Johanne Riss
Johanne RissInfo
JOHANNE RISS
The designer, Johanne Riss, grew up in Paris and she settled in Brussels, Capital of Europe, where she established her head-office in 1988 and still designs with passion.
As a modern woman, strengthened by her experience, Johanne Riss offers all her subtlety for the expression of a timeless femininity. Her Style translates at all levels; ready-to-wear, bridal gowns, evening dresses, accessories and jewelry. Her strength: black and white, to which a multitude of colors are added every season. As an active woman, her creations perfectly meet the requirements of the today’s women with her well-studied stretch fabrics, combined with chiffon, silk and guipure lace accessories, giving a couture look of rare refinement to her elegant creations. All her clothes are meticulously created in her own workshop, located in the mother-house in Brussels, allowing quick and easy semi-measure tailored or fully tailored adjustments.
As a perfectionist, she leaves no detail to chance and follows her creations from design to manufacture and sometimes until the dressing of her clients.
Her creations flawlessly evoke lightness, transparency and purity.
THE HOUSE
2013 Johanne Riss online: bringing our customers, from Belgium and abroad, added satisfaction and convenience when placing their orders, which can now be done remotely.
For those not in the know, Johanne Riss offers Timeless clothing with pure lines and a feminine and elegant look created using its stretch fabrics, which are, of course, environmentally friendly. We want every woman to be beautiful and sensual while also feeling good, and for that we make our outfits as comfortable as possible. Wrinkle-resistant and machine washable at 30°, they are highly appreciated for their easy care and they travel well too.
All of our products are made in our workshop at the company’s headquarters and boutique in Brussels, giving them the ‘Made in Belgium’ quality mark.
Naturally, the boutique also holds a few exclusive items only sold in-store, and also offers a semi-made-to-measure service. All customers are welcome to visit this magical place.
We hope you enjoy your visit and find that perfect something in our new online store.
THE FABRIC
Johanne Riss’s collections are all made of stretch fabrics and designed in order to perfectly respond to contemporary women’s expectations.
Other top-end materials are also combined in order to draw sensual and timeless lines. This fabric fits perfectly all shapes like a second skin. Its stretch material is highly comfortable and allows a perfect ventilation of the clothing with a perpetual sensation of freshness. Suitable for both summer and winter. And requires low maintenance (30°C washing machine without ironing) and is ideal for travel (light and uncrushable)
Johanne Riss is also committed to sustainable development. The fabric’s production process requires 20% less energy and 50% less water than other similar stretch materials
“1 meter of fabrics purchased = 1 meter of rain forest protected.”
The objective is to preserve the Yaboti Biosphere, a reserve with a high concentration of rare species and vegetation located in Argentina.
Rue du Mail, 17 Ixelles 1050 Belgium
Jan-Jan van Essche
Jan-Jan van EsscheInfo
AS FOR MANY OTHERS, THE HUMAN COLLECTIVE CULTURE REMAINS AN ENDLESS INSPIRATION FOR JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE TO CREATE NEW GARMENTS, EACH NEW DESIGN A GENUINE ATTEMPT TO OPEN UP NEW PERSPECTIVES AND TO PUSH CONFLICTING DIALOGUES FORWARD.
WITH EVERY SERIES OF GARMENTS, TRADITIONAL PATTERNS FROM DIFFERENT ETHNO-CULTURAL ORIGINS ARE CAUTIOUSLY STUDIED AND SUBSEQUENTLY INTERPRETED IN THE DESIGNER’S INDIVIDUAL PATTERN LANGUAGE; ONE SPEAKING THE POETRY OF SIMPLICITY.
JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE MOSTLY OPTS TO REMOVE ALL POSSIBLE SEAMS AND MINIMALIZING DETAILS AND CULTURAL CONNOTATION, WHILE MAXIMIZING COMFORT FOR THE WEARER AND THEREFORE PROPOSING AN EXPERIENCE THAT WORKS FROM THE WITHIN.
