her sketchbook is stowed away.
Years later, in her late 20’s, Boshra rediscovers her passion for designing and feels compelled to get back to her drawing board. Brand new designs flow through her sketchbook and come to life at her sewing machine. She follows a course in leathercrafting and pursues her biggest passion: handbags. In her improvised workshop she finishes her first official bag and names it Pari, in honour of her mother. To this day, it is still her favourite model.
Boshra’s first official designs are an instant success and she is prompted to develop her brand and open a web store. Throughout her designs, Boshra has remained true to her name, choosing positive and elegant designs, happy bags and lovely colours. With clear Eastern influences and carefully chosen Persian names, she always keeps her background and culture in mind. Boshra loves iconic and exclusive handbags with sustainable design and premium quality. All handbags are still drafted, designed and handmade by Boshra in her workshop, according to customer’s preference.
Get in touch and be inspired by Boshra’s happy and iconic designs:
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
Ateliers & flagship store Rue de Laeken 86 Lakensestraat Brussels 1000 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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ABOUT US
Atelier Felis creates unique accessories out of recycled leather. By buying the products from Atelier Felis you support a small business owner who puts her time, energy and passion into creating an ecologically responsible product. You’re not only buying a nice and high-quality product that can be used for years to come, but you are also supporting a sustainable project.
We begin our design process by looking at materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. “Rather than starting with what could we make?” we start with “what can we make with the ‘waste’ that we sourced”.
Atelier Felis only uses 100% recycled leather. This leather can be reclaimed from discarded, damaged or out of fashion garments. But can also come from old couches or are remnants from the leather industry that would otherwise end up in the waste stream. All the materials we use also look great and are designed to last.
Because Atelier Felis only works with recycled leather, every piece is one-of-a-kind. There are only small amounts of each type of leather or color, making each piece a new experiment. Because of this our products are always limited and unique. This provides you with an alternative to mass-produced bags and accessories.
From start to finish, every item is Made in Belgium, in our studio in Antwerp. Atelier Felis resolutely opts for small, sustainable collections in a limited edition. We are committed to working locally and doing all the design and production in-house, with a focus on both function and style. We also take steps to keep the waste in our studio to a minimum. We make every scrap count!
MISSION
Founded with the aim of enhancing sustainable production, Atelier Felis shows that we can transform waste materials into timeless and functional items that don’t chase trends and stand the test of time. All our products are made with leather sourced from post-consumer waste stream and industrial surplus. Starting with used leather garments and discarded leather due to damages or fashion trends we make beautiful, timeless accessories that are environmentally responsible at the same time.
Each and every Atelier Felis item is fully created, start to finish, in our studio in Antwerp, Belgium. We are committed to staying local and all the design and manufacturing is done in house.
Vaartdijk 53, Wijnegem 2110 Belgium
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DIDDA
Being a ‘touche à tout’ with a theoretical background in art history & anthropology, and a bottom-up one in i.a. jewelry-design, sculpture, maroquinerie, I found myself playing around with leather way too long… So, that’s when DIDDA came up.
DIDDA was born out of a passion for craftsmanship and the desire to make durable goods with personality. Is it possible to merge beauty, functionality and sustainability?
For me, there’s nothing more challenging and rewarding than building a solid companion – to care and carry – out of a skin with my bare hands. And also, I admit, just for the smell of it…
I love building functional goods; playing with dualities; line vs volume, format and function, contrast in materials and texture, concept vs detail, directness and confusion, always searching for that certain tension.
PRODUCTION
All my leather goods are unique and handmade in my modernist rooftop-atelier in Laken – Belgium.
DIDDA proposes a main ‘solid’ collection and a more volatile one; a series of unique one-shots
made in the mood of the day. Your order can be personalized (length, left/right wear etc.) or completely tailor-made. Don’t hesitate to contact me for quotes and special requests.
