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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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We go way back..
After traveling extensively, a close friendship that started 10 years ago brought us, Loredana and Anke, together again. On the other side of the world. In Bali.
Living the island life, we were introduced to a moving world of opportunities and challenges. Of a different lifestyle, freedom and creativity. And inspired by diverse countries and numerous cultures as well, we created a fierce fashion vision. While holding on to Western values and trends, our designs breath out cultural influences in casual and timeless pieces.
Each design is unique..
and tells a story. We believe in exclusive and traditional fabrics. In sophisticated items which show that details matter, in philosophy of colours, and in the strength of every woman to create her own wearable story. With every collection, we try to spread out a certain vibe, life values that women can relate to, will be inspired from and hopefully make them inspire others.
Traditional artisans..
is who we team up with. Their cultural richness and talented hands, inspired by generations and generations of crafting beauty is what we choose for. In the midst of endless rice field views, daily temple offerings and living a true life, every day again they give the very best of themselves to be part of our brand. And your wearable story.
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Izumi Hongo 本郷いづみ
Artist/designer Izumi Hongo was born in Tokyo and based in Antwerp. After obtaining her Masters at fashion department, Royal Academy Antwerp and at architecture department, Waseda University, she started her own fashion brand Van Hongo and opened atelier-shop in Antwerp in 2011. Since 2017, she has beem engaging in the textile design for architectural projects and recent years, she is more into the artistic installation by her special textiles.
‘Texture and structure’ is the main thema of her creation. The fact that she originally completed architecture education, is reflected in her cross-over creation beyond the boundaries between fashion and architecture. By developing the original yarns, textiles and knitting/weaving techniques together with the manufactories mainly in Japan and Belgium, she keeps realizing her innovative and unique designs and building up the cross-over networks.
5 Aalmoezenierstraat Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
31 Prins Albertlei, box12 Antwerpen 2600 Belgium
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CELEBRATING WOMEN SINCE 2001
LolaLiza was founded in 2001 by three entrepreneurs who cherished the same wish: to design fashionable and affordable fashion for all women.
At LolaLiza, we believe that outer appearance reflects the inner soul, which is why it is our aim to dress confident women confidently. Each woman is beautiful, and deserves to feel alike. Therefore our customers can always count on the best service – with a smile!
Lolawhat? L-o-l-a-L-i-z-a !
Our name refers to two personal traits shared by all women: mystery and charm. While ‘Lola’ alludes to the sexy, mysterious side of women, ‘Liza’ highlights her gentle and kind-hearted personality. Women indeed have more than just one quality, and LolaLiza allows you to display them all, every single day.
EMPOWERED WOMEN
EMPOWER WOMEN
What makes us stand out? Let’s start with our ultimate favorite: the dress! Mini, midi or maxi, there is not a single piece of clothing that says femininity like the dress does. But women don’t just look their best in a dress, of course.
That’s why our collections always include playful jumpsuits, cool shorts, comfy pants and cute skirts as a fixed value in our collections.What more? Prints and color, of course! Each LolaLiza garment is defined by its unique print or combines the most beautiful hues and colors.
LOLALIZA IS A PROUD, 100% BELGIAN FASHION BRAND.
The largest part of our collections is made “in house”, in our headquarters situated in the heart of Brussels. We create fashion for women with spunk who love expressing their personality. For women who are not afraid to show who they truly are – beautiful in every way.
We design fashion for you. Women have the power to determine their own success and are even more empowered to do so in an outfit that allows them to completely be themselves.
Sexy, comfy, elegant, or extra festive? LolaLiza has got you covered on any occasion. What’s more? Our clothing is available in a wide range of sizes to ensure every woman can both feel and look good.
OUR VALUES
SIMPLICITY
UNITY
PASSION
EXCELLENCE
RESPECT
BUSINESS ETHICS
At LolaLiza, we highly value respect for our planet and our colleagues. That’s why we very much believe that doing business sustainably and in a socially responsible manner is the only way to continue creating our colorful and affordable collections in the long term.
Consequently, we think it is extremely important that the whole of our production process – from the tiniest button to the most complex print – is always in line with the International Labour Standards, which protect the rights of workers.
OUR COLLECTIONS
by our own LolaLiza designers? Our designers create all LolaLiza garments “in house”, in our headquarters in the heart of Brussels. At headquarters, they continuously deploy their creativity and expertise to develop refreshing, colorful collections.
Did you know that our collections are made
Our designers closely follow the latest trends, to which our clothing is constantly adjusted. New designs, fabrics, colors and eventually our collections find their origin when our designers merge their ideas with the latest fashion trends.
And things move fast at LolaLiza; new items are added to our collections each week. As a result, we can guarantee feminine, trendy and colorful fashion – day after day.
LOLALIZA FROM 2001-TODAY
LolaLiza has been celebrating women since 2001 and wants to keep the party going. Since the foundation of LolaLiza, our colleagues have been committed every day to help our customers dress fashionably and with confidence. Today, LolaLiza boasts over 100 stores across 4 different countries. We are a leading retailer in the Belgian fashion industry, but also leave our mark on the Luxembourgian, Dutch and French market.
