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ABOUT IREENE
Ireene is a belgian clothing brand founded by interior architect Marie Soufflet. Her
minimalist yet comfortable proposal is focused on a timeless style, a sustainable way of production and high quality materials. The design of the clothes, not tied to any temporary trends, is meant to be a possible answer to fast fashion, offering mostly unique and long lasting pieces for a daily casual elegance.
slowfashion
Using only high quality upcycled fabrics from Italy, our handmade collection is designed and manufactured in Brussels by a small and local network. The reduced series crafted for each season allows for a constant evolution and renewal throughout the year.
details do matter
The essential shape of our clothes is reinforced by the straight cut of the models based on the « less is more » idea. The apparent minimalism is highlighted by ribbons, invisible openings or pockets and outside stitching. These subtle details invite us to understand the creative process in a surprising way.
genderfluid
We want to distance ourselves from the classic gendered fashion by designing mostly unisex clothing. We ditched traditional clichés