All DIDDA goods are made of locally sourced skins. The leather is – depending on the design – either veg-tan, up-cycled or production residue from meat-production.
For me (an this is a vegetarian speaking…), no other material can yet replace the touch, feel and quality of leather (although we keep a wide eye open on upcoming alternatives). This very emotive and ancient material used by man – to carry and protect – remains for me a very ecological choice. It is a leftover natural material, ages nicely and with good care, a high quality leather DIDDA-bag will last at least a lifetime.
MATERIALS
*Vegtan leather:
Vegtan or vegetable tanned leather is tanned with natural materials like tree bark. Less than 10% of the world’s leather is tanned this way today. Vegtan is a thicker and stronger leather, so the designs don’t need lining, which makes the bags lighter. Vegtan has that gorgeous leather smell, tends to age better and develops a rich patina over time. This eco-friendly product is the ideal material to most of the ‘neat’ DIDDA designs. Color-options are smaller (mostly black/nude and cognac). The leather is sourced at a Belgian tannery.
*Standard full-grain leather
This leather is generally rather smooth and comes in a wide variety of colors, textures and finishing. All the skins used by DIDDA come from European tanneries (meeting the highest standards) and are
a leftover product from meat-industry. Always keep in mind that leather is a natural product that once had a life, so every skin will
have his story and tiny imperfections, which adds up to the charm and patina.
*Lining
I prefer to work with 100 % leather lining, mostly pigskin. It makes the bag slightly more heavy but it’s much stronger & more consistent in design.
*Zippers
5mm or 7mm metal zippers of superior quality by Belgian Zip Factory KROKO (zip manufacturer since 1944).
*Rope / sling
I mainly use 10 or 11mm round non-stretch/static polyamide cord of superior quality (used by sailors & mountaineers). This material – supplied by the ‘maisons’ corderie Smits-Henin and Corderie Barrois, can bear extreme (weather) conditions and will probably last forever.
When the design includes flat slings; those are made of 100% leather, sometimes doubled with flat polypropylene belts of superior quality provided by corderie Smits-Henin. These add up to the strength and anti-stretch of the slings.
Adrien Bayetlaan 11 Laken 1020 Belgium
Delvaux
Delvauxsince 1829More Info
The oldest fine leather goods house in the world
Delvaux is “a divinely singular label.” Such is the high praise one grande dame of fashion bestowed on the prestigious family-owned company established in 1829 by Charles Delvaux in Brussels. Internationally recognised, the House of Delvaux has earned its reputation by remaining true to its values and for its savoir-faire and uncompromising craftsmanship, as well as for the supreme quality of its creations.
Delvaux Créateur SA Boulevard Louis Schmidtlaan 7 Brussels 1040 Belgium
Delvaux Boulevard de Waterloo Boulevard de Waterloo, 27 Bruxelles 1000 Belgium
Delvaux Galerie de la Reine Galerie de la Reine, 31 Bruxelles 1000 Belgium
Delvaux Waterloo Chaussée de Bruxelles, 167 Waterloo 1410 Belgium
Delvaux Antwerp Komedieplaats, 17 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Delvaux Bruges Breidelstraat 2 Brugge 8000 Belgium
Delvaux Knokke Kustlaan, 148B 8300 Knokke Belgium
Mieke Dierickx
Mieke DierickxMore Info
ABOUT
MIEKE, MOM AND MODERN LADY BOSS
Meet Mieke Dierckx, a 30-something Belgian designer with a big heart for leather goods. After studying interior and furniture design, followed by a master in jewellery design, Mieke started her own brand in 2012. Her studies influence her approach on creating handbags in a less conventional way. Being a boys mom and a modern lady boss at the same time, she loves to be inspired by everyday life.
In her latest collections, the 3D aspect comes to life
through a vibrant mix of clashing colours.