UNLIKE CLASSIC WESTERN APPROACH TO CONFINE AND SHAPE THE BODY, JAN-JAN PROVIDES THE BODY THE LUXURY AND FREEDOM TO SHAPE THE GARMENT.
HIS SINCERE AND DISCRETE DESIGNS ARE EXECUTED IN CAREFULLY SOURCED, REFINED QUALITY FABRICS OF NATURAL FIBERS, ALL CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS INDUCING ONES AWARENESS AND STATE OF MIND.
CONTRIBUTING TO THIS STORY OF MINIMIZING ANECDOTIC CONNOTATIONS SOME FABRICS REMAIN UN-DYED OR EVEN LOOM STATE, THE COLOURS ARE RATHER TO THE MUTED PALETTE AND THE BLACK COLOUR WITH ITS ENDLESS SHADES IS ALWAYS PRESENT TO RIGOROUSLY ACCENTUATE THE SILHOUETTES.
JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE CONTINUOUSLY AIMS TO DEVELOP NEW INSIGHTS ON CONTEMPORARY YET EFFORTLESS AND GENDERLESS ELEGANCE.
HIS PIECES ARE LAYERED WITH SUBTLETY, INTEGRATED INTO MODERN-DAY CITY LIFE AND INTO PERSONAL WARDROBES, SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY PLAYING THEIR HUMBLE ROLE IN FINDING CONNECTION AND ACCEPTANCE.
THEY SEE NO BOUNDARIES, NO LIMITATIONS, NO RESTRICTIONS NO EXCLUSIONS.
THE CONVENTIONAL SILHOUETTE IS AMPLIFIED AND EACH INDIVIDUAL GARMENT LITERALLY LEAVES ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION, ENGENDERING OPENNESS.
THE WEARER OF JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE IS A GENTLE SOUL IN CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH ONE’S PERSONAL CONTEXT AS WELL AS WITH THE WORLD AS A WHOLE.
LIKE THE GARMENTS THE WEARER IS HUMBLE AND IS UNRESTRAINED.
JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE IS BORN IN ANTWERP, BELGIUM, WHERE HE HAS HIS DESIGN STUDIO. HE’S A 2003 GRADUATE OF THE ANTWERP ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS.
IN JUNE 2010 JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE LAUNCHED HIS FIRST EPONYMOUS LABEL AS AN ANNUAL WARDROBE. COLLECTION#1 – ‘YUKKURI’, JAPANESE FOR ‘TAKE IT EASY’ OR ‘SLOWLY’.
THIS TITLE ALSO BECAME HIS INTRINSIC AND CONCEPTUAL APPROACH TO CONTEMPORARY WARDROBES AS A DESIGNER.
- COLLECTION#2 – SATTA AMASSAGANA (JUNE 2011)
- COLLECTION#3 – IN AWE (JUNE 2012)
- COLLECTION#4 — UHURU SASA (JUNE 2013)
- COLLECTION#5 — INITE (JUNE 2014)
- COLLECTION#6 — NO MAN IS AN ISLAND (JUNE 2015)
- COLLECTION#7 — AWARE (JUNE 2016)
- COLLECTION#8 — 無 (MU) (JUNE 2017)
- COLLECTION#9 — ONE IN ALL AND ALL IN ONE (JUNE 2018)
- COLLECTION#10 — CODA (JUNE 2019)
- COLLECTION#11 — GRACE (JULY 2020)
- COLLECTION#12 — CYCLE (JUNE 2021)
THE ANNUAL WARDROBES RECEIVED A COUNTERPART IN 2013 WHEN, DUE TO THE WELL RECEIVED PREVIOUS COLLECTIONS, THE DESIGNER DECIDED TO ADD THE PROJECTS, AUTONOMOUS SERIES OF GARMENTS DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO SPECIFIC CRAFTS OR INSPIRATIONS, TAKING THE NECESSARY TIME TO CULTIVATE IDEAS AND UNDERGOING THE SLOW RHYTHM AND PACE OF THE HAND.
THE CREATIVE FREEDOM IS PRESERVED AND IDEAS ARE ENABLED TO FLOURISH.
