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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
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BIO
LĒO is a Belgium-based brand that was established in 2016 by artistic director Leonneke Derksen (Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, Belgium) and founder Matthias Medaer.
LĒO was created in Paris, while gaining experience at fashion houses like Balenciaga and Carven.
This period was the base on which the vision of the brand was born, as the team got in touch and ultimately became part of a new generation of young designers.
Moving LĒO to the center of Europe (Brussels, Belgium) was a natural outcome of the need for full dedication to the brand and focus on the quality of it’s product, which is produced exclusively in Europe.
VISION
LĒO embodies the energy between luxury, avant-garde and street wear.
Experience over time formed a brand-specific set of values which consist of dedication to self-expression, nostalgia and the desire to push boundaries and evoke excitement.
Inspiration comes from various worlds and aesthetics and combines eras, movements, atmospheres and subcultures, regardless of codes.
Ideas are found in the space between external and internal experience and research is extracted from unique experiences in between quotidien performances and memorable rare involvements.
The brand displays the mind of different generations and the dualities that lie within them.
Attitude, authenticity and honesty are the essence of the LĒO customer.
PRODUCT
At the core of all reflections lays a product which represents a balance of quality and originality.
These products are carfully placed in worlds in which the brand expresses an original take on ‘reality’ and its movements.
LĒO garments oppose seriousness with spontaneity and question common rules with creativity and curiousness.
Wearing LĒO implements appreciation for sophistication and uniqueness. Distinguished shapes turn through worked-out bleaching and dying technics into one of a kind garments for a one of a kind wearer.
LĒO embraces the awkwardness and accentuates it’s inherent potential for innovation which can be recognised in the choice of material and reccurent elements like metal details.
Each collection is a mix of unexpected and iconic elements with a touch of ‘‘no rule“ humor.
This fuse contains on one side traditional tailored or classic technical elements that breathe rationality and on the other side the element of surprise, instinct and emotion.
21-25, Rue Gheude Brussels 1070 Belgium
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About us
SUITSHERWELL was founded by Gloria and Mandy Kourkouliotis, two sisters from Genk with Greek roots on their father’s side. Gloria is a political scientist with a heart for sustainability and ethical business. Mandy is a journalist and communication scientist by training. She writes for several lifestyle and interior design magazines. Together they form a strong ping pong team. Their youngest sister Xenia is still studying, but behind the screen of her smartphone she helps to map out the social media story. Her official introduction will follow soon.
Their minimalist tailor-made suit label combines quality with affordability and inclusiveness in the broadest sense of the word. They not only want to be a fashion label, but also a community that stands for openness, equality and female empowerment. With great respect for the female body in all its variants. From very slim to beautiful, round shapes. They’ve got you covered!
The own designs are sustainably and ethically produced in Portugal. The European country par excellence in terms of start-ups and a progressive fashion industry. They avoid the not so transparent Silk Road and work with local partners as much as possible. For their packaging, a collaboration was established with Ropak from Genk and their beautiful images were taken by the talented photographer Shari Ruzzi. They found the right partner (De Gouden Draad in Hasselt) for customizing the suits through the AZO project. A European initiative that guides recognized refugees to entrepreneurship.
Buying a SUITSHERWELL tailor-made suit is not only a wardrobe investment, but also the realization of a dream. Supporting young, female and Belgian entrepreneurship.
SUITSHERWELL, empowerment suits you well.
– Gloria & Mandy
Diesterstraat 5 Hasselt 3500 Belgium
Pierre Antoine Vettorello
Pierre Antoine VettorelloInfo
The work of Pierre Antoine Vettorello focuses on using textile design and clothes as a foundation for narrative. He makes sculptural and statement silhouettes that represent militancy and poetry. Some are inspired by military technologies, ordinary materials, West African textiles and materials, and methods learned during tours and workshops. As a designer, he seeks to incorporate hand-made processes and discarded elements into the creation of clothes and forms in order to center them in his work. As a human being and a scholar, he is challenging our personal relationship with our sartorial past, as well as how we manufacture mythologies about ‘designers’ in Western nations, repeating colonial practices. He identifies how we view and get inspiration from the African continent, as well as how we interact with it.
Vettorello received the ASVOF Diane Pernet award in 2010 and Arise Award in 2011.
He is French-born & Ivorian, grew up in Bordeaux, now works and lives in Brussels (Belgium). He is a Ph.D. research fellow at the University of Antwerp and Sint Lucas Antwerp School of Arts.
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caroline biss offers the modern, self-confident woman elegant and classy women’s fashions with glamorous style.
perfectly fitting ready-to-wear collections that combine stylish simplicity, subtle colours and new materials – resulting in a contemporary yet timeless collection.
comfortable designs for every day of the week, weekend sporting outfits with just that little bit more, fashion dresses for a night out and sparkling party wear.
