Conni Kaminski
Conni KaminskiInfo
BEHIND THE BRAND
CONNI KAMINSKI is an ethical and sustainable womenswear designerbrand
100% made in Belgium.
Refined asymmetry, beautiful drapés, deconstructed knitwear, unexpected material mix and upcycling, for a result both original and elegant. The clothes are made from mostly natural and high quality materials such as silk, cotton, linen, merino wool and baby alpaca wool.
Next to the onlineshop, there is the boutique followed by the atelier, located in the historic center of Brussels: come and say hi and discover our universe chic and décalé.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Designer of German origin, Conni Kaminski studied fashiondesign and tailoring in Hamburg.
In 2000, she settled permanently in Brussels, and in 2005, the Conni Kaminski brand was created.
In 2008, she opened her store in the historic center of Brussels, behind which you can see the place where the magic happens: her workshop.
ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE
While proximity to her customers is a fundamental thing for Conni Kaminski, proximity to her suppliers and manufacturers is no exception. The sourcing of raw materials from different European countries and the production « made in Belgium », including research for fabrics, her pieces are entirely made on the same continent. Far from large productions across the oceans, everything is done via a 100% European network for flawless regulation and visibility of production.
MATERIALS CHOSEN WITH CARE
Because every detail counts, Conni Kaminski always selects for her creations essentially natural and high quality materials, all from European producers, such as silk, cotton, linen, merino wool and baby alpaca yarns, offering to her customers beautiful clothes comfortable to wear.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Avoiding mass overproduction, Conni Kaminski’s clothes are created in limited series with a design both elegant and original. Refusing to get locked into far too ephemeral codes and trends, Conni Kaminski has her own universe. Thus, each of her pieces is a real added value to your wardrobe, as timeless as atypical. Always in the field of sustainability, her creations aim to support the clients in their everyday lives over the long term. Wearing Conni Kaminski is about asserting values and style, while remaining authentic.
HER WAY OF WORKING
For her creations, Conni Kaminski loves playing with the fabric. If her bust molding technique, often used by Japanese designers, honors many drapes, we can also find in her pieces a work of knitwear deconstruction, study of the material to transform it and even upcycle it into something chic and innovative.
We can find in her clothes an elegant asymmetry as well as many material contrasts, bringing all its originality and identity.
THE SHOP
Located in the historic center of Brussels, her shop is where it all happens. If the front door opens onto a beautiful store where you can admire, try and buy her creations, the back window offers us a view of her workshop, separated by an exterior courtyard full of greenery, where the collections are designed, the patterns are drew, the prototypes are created…, in short, a veritable abundance of ideas. It is also from the same place that each online order is sent, carefully packaged before departure.
Flagship store Marche au Charbon/Kolenmarkt, 102 Brussels 1000 Belgium
Julie Menuge
Julie MenugeInfo
Julie Menuge, textile & fashion designer basée à Bruxelles. Julie Menuge “explore le monde” et voyage dans sa tête à travers les tissus et les vêtements qu’elle collectionne depuis toujours. Par son travail de broderies et d’assemblages contemporain, elle désacralise avec humour et rend hommage avec amour, aux savoir-faire des différentes cultures, à leurs identités multiples, complexes et cosmopolites.
Ses créations SUPER MIX VERITABLE rassemblent des matières et des motifs des quatre coins du globe, des étoffes précieuses et artisanales, des broderies “industrisanales”, du batik, de la soie, et même du plastique…
154 Rue Blaes, Brussels 1000 Belgium
Retro Verso
Retro VersoInfo
About
Welcome to Retro Verso! My name is Charlien and I would love to tell you how this store full of cheerful and colourful clothing was created.
Immediately after I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Fashion Technology, it was itching to start my own clothing line. I could make the rugs myself, but unfortunately there was no budget for a physical store. This online store was created in 2013.
The starting points would certainly be quality and exclusivity – after all, nothing beats seeing people walking around in your self-designed, handmade dresses. In addition, a maximum of 10 pieces were made per model.
There was not much budget for advertising, but I could no longer keep up with the number of requests – especially customization. Unfortunately, manual work does not scale at all and soon I was faced with a real dilemma; outsource production or change tack. For example, I decided to look for colourful brands that I was going to sell through my webshop.