- PROJECT#1 – PROCEED (JANUARY 2013) — RESEARCH ON PATCHWORK
- PROJECT#2 — REDEEM (JANUARY 2014) &MASH; RESEARCH ON SAKIORI WEAVING
- PROJECT#3 — WADADA (JANUARY 2015) — RESEARCH ON ROPE WEAVING
- PROJECT#4 — EACH ONE TEACH ONE (JANUARY 2016) — RESEARCH ON BORO APPLICATIONS
- PROJECT#5 — ARISE (JANUARY 2017) — PATTERN RESEARCH INSPIRED BY THE KESA GARMENT
- PROJECT#6 — ONE STONE (JANUARY 2018) — PATTERN RESEARCH INSPIRED BY THE AINU KIMONO
- PROJECT#7 — SOLACE (JANUARY 2019) — EMPHASIS ON USE OF FABRICS
- PROJECT#8 — REMEMBRANCE (JANUARY 2020) — RESEARCH ON PADDED GARMENTS & SAKIORI WEAVING
- PROJECT#9 — SUNU (FEBRUARY 2021) — RESEARCH ON PADDED GARMENTS & HAND WOVEN GARMENTS
WADADA BVBA NACHTEGAALSTRAAT 27 ANTWERPEN 2060 BELGIUM
Toos Franken
Toos FrankenInfo
Belgian designer Toos Franken started her career in fashion at the renowned Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Toos Franken has been pushing for a more transparent and inclusive fashion industry for years. Her critical attitude towards the industry translates among other things into her choice for exclusively producing in Belgium. Furthermore Toos Franken obtains a unique position in the world of fashion by creating and drawing the patterns for each and every design herself. A grand craftsmanship by which Toos Franken makes an exceptional contribution to a women’s wardrobe.
You can’t help but get drawn into designer Toos Franken’s thought process when you meet her. Speaking quietly but decidedly flashing a quick smile between sentences she bounces ideas back and forth, allowing you to track the creative process churning synchronously alongside her focus on business realism.
Starting out where most of Belgium’s cream of the crop matured, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp Fashion Department, Toos Franken navigated dropping out early (having a baby will change the course of your life quite considerably), starting afresh sewing in the ateliers of our greats Haider Ackermann and Ann Demeulemeester. This lead to her taking on a new course to become a pattern designer and raising a second kid while branching out as an independent designer.
After a major switchup to aseasonal collections she opened her own flagship store in the nucleus of Belgian fashion: the spot across from MoMu fashion museum in Antwerp’s Nationalestraat. KNOTORYUS
Toos Franken (1989) was born and raised on country grounds in Antwerp, Belgium. Founder of namesake label Toos Franken, established in 2014. Member of the Cronos group since 2017.
FROM NOW ON
From now on, you will take this moment to be your brave self; to be true to yourself, in good times and bad; in sickness and health; you will never accept another’s standard for success as you get yours one measure higher; you will love yourself and honour your beliefs for every day of your life.
When you’re finished, no one will ever look at us the same way again.
Steegstraat 18 Balen 2490 Belgium
Info
About ZUID
Renée van Beurden is the founder and creator of the brand “ZUID” which she started in 1995. The brand was famous for its silky dresses, trousers and their perfect fit. Soon Renée opened her first flagshipstore “ZUID” in Antwerp at the famous Sint-Jorispoort.
After 10 years of hard work, Renée wanted to dedicate more time with her family and young grandchildren, so she decided to stop her own brand ZUID. She transformed her flagshipstore into a multi-brand store for elegant and stylish women.
Renée has the flair to pick out the most outstanding pieces from high fashion labels such as Ottod’ ame, Nanushka, Zenghi and combine them with accessories from Eveline Slijper and sunglasses from Monokel. The shop is open every week from Wednesday to Saturday from 11-18h.
Sint-Jorispoort 11 Antwerpen 2000 belgium
Cycleur de Luxe
Cycleur de LuxeInfo
BRAND INFO
CYCLEUR de LUXE is a lifestyle brand with a wide range of women, men and kids shoes and a brand new women and men textile collection. The story of CYCLEUR de LUXE starts with the world of cycling. We get our trends and the inspiration for our trends from the Belgian cycling culture.