The future is digital, and we are well aware of that. Besides focusing on our stores, we increasingly concentrate on digitalization, e-commerce and –to be even more close to our customers- personalisation. This way, we inspire thousands of women online on a daily basis through our fun and easily accessible web shop. In short, a lot has changed since 2001, when LolaLiza first started with only 7 stores in Belgium.
The timeline below illustrates how we have grown from a local family business into an international women’s brand.
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In 1876, François Van Roy founded an independent company producing work clothes. After World War One his son Otto started the weaving mill, followed, after World War Two, by a production workshop making its own collection of men shirts. In 1965 grandson Robrecht Van Roy and his wife Vic Meersschaut switched from the own gentleman’s collection to concentrate on production of ladies’ blouses and men’s shirts under contract. In 1997 the old firm became a public limited company, V.R. Embroidery.
In 1999 Robrecht’s children Steven and Els took over as active partners. They worked with the designers Vicky Vinck and Katrien Strijbol to develop a full collection for women wich resulted in Just in Case. In 2002, VRE has an embroidery department and contract work as well as its own collection, JUST IN CASE
Just in Case is a Belgian high profile fashion brand sold in an impressive list of countries. Antwerp based designers Vicky Vinck and Katrien Strijbol create sophisticated collections for women as romantic as they are. Amongst the clients you will find famous and not so famous women, yet all strong characters.
The collection explores as well boundaries of former fashion styles with romantic & fashionable details which Vicky & Katrien draw or create themselves. This makes the collection recognisable by the public and is regarded as highly fashionable. Women waring Just In Case will not pass unnoticed and are often complimented out of the blue with their choice of clothes.
PAROCHIESTRAAT 98 DENDERLEEUW 9472 Belgium
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COUTURE
In elk van haar creaties streeft de ontwerpster naar tijdloze soberheid met een elegante toets. De melancholische sfeer rond de vorige eeuwwisseling en de modernistische architectuur- en kunstbeweging uit de jaren ’20 en ’30 vormen haar voornaamste inspiratiebronnen.
HOE GAAT HET TE WERK?
Eerst wordt een persoonlijk ontwerp volledig op maat in baalkatoen uitgewerkt, nadien volgen enkele doorpassen in de gekozen stof met telkens kleine meetcorrecties. Zo groeit het kledingstuk naar haar definitieve vorm als een ‘tweede huid’ rondom het lichaam…
MAATPAK
filrouge staat voor unieke maatpakken voor de vrouw die een persoonlijke en professionele uitstraling belangrijk vindt.
Telkens elegant, tijdloos en toch hedendaags is het broekpak of tailleur voor de vrouw een veelzijdig en waardevol basisstuk, ideaal voor elke leeftijd, stijl en gelegenheid. Dankzij vele combinatiemogelijkheden met bloezen, truitjes en accessoires creëert uzelf uw eigen look. Ook gilets en hemdbloezen maken deel uit van de kledinglijn.
Vijf redenen waarom u voor een maatpak van filrouge zou kiezen: persoonlijke service, een perfecte pasvorm, ruime keuze in modellen en tijdloze kwaliteitsstoffen, afwerking door een gespecialiseerd Duits atelier én een levenslange ‘service na verkoop’ zijn de garanties voor járenlang draagplezier.
De permanente collectie kan u geheel vrijblijvend bekijken via afspraak of tijdens presentaties op maat. Indien gewenst, komt filrouge ook graag bij u thuis of op kantoor om het maatpak concept aan u voor te stellen.
Palmanshoevestraat 48 Wilrijk 2610 Belgium
Carine Gilson
Carine GilsonInfo
Atelier véritable
“As day subtly turns to night and the hours steadily string by, the dream, at once airy and elegant, comes within reach. Pleasurably palpable.” – Carine Gilson
Carine Gilson’s story harks back to the 1990s. A freshly-minted graduate of Antwerp’s prestigious Royal Academy of Fine Arts, where she studied fashion, Carine Gilson discovered Maille France, a small Brussels atelier that manufactured fine ladies’ underslips. She immediately fell in love with the world of lingerie.
Savoir-faire
Carine Gilson decided to acquire the workshop and, with sheer dedication, set out to work on silk, lace, and exceptional materials. In the fashion of the boundlessly creative and refined lingerie creations of yore, Carine Gilson embraced this new adventure, taking her passion to the next level to create unique, breathtaking pieces in her Brussels atelier.
Exceptional Creations
The designer soon launched her couture lingerie line, Carine Gilson, a synonym for a world filled with incomparable beauty.
In no time, the press and finer stores from Japan, England, Italy, and America came calling. Buyers from renowned stores recognized the rare quality of these creations, which conjure the bygone enchantment of times past within our changed, modern world.
The prestige of Carine Gilson’s lingerie has grown quickly thanks to the unwavering excellence of her creations. In the House of Carine Gilson, every piece is lovingly crafted by hand. Perfection and finesse espouse rigor and passion. Lace incrustation is raised to an art form.