Kouterbaan 44 Lebbeke 9280 Belgium
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1957
Het verhaal achter Mayerline
Op 12 mei 1957 zetten Jozef Meyer en Jeanne Vrydags hun eerste stappen in de mode met een beperkte collectie handgemaakte mantels voor de lokale markt. Toen de notaris de handelsnaam “Meyerline” per ongeluk als “Mayerline” noteerde, zag het modekoppel wel wat in de vrouwelijkere toon van deze spellingsfout. Het merk Mayerline was geboren.
1970
Voet aan wal in de modestad
Het aantal enthousiaste reacties op de eerste handgemaakte mantels was zo overweldigend dat het modekoppel besliste mantelpakjes aan de collectie toe te voegen. De steeds ruimer wordende collectie was al gauw niet meer enkel op de markt te koop maar dook op in kwalitatieve multimerkenboetieks, zoals de toen befaamde Alpina-winkels in Antwerpen. Zo kreeg Mayerline een stevige voet aan de grond in de modestad. Toen de uitbaatster van de Alpinawinkel in Antwerpen begin jaren ’70 met pensioen wou en haar zaak wilde stopzetten, zag zakenman Jozef zijn kans schoon: Mayerline veranderde in één klap van kledingmaker naar kledingmaker met eigen multmerkenwinkels.
1980
Zoals het klokje thuis tikt
In 1980 nam zoon Maurice het roer over en bouwde de export langzaam af om zich op de expansie van zijn geliefde thuismarkt te gaan concentreren. Hij breidde het bestaande assortiment uit tot een volwaardige collectie, bracht in 1986 de eerste catalogus uit en opende in 1995 de eerste Mayerline-winkel. In 1996 kreeg Mayerline bovendien een vaste stek als ‘shop-in-the-shop’ bij Galeria Inno. Mayerline werd een gevestigde waarde. Tegen 2006 telde het merk 25 eigen verkooppunten en was het aanwezig in de 15 filialen van Galeria Inno
2000
De derde generatie
Eind 2009 zette Maurice een stap opzij om plaats te maken voor de derde generatie: schoonzoon Patrik Geurts nam het roer in handen als CEO, in samenwerking met zijn vrouw Annick Meyer.
Eén jaar later trad Mayerline als één van de eerste merken in België toe tot de Fair Wear Foundation. Deze belangenorganisatie kijkt er op toe dat alle kleding waar dan ook ter wereld, wordt gemaakt onder fatsoenlijke werkomstandigheden. De Fair Wear principes worden bij Mayerline hoog in het vaandel gedragen. Alles wordt in het werk gesteld om de productieketen en de bedrijfsvoering aan te passenen en zo te streven naar betere arbeidsomstandigheden.
2013
In 2013 neemt CRG (de holding boven JBC) een meerderheidsparticipatie in Mayerline. Samen zetten we in op groei en op verruiming van het assortiment.
Met deze nieuwe Mayerline-familie opent in 2015 de eerste buitenlandse Mayerline-winkel in Luxemburg en betreden we de online marktplaats met onze webshop.
Patrik Geurts en Annick Meyer zijn een jaar later de trotse getuigen van de geboorte van het jongere Mayerline-zusje ‘Améline’ en besluiten dat het tijd is om een stap opzij te zetten en de fakkel door te geven. Mayerline is nu volledig in handen van familie Claes (CRG) die blijft investeren in het groeiverhaal en verruiming van het assortiment.
2018
Een nieuw elan
In 2018 vangt voor Mayerline een nieuw hoofdstuk aan en verhuist men naar een gloednieuw hoofdkantoor in Vilvoorde.
Er wordt ook een nieuw winkelconcept ontwikkeld met een eerste flagshipstore in Leuven.
In 2020, in volle Corona lockdown, neemt Mayerline een digitale versnelling met als Belgische primeur, een virtuele click&shop-videocatwalk om haar collecties zo inspirerend mogelijk naar de klant te brengen. Met videoshopping, een waaier aan omnichannel opties en sterk uitgebouwde persoonlijke adviesservices maakt Mayerline zich sterk voor de toekomst van de nieuwe consument.
Nu
De perfecte pasvorm
voor elk lichaam
Vandaag, in 2022, staat Mayerline al 65 jaar voor toegankelijk vakmanschap voor elke vrouw. Op maat van de unieke vrouwelijke vormen en voor ieders budget.
We blijven sleutelen aan de perfecte pasvorm met aandacht voor elk type lichaam. Steeds stijlvol en hedendaags.