We offer a diverse collection of women’s, men’s and kids trainers. The collection runs from signature to innovative footwear. CYCLEUR de LUXE tries to combine affordable, comfortable, innovative and trendy shoes. The stylish footwear is made of sturdy and high-quality leather, and makes use of colors that ensure a timeless design.
CYCLEUR de LUXE also offers a range of ecological men’s shoes. With awareness for people and the environment, CYCLEUR de LUXE has developed a sustainable shoe line, the RE>CYCLEUR line. The shoes are made of recycled materials and chrome free leather.
After years of preparation and months of hard work, our first CYCLEUR de LUXE apparel collection for men and women is finally on the market! It is a dream to style people from head to toe and this is the next step to accomplish this goal.
The sneaker and textile collections are offered online or in over 450 dealer locations. For a store nearby, check our store locator.
Antoon Catriestraat 39C Drongen 9031 Belgium
Tine De Cleer
Tine De CleerInfo
Passion and quirkiness
Passionate about fashion, fabrics and developing patterns, Tine writes her life story with needle and thread.
Tine studied Fashion & Textile in Ghent and specialized in pattern drawing. After her studies, she started working for renowned designers and worked for major Belgian fashion houses.
Among other things, she was responsible for Kaat Tilley’s foreign clients. “I flew to Los Angeles where I, together with Kate, made the evening dresses of stars like Melanie Griffith for the Golden Globes”. In addition, Tine invariably works with Jean Paul Knott, someone she can call a friend in addition to being a colleague.
Tine has been making wedding dresses for over 20 years: “As long as I can remember, I have had an unconditional love for bridal wear. Being a part of a love story and making someone’s dream day come true is very special. Bridal attire always appeals to the imagination. Only the most beautiful materials are good enough.”
Every wedding dress is unique and contains a piece of Tine’s quirkiness. “When all the individual elements – from the pattern, to the cut, the smallest details and the personal touch of the bride – come together, a dress really becomes special.”
“Seeing a dress come to life little by little
coming is one of my favorite things.”
Unique and personal
“With my concept I bring a collection of several silhouettes. Those pieces form a foundation for both the bride and me. The bride-to-be always has an idea of the model, the cut and the choice of fabric, but the greatest source of inspiration remains the bride herself. Her body shape, wishes and needs remain the most important elements for a perfect wedding dress.”
From the first acquaintance, measuring, patterns, fabric choice to cutting, stitching, fitting and the very last finishing touch, Tine goes through the process from start to finish. And she always does this with the bride in mind: “Only in this way can the bridal outfit be the perfect reflection of the bride, her character, her figure, movements and so on.”.
In addition to bridal couture, ladies can also contact Tine for tailor-made evening wear and timeless basics. Her professional style advice and eye for detail ensure that every outfit tells a personal story.
Berkenlaan 20 Hasselt 3500 Belgium
FIBR
FIBRInfo
OUR MISSION
MEET FIBR. THE FAIRCHAIN ALPACA SWEATER. SOFT ON YOUR SKIN AS EASY ON YOUR CONSCIENCE. FIBR BRINGS RADICALLY COMFORTABLE BASICS, YOU ARE PROUD TO WEAR.
The fashion industry has some of the most complex and unfair supply chains in the world. FIBR believes that creating transparency is a first step towards fairness. Today, only 7% of fashion brands know where their materials come from.
Some room for change, if you ask us.
THE FIBR SUPPLY CHAIN
FIBR IS FAIRCHAIN KNITWEAR: FAIRNESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE VALUE CHAIN.
Fairchain knitwear takes it a step further, rethinking the entire value chain from the source of the raw materials right to your closet.
FIBR connects three strong local players in PERU, all doing their part to make the Peruvian alpaca sector more fair. By connecting these dots, we managed to set up our own value chain and bring you a product of which we know exactly who made it, where it has been and of which we can be sure that everyone is treated well.