Fortunately, at that time I was able to use a fitting room and some display space in my parents’ shoe store so that my customers could try on clothes. Retro Verso, the shop-in-shop was born. Some time later, it seemed a good choice to leave the building entirely to Retro Verso.
In August 2017, the physical store opened, completely in the vintage style, on top of the web store.
Retro Verso now sells brands that you all know: 4 Funky Flavors, Froy & Dind, King Louie, Le Pep, Mademoiselle YéYé, Sugarhill Brighton, Blutsgeschwister, …
To this day I do everything myself: running the physical store, the webshop, purchasing, accounting, and most importantly for me: putting a smile on people’s faces 😉
Happy shopping!
Greetings,
Charlien
Vrijheidsstraat 1A bus 12 Denderleeuw 9470 Belgium
Info
VALERIE BACART
VALÉRIE BACART IS A HIGH-END CLOTHING BRAND, MADE IN MONS.
Valérie Bacart was for many years at the head of a museum institution dedicated to textile arts. Holder of a Master’s degree in Art History coupled with a seamstress diploma, she decided to create her own clothing brand.
Valérie Bacart is a brand that develops clothes designed from “dormant stocks”, these high-end fabrics, made for designers but remained unsold.
The collection is created from timeless models which, once revisited, are available as unique pieces.
The clothes are made in limited quantities because the brand’s desire is to respect a production rhythm on a human scale. Each garment is hand-sewn by the designer in her workshop.
Wearing Valérie Bacart means choosing artisanal know-how and expressing your preferences for quality and respectful work.
Valérie Bacart lives in Mons in Belgium. In parallel with the development of her clothing brand, she teaches the history of textile art in a higher art school.
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
Gigue
GigueInfo
Gigue is a Belgian fashion brand with a decidedly feminine signature. The collections, known for colour, print and sophisticated details, include ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories. The looks exude spontaneous elegance, are superbly tailored and feel fabulous due to the high-quality fabrics. When designing the ever contemporary-chic collections, Gigue designer Audrey Wyckmans is inspired by her respect for a form of casual style, interior design, travel and art.
The looks exude spontaneous elegance and feel fabulous.
Each season is centered around 4 or 5 themes which can be easily combined. Gigue will not give in to radical style overhauls. The collections flow seamlessly into one another, nonetheless they are perfectly in tune with contemporary fashion trends.
Headquartered in Antwerp, Gigue now boasts a distribution network of brand stores, shop-in-shops and more than one hundred fifty multi brand stores, both in Belgium and abroad.
Gigue’s history dates to the beginning of the 1980s when founder Jo Wyckmans introduced the preppy look in Belgium with his ‘A Different Dialogue’ collection. In 1991 he founded Gigue and instantly put the label on the map, by earning the title ‘Designer of the Year’.
Around the year 2000 Gigue evolved with the arrival of designer Audrey, daughter of the founder, and her ultra-feminine collections. For about 25 years now, Gigue has remained true to its identity.
Gigue has always devoted considerable attention to its image. Since the label was founded, top photographers and up and coming international models have worked for Gigue, giving brand images and catalogues that extra special touch. The Gigue clothes and models are always portrayed in a very natural way without excessive make-up or glitter.
Head office Boomsesteenweg 12/1 Aartselaar 2630 Belgium
Info
History
1930 BIRTH OF THE NATAN HOUSE
Creation of the Couture House Paul Natan.
1957 Edouard Vermeulen is born in Ypres on March 4, 1957. He graduates as an interior designer from Saint-Luc college, which introduces him to the world of volumes and materials.
1983
AVENUE LOUISE 158
In his search for a gallery to display his first discoveries, Edouard Vermeulen rents a space in the Couture House Paul Natan, Avenue Louise. A few years later, he takes over the House under the new name NATAN.
1986 FIRST RUNWAY SHOW
NATAN’s first show, with Princess Paola as one of the guests.
Edouard Vermeulen has been dressing members of royal families for years, including the Royal Family of Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Luxembourg.
1987 FIRST READY-TO-WEAR STORE IN BRUSSELS
Opening of the NATAN ready-to-wear store in Brussels, Belgium.
1991 DISTRIBUTION
Creation of ready-to-wear lines for distribution.