Doriane van Overeem
Doriane van OvereemInfo
The accidental elegance of DVO creates sincere and ethical clothes, made for you in Belgium with guts and passion.
Fast-Fashion killed creativity and how we value our clothes. We tend to forget easily: “who made my clothes ? What is the price to pay to get this super good deal that crossed the oceans ?” Fashion is the second most polluting industry right after fuel, it is time to protect our planet.
If not now, when ? If not you, who ?
Today, as we move slowly towards gender equality, we can see another version of our future. So we can finally feel good in our body and mind, free from fears and anxieties. We know how it is to feel powerless about the human abuse in the clothing industry and feel the pressure of others because of how we look, either too prude or too sexy, bossy, bitchy. Everyone deserves to be whoever they want. Just like you, we feel frustrated living in a consumer society that does nothing for the ecological cause. We support your desire to consume less, by choosing better, to make it last.
Doriane van Overeem is a Belgian fashion designer, who graduated from La Cambre Mode(s) in Brussels and developed her skills in the studios of Manish Arora, Bernhard Willhelm, Meadham Kirchhoff and Louise Gray. She collaborated with : AEG Electrolux for the Care Label Project, Belfius, the Galeries Lafayette Paris, Disney and styled celebrities such as Natalia Dyer (Stranger Things), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Marie Gillain, Ciara or Yuko Takeuchi. DVO has also been published in Glamour, Elle, Marie Claire, People Style Watch, 25 ans.
Purchasing a DVO piece, is supporting a local company which is totally transparent with you. For each product, you can find a size guide, the composition is precisely explained as well as the time of manufacture, so you know exactly what you are paying for. Each piece goes through a strict fitting to make sure it is comfortable, and as much as possible easy to care for. You can track your package anytime and you have up to 14 days to exchange your order. We can repair your piece if any unexpected use appears, so you can keep your clothes even longer. All pieces can be custom made, cause each body is different and unique.
If you are still not sure whether buying a DVO piece, you can regularly meet us during pop up stores, visit our atelier or stores where DVO is being sold. Or if you ever dreamed of learning how to stitch ? Come take a lesson with Doriane herself, anything is possible !
If you want to feel unique or just a little special, DVO is produced in limited quantities in Belgium, so you’re sure you get an exclusive product. If you don’t want to waste your time in stores, decrease your impact on global warming or stop exploiting humans or animals, we are here to help you in this transformation.
With DVO, we’d like you to feel ready to face any situation, as you will not only be comfy in your clothes, in your moves, but also in your mind because you will get a chance to make this world a better place. We’re taking you to a committed and honest fashion, with no concession, true to itself and its values; get that feeling by wearing DVO.
Buy less. Choose well. Make it last.
Chaussée de Tirlemont 281 Gembloux 5030 Belgium
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We are an independent creative label based in Brussels mainly active in the fashion, music and audiovisual sector.
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ABOUT CESAR
In addition to being a model, food lover, traveler and proud author of my two cookbooks Model Kitchen and Cesar’s Kitchen and the travel guide Trippin, I have launched the Cesar Casier Knitwear Collection. While growing up, I was always surrounded by fashion. My mom owns a high-end fashion boutique “OONA” in Ghent and my stepmom is a fashion designer. They were my biggest influencers and shaped my views on fashion while growing up, the logical next step was to start my own collection.
100% MADE IN BELGIUM.
KNITWEAR COLLECTION
The Cesar Casier Knitwear Collection is 100% made in Belgium, something that is very rare nowadays. Everything I design is produced in a small family owned factory located in Sint-Niklaas, a city between Antwerp and my hometown Ghent. Fact is that back in the days there were about 300 factories located in this area and now there are only two left, a sad reality. Therefore, it is important to support the revival of Belgian knitwear as much as possible!
GENDER NEUTRAL FASHION
Next to my roots, my brand represents Gender Equality. A human right I hold dear and it is something I stand for. I translate this into my designs, as they are mostly unisex. I want my brand to lead the way in gender-neutral fashion. In my opinion, gender no longer dictates the way people dress and it does not force anyone into a box. That is why I try to design as much gender neutral pieces as possible, this allows us to express ourselves exactly the way we all want to. My designs are timeless, comfortable and basic, yet fashionable and with an eye for detail and great quality
CHARITY
I’ve always loved nature and even more, the animals who live in it. That’s why, for every sold item on my website, I’ll donate 1 euro to a charity. For my previous collection I’ve donated money to help save the dolphins, The Great Barrier Reef and the Giraffes in the wild. By donating money to a good cause, I want to send awareness to the public about the beauty of nature and to support animal and nature welfare!
Hubert Frere Orbanlaan 629 Ghent 9000 Belgium