OUR PRINCIPLES
QUALITY IS WHERE IT STARTS
We bring you a timeless sweater made from 100% alpaca fibre, a natural fibre which is praised for its robustness and warmness. This sweater is made to last! And if not, a repair kit will teach you all the tricks.
TRANSPARENCY TO THE BONE
Discover where your money goes to, and all the steps your FIBR sweater has been through. No need to hide our imperfections. We rather would like to share them with you and show where improvement is still needed.
EVERY SWEATER COUNTS
We know that we won’t change the world (although we would love to). But we do know that big changes are made by many small steps.
Leading by example, we tell the clothing industry to dive into their supply chains and show more ambition. We are convinced the fashion sector needs small disruptive ideas to evolve and innovate. Every sweater sold means that another person is inspired by our story. Which is something huge!
PRE-ORDER
AT FIBR WE WORK WITH A PRE-ORDER SYSTEM. THIS MEANS THAT WE ONLY START PRODUCTION AFTER A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF PIECES IS ORDERED. TO CONTRIBUTE TO YEARROUND WORK STABILITY FOR THE KNITTERS, PRODUCTION IS IN LOW SEASON, FROM FEBRUARY UNTIL EARLY APRIL.
Tarbotstraat 10 Ghent 9000 Belgium
Valentine Avoh
Valentine AvohInfo
About
BETWEEN PASSION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
THE DESIGNER
Valentine Avoh
Located in the heart of Brussels, the Atelier Valentine Avoh offers light, refined and playful wedding dresses in a Haute Couture spirit, combining surprising details and timeless cuts.
Graduated in fashion design from the London College of Fashion, the Belgian designer worked for more than 10 years for prestigious international houses such as Alexander McQueen, Alexis Mabille and San Andrès Milano.
While completing her first wedding dress in 2009, Valentine fell in love with the handcrafted process. Five years later, she launched her own brand and then opened her atelier in Brussels in 2017, where she creates each piece in the manner of the greatest names in Couture.
Inspirations
From Rita Hayworth’s undeniable glamour to the mysterious sensuality of Marlène Dietrich, Valentine’s universe is a mix of cinematographic and musical references. The songs of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald exude their charm in her creations.
From the first sketch to the finished product passing by the paper pattern, each pieces is made by hand in my Brussels workshop. The perfect equation to give you that feeling of intimate luxury and discreet elegance that only bespoke craftsmanship can provide.
In my constant quest for quality, I sources fabrics exclusively in Europe; in Italy, in France and of course in Belgium, from the same suppliers as those of the Haute Couture houses. I also develops some of my own unique embroideries in partnership with my suppliers in order to offer you truly unique pieces who embody the characteristic of the Atelier’s dna.
75 BOULEVARD SAINT-MICHEL BRUXELLES 1040
Jean Paul Knott
Jean Paul KnottInfo
ABOUT Jean-Paul KNOTT
JEANPAULKNOTT is a label for women and men sensitive to quality, originality and exclusivity.
Jean-Paul Knott has a travelling soul. He is Belgian, has grown up in New York and works in Brussels. He collaborated with Yves Saint Laurent for 11 years. He has been the artistic director of Krizia, Louis Féraud, Cerruti and has created costumes for Maurice Béjart ballets. He presents his JEANPAULKNOTT women and menswear collections on a regular basis since 2000.
Jean-Paul Knott explores the line, shows an ethereal nonchalance and impalpable elegance that makes his signature look. He mixes all the codes, masculine and feminine, ready-to-wear / Couture. He invites you to travel, fold, transform and he collaborates readily to his artist friends’ work.
RUE FRANZ MERJAY 147 IXELLES 1050 Belgium
Nuage d’Automne
Nuage d’AutomneInfo
Thu Van Nguyen
clothing designer
It was in 2006 that Thu-Van Nguyen created the brand Nuage d’Automne (translation of Thu-Van in Vietnamese). This Eurasian born in Perpignan (France) has lived in Belgium since the age of 6.