SOPHISTICATED, TIMELESS PIECES
At the beginning, Mieke experimented with a laser cutting technique to create new 3D patterns. This way of working clearly defined her first collections Couleur Caché and Alter Ego. While the playful scales remain, Mieke now uses other techniques to design sophisticated, timeless pieces. Understanding architecture and design, form and function are vital. In her latest collections, the 3D aspect comes to life through a vibrant mix of clashing colours creating an atypical palette.
DEDICATED CRAFTSMANSHIP
Every object, from clutch to crossbody bag, is designed with love by Mieke in her atelier in Westerlo and produced by dedicated craftsman in our atelier in Portugal. She always opts for the best materials and crisp colour combinations. After all these years, every item still is a recognizable piece of Belgian design that embodies the power of minimalism with the right balance of modern elegancy.
She experimented with laser techniques cutting out specific patterns in textile and leather to give it a three-dimensional look. This resulted in a collection of hand bags, wallets and scarves, some in limited editions and others as unique pieces.
Polderstraat 39 Westerlo 2260 Belgium
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WE ARE ZLQ.
WE BELIEVE IN BEAUTY AND DESIGN.
WE BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT LAST AND
TRANSCEND FUGITIVE TRENDS
AND SEASONAL FLINGS.
WE BELIEVE IN SOLID CRAFTSMANSHIP AND
DURABLE MATERIALS.
WE BELIEVE IN HIGH-END QUALITY.
WE BELIEVE IN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A DURABLE OBJECT,
AN EXCEPTIONAL THING WHICH BECOMES AN INDIVIDUALITY
THROUGH DAILY USE AND A BELOVED PARTNER OVER TIME.
ZLQ BELIEVES THAT BEAUTY DESERVES TIME TO FLOURISH AND MATURE. RATHER THAN FOCUSSING ON SHORT-LOVED TRENDS OR SEASONAL DEMANDS, ZLQ STRIVES FOR TIMELESS PERFECTION. BY TAKING THE TIME TO FULLY EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF BOTH MATERIAL AND CUT, ZLQ AIMS TO REFINE ITS CONTEMPORARY CLASSICS WITH PATIENCE AND CARE. DOING SO, ZLQ EMBODIES THE VERY ESSENCE OF SLOW FASHION, A STORY IN WHICH THE TRANSIENCE OF TIME BECOMES A BLESSING.
DESIGNED TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME, EACH PIECE IS HANDCUT AND HANDCRAFTED IN LIMITED QUANTITIES. ROOTED IN TRADITION AND FASCINATED BY MODERN LIFE, ZLQ REFLECTS THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN QUALITY AND FUNCTIONALITY. ZLQ REPRESENTS A FUTURE WHERE BEAUTY AND SUSTAINABILITY INTERTWINE GRACEFULLY. USING ONLY THE FINEST MATERIALS, THE CAREFULLY SELECTED LEATHER IS PRAISED FOR ITS RAW ELEGANCE AND SUBTLE PATINA. INTELLIGENT AND REFINED. SOPHISTICATED YET ADVENTUROUS.
ZLQ’S DESIGNS GAIN THEIR UNIQUE IDENTITY THROUGH DAILY USE AND BECOME A BELOVED PARTNER OVER TIME.
BEHIND ZLQ STANDS A PASSIONATE DUO DETERMINED TO TRANSLATE THEIR BELIEFS INTO A GENUINELY EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT. FROM THE FIRST SKETCH TO THE FINISHING TOUCH,
LIESBETH VERHELST AND TIM BROOTHAERS TREAT EACH ASPECT OF THEIR DESIGNS WITH GREAT ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
ZLQ DESIGNS FOR THE STRONG-MINDED WITH A SOFT SPOT FOR LEATHER LUXURY. TRUE TO ITS CORE VALUES, ZLQ’S DESIGNER GOODS WILL ACCOMPANY YOU IN YEARS TO COME.