Take Flight
2018 saw Carine Gilson soar to new heights, with a redesigned logo that captures her very essence: two light, delicate wings of a bird on the verge of spreading in a gentle, feathery stroke.
Her new boutique on Boulevard de Waterloo in Brussels was designed by architects David & Nicolas who, together, created a subtly polished space celebrating Carine Gilson’s unabashed femininity and unparalleled refinement.
Symbolic of this ascent with wings aloft, the ready-to-wear and couture collections have been developed to take on an evocative and delicate turn. Here, the exceptional always takes center stage. In her incomparable signature style, Carine Gilson now designs for day, evening, and night.
26 Boulevard de Waterloo Brussels 1000
Rue du Marché au Charbon 95 Kolenmarkt Brussels 1000 Belgium
Stan & Loesje
Stan & LoesjeInfo
We love to make creations that are clean cut, playful and sensual.
Our mission: ‘Design to make you look good.’
Naturally we work with ecological fabrics to create these designs, and we want you to say: Like, Like, Like!
Have a look around, to see what we mean!
Jan van Aelbroecklaan 33 Gentbrugge 9050 Belgium
Patou Saint Germain
Patou Saint GermainInfo
Her firstname smells like the best fragrances and her name takes us to the artists’ Paris.
It’s because Patou Saint Germain has the exoticism of her ethnic background – she was born at Pointe-à-Pitre – and the creativity of the most famous fashion designers. She doesn’t hesitate to try new and inspiring experiences.
In her shop, located at rue Africaine in Saint-Gilles (Brussels), Patou creates for women. She wants to highlight the best part of womanhood in each women.
The purpose of the choice of shapes and materials is to beautify the body while maintaining the practical and comfort characteristics.
Patou Saint Germain creates ready-made clothes (directly or tailor-made) like evening wears, wedding dresses…but temporary creations, art pieces, and chocolate dresses too.
She likes to surprise and play with the different faces of her personality through her art.
Let’s start from the beginning…
Patou Saint Germain was born in 1970 in Guadeloupe and, when she’s 2 years old, comes in France with her parents.
She grows up in a family of six children. From a very young age, Patou creates clothes for her dolls.
At 15, she decides to become a fashion designer and passed the entrance exam of the school “Ecole supérieure des Arts appliqué Duperré”, the only public fashion school in Paris.
She dives into the fashion world like we can do with a religion.
During her studies, she works as a salesperson at Promod and wins the competition of young designers. Promod hires her immediately as a junior fashion designer.
Quickly propeled as a chief fashion designer, she travels a lot to “type” her products…USA, Italy, Japan…
The love brings her to Brussels where she works during one year for Caroline Biss.
In no time, she wants to stand on her own feet : she opens her shop and begins to draw, create and produce. That’s where Patou entertains her clients, offers ready-made clothes and…some tea.
An other approach of the fashion world.
« I always wanted to revolutionize the fashion world. The relation between the women and the clothes is very important. It’s the extension of her body and reflects her state of mind. When a women says that she hasn’t anything to wear while the wardrobe is full, it means that she’s a new person and wants other thing that she doesn’t own. A few husbands understand it thus.
I want to support women and give them a « tool » for making them feel ease and seducing. I am at their service for their aesthetic appearance including my two cents’ worth. For example, I love the crossed heart structure because it’s enveloping and draws body’s curves. It’s comfortable and feminine.»
From the story of the suit to the Japanese influence
« By studying the story of the suit, we realize that the unsaid was implicit via the suit. This one has been replacing the language in a time when the women did not have a say. »
Patou Saint Germain feels attracted by Japan, especially by Issey Miyake and her conceptual shapes with the search of simplicity that gives some strength.
« I’m an African from Europe and, like many people that feel displaced, pursue a sort of quest for an identity. »
This search is found in her creations that involve Africa and Occident via shapes and materials. Ideas and models emerge from the discoveries of different materials, variation of silk, flax, mesh or African basin.
« I love the « Makeba »(*) style drawing and the Japanese lines like hide-and-seek jackets of kimonos. »
The worry of womanhood and originality of the style serve as a conductor line for the creation of the models.
The enhancement of the feminine body , the search of the appropriate garment and the availability are Patou’s work characteristics too.
(*) in reference to the South African singer Miriam Makeba
Original creations
We should step out of our comfortable zone and search other inspiring sources, try the unknown and show ourselves in other aspects.
That’s what Patou does when she creates amazing and audacious chocolate dresses with the chocolate maker Laurent Gerbaud for The Salon du Chocolat.
Or whether when she creates a dress with ropes and the top hat for the exhibition City Doll in Brussels. This one has been sold in an auction for a charitable work.
And tomorrow ?
« I want to continue showing that it’s possible to wear clothes differently to highlight the most beautiful part of the women. Her body is a treasury. It needs to be pampered and highlighted. What gives me the most pleasure ? It’s seeing a women’s face changing when she wears a dress…It illuminates !
OPENING HOURS
Monday & Sunday – Closed
Tuesday– Saturday – 11:30 – 18:30
96, rue Africaine Brussels 1060 Belgium