Trained as a costume designer and decorator, she came to styling in a natural way as if to express through Fashion the mixture of cultures and origins of which she is the fruit.
In her workshop in La Hulpe, she creates medium and high-end ready-to-wear for men and women, in unique pieces, limited series and made-to-measure.
In an ethnic style, Nuage d’Automne bears witness to the meeting between the East and the West, the ancient and the modern.
In addition to using natural materials (silk, wool, linen or cotton) as well as vegetable dyes for certain ranges, particular attention is paid to the quality of the finishes.
The stage costume complements its work through spectacular outfits and costumes for musicians, dancers or actors.
Creativity, know-how and experience at the service of Fashion.
She stands out with an approach to Fashion that is more artistic than “trendy” by creating unexpected mixes. What makes these clothes exceptional, sometimes close to a work of art.
In an unconventional style with minimalist cuts, it combines elegance with a mixture of cultures and eras, while promoting craftsmanship and know-how.
Creation Workshop
Training
Training in vegetable dye and indigo with Martine Bourlée (2017 – 18)
INFAC / EFPME: scenography-show technician (2001-2005)
Academy of Arts of Ixelles in live model drawing. (2001-2002)
School of Arts of Braine-l’Alleud: multidisciplinary training. Certificate of secondary artistic education with reduced hours (1998 – 2001)
Internships
Set painting with Alexandre Obolensky & Opéra Royal de La Monnaie (2001-2005)
Scenography and stage management with Jean-Marie Fiévez at the Théâtre Le Public (2001-2003)
Costume making with France Lamboray at the Théatre Le Public (2003-2005)
Parade at the Palace of the Kings of Majorca
Stage costumes for percussionists
Significant events in the professional career
Parades & Exhibitions:
Salon Créations (Province of Walloon Brabant – 2017 & 2018)
Walloon Fair of Crafts of Wallonia – 2016 & 2018)
ArtiBw exhibition (OMA Brabant Wallon – Château d’Hélécine – 2016 to 2018)
Salon Ethno Tendance (Farushi asbl – Tour & Taxi, Brussels – 2015 & 2013)
Second Hand Second Life Festival (Les Petits Riens – Tour& Taxi, Brussels – 2013)
Monaco Wedding Fair (Daily Fashion – Forum Grimaldi, Monaco – 2013)
Brussels Fashion Days (Bee Group – The Egg, Brussels – 2013 & 2012)
Pop-Up Store Fair (Lille – 2012)
Autumn Cloud Parade (Palace of the Kings of Majorca, Perpignan, France – 2012)
Theater :
Ria Carbonez (2018 to 2021)
Theater Loyal du Trac – 2006, 2011, 2013
Stage management for the shows “Couldn’t we love each other a little? and Noces de Vent (Théâtre Loyal du Trac, Belgium, France, Switzerland, New Caledonia, Tahiti – 2005 to 2017)
Assistant Justine Drabs for Marie Tudor (Théâtre Jardin Passion, Belgium – 2014)
After the bridge (Théâtre Oz, Belgium – 2005)
Bintou (Théâtre Océan Nord, Belgium – 2002)
Music :
18 percussionist costumes (Sysmo, Belgium – 2015)
Saxophonist (Cyril Thiry, Belgium – 2015)
Dance :
Café Frappé (Tap Show Company and TLT, Belgium – 2013)
Movie theater :
Short film (SMOG, Belgium, 2015)
Circus:
The Flying Partners (Ptits Bras, Belgium, France – 2011)
Circus Marcel (Robert en Alfons vzw, Belgium – 2012)
Events:
Tibidou mascot (Editions Acrodalivres, Belgium – 2016)
Costume designer assistant for management staff (Zinneke asbl, Belgium – 2011)
She stands out with an approach to Fashion that is more artistic than “trendy” by creating unexpected mixes. What makes these clothes exceptional, sometimes close to a work of art.
In an unconventional style with minimalist cuts, it combines elegance with a mixture of cultures and eras, while promoting craftsmanship and know-how.
104, rue des Combattants La Hulpe 1310 Belgium