1999 WEDDING DRESS QUEEN MATHILDE OF BELGIUM
Edouard Vermeulen designs the wedding dress of Queen Mathilde of Belgium.
2013 NATAN 30 YEARS
To celebrate our 30 year anniversary, we organized a fashion show in Paris in the Belgian embassy.
2014 ARSENAL SHOWROOM
Opening of the Arsenal showroom.
2016 AMSTERDAM STORE
Inauguration of the NATAN boutique in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2017 NATAN COLLECTIVE
Launch of NATAN Collective. A project allowing NATAN to support young Belgian talent by giving them the opportunity to present their work enhanced by the knowhow and name of NATAN.
2017 BARON
Edouard Vermeulen is awarded the noble title of “baron” for his services rendered to Belgium.
2018 ATELIER II
Inauguration of Atelier II at Place Brugmann in Brussels, Belgium. This atelier is created to honor the craft of tailoring by giving customers insights into the process behind the creation of a NATAN piec
2019 FIRST RUNWAY SHOW IN THE NETHERLANDS
Natan participated for the first time at Amsterdam Fashion Week.
2020 PARIS
Opening of a store in Paris, Rue des Saints-Pères
2021 OPENING SALON COUTURE KNOKKE
2022 NATAN LE BON MARCHÉ RIVE GAUCHE
The Belgian fashion house Natan and the cosmetic brand Sisley came together in the very heart of the Parisian department store Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, combining their expertise and shared love for beauty and quality in a “Pop-Up” space.
This partnership consolidated the elegance, expertise and femininity held dear by these two family companies, that share values passed down through generations: concern for the environment, expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, art and design.
Avenue Louise 158 Brussels 1050 Belgium
PRESS Avenue des Aubépines 1 Brussels 1180 Belgium
Huidevettersstraat 44 Antwerp 2000 Belgium
PC Hooftstraat 23 Amsterdam 1071 BL The Netherlands
Rue des Saint-Pères 71 Paris 75006 France
Rue de Namur 78 Brussels 1000 Belgium
Henegouwenstraat 91-93 Ghent 9000 Belgium
Kustlaan 150 Knokke 8300 Belgium
Jan Mahieustraat 20-22 Roulers 8800 Belgium
Plankstraat 10 Maastricht 6211 GA Belgium
Info
Manice is a Belgian brand of young and colorful dresses. You will find your happiness among cocktail dresses, evening dresses, suite dresses, wedding outfits, processions of children of honor, original and exclusive dresses for everyday life, but also for your exceptional events… Thanks to the Mosaïques By Manice collection, create your own strapless dress and all the matching accessories: jewelry, stoles, clutches, headpieces and matching ties!
About the brand…
The red wire? The dress… Evening dress, cocktail dress or more simply a secret, bewitching, intimate and seductive dress.
Fresh and elegant silhouettes, charming lightness, shimmering colors… each dress is a journey! The young Belgian brand tastefully mixes the rock spirit and a creativity full of impertinence, a bit daring, all embellished with a romantic touch. The Manice collection stands out for the explosion of colors, dynamic, sparkling and light models. Special attention is paid to detail and complements each piece, giving each dress a unique and exclusive character.
Made for the active, romantic and sophisticated woman, Manice offers both dressy and urban or casual dresses, but always imbued with elegance. Each piece is handmade and unique. The outfits are available in limited quantities in order to preserve their exclusivity. Not to mention the low prices!
A subtle blend of elegance and audacity, Manice dresses casually highlight your natural femininity. They adapt to your style while allowing you to distinguish yourself. Everything is allowed…be dazzling!
Behind Manice hides…
Graduated in management engineering, trained by various designers (Elvis Pompilio, Pierre Gauthier) and abroad (Milan, Caracas, Madrid), fascinated by India and in love with fabrics, Charlotte Boute (27) keeps the best of each of her experiences to create shimmering dresses. Under the Manice label, she offers a collection of dresses offering the lightness and freshness of a young designer far from large productions. With Mosaïques, it unveils an innovative and up-to-date collection facing the difficulties of the sector while meeting the requirements of the clientele.
Chaussée de Charleroi, 53A Thorembais-Saint-Trond 1360 Belgium
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