TODAY, ZLQ HAS FOUR TIMELESS DESIGNS, EACH THE RESULT OF AN INTENSE DESIGN PROCESS. TIME DOESN’T STAND STILL, HOWEVER. ZLQ’S DESIGN PROCESS IS A NEVER-ENDING ONE, OPEN TO CHANGE AND MOTION. ZLQ’S SLOW FASHION PHILOSOPHY TRANSLATES INTO AN UNINTERRUPTED, CAREFUL EXPLORATION OF PERFECTION.
Rooigemlaan 126 Gent 9000 Belgium
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About
1961: Birth
The story begins in a little village in south eastern Turkey. We are Sunday, it is October 29, 1961, Manufer Gulcu was born. Coming from a modest family, his father is farrier and his mother is housewife. In 1966, the family leaves the village to settle in the city, where his father opens his own workshop and reconverts into the manufacturing of horse saddles. During his early childhood, Manufer goes to school while working in his father’s workshop, where he gets familiar with a craftsmanship profession.
1972: Arrival in Istanbul
In 1972, Manufer Gulcu arrived with his family in Istanbul. The city is large and living conditions difficult, forcing Manufer to quit school at the age of 11 to find work. After accumulating odd jobs, Manufer found an apprentice position in a workshop located in the Beyazit district of Istanbul and discovered the profession of sewing there. Skillful with his hands, he quickly learns and develops technical skills. Very early on, working with leather and natural materials fascinates and ambitions him.
1978: Opening of his first workshop
In 1978, when he was only 17 years old, Manufer becomes an experienced couturier, the most respected position in the profession. His boss then offered him to take over the management of the workshop. He will accept the proposal and team up with his best friend to lead a team of eight workers. At a time considered to be the beginnings of the golden age of leather, Manufer saw its activity grow steadily.
1981: Arrival in Belgium
In 1981, in a tumultuous socio-economic context, Manufer decided to leave Istanbul for Europe, where everything had to be rebuilt. He will work for 3 years in different sewing workshops until the opening of his own workshop, which will later allow him to meet his wife. At that time, the importance of leather and shearling in the world of ready-to-wear was at its peak.
1987: The workshop burns down
On November 12, 1987, the building where the workshop is located burned down. Once again, everything has to be rebuilt. The accident prompted Manufer to renovate the Maison de Maître in Brussels located at 138 Avenue du Roi. He set up his workshops there, which he named MANUFERO, as a tribute to his origins. There he will develop his activities of creation, sales to professionals and individuals. He will also put his couturier know-how at the service of other designers, and will collaborate with prestigious houses such as Natan, Yves Saint-Laurent, Kris Van Assche and Jean-Paul Knot.
1992: 29thOctober is born
In his spirit of creation, Manufer Gulcu decides to put a name on his collections. In 1992, he created his brand, 29THOCTOBER, referring to a triple symbolic date for him and his family.
1999: Marie-Claire France
In 1999, the 29THOCTOBER brand obtained its first publication in a renowned magazine, Marie-Claire France.
2004: Paris international fair
In 2004, the 29THOCTOBER brand was present for the first time at the international ready-to-wear fair in Paris. This event will open the doors of French boutiques to the Maison and give it its European dimension.
2012: MIEL Catwalk
In 2012, the Maison took part in its very first fashion show, the MIEL Catwalk, and presented a preview of its winter 2013-2014 collection.
2018: The team is growing
In 2018, the 29THOCTOBER team is growing and becomes more than ever a family house. Benjamin and Lucie, Manufer’s children, join the company and give it a digital dimension by creating the online store.
2020: The range is growing
The brand takes precedence over innovation and diversification. More than ever willing to perpetuate its craftsmanship and put its know-how at the service of innovative and committed fashion, 29THOCTOBER is launching its first capsule collection in vegetable leather. On the occasion of its birthday, October 29, 2020, the brand unveils its bag line.
Avenue du Roi 138 Brussels 1190 Belgium
Rue Joseph Stevens 41 Brussels 1000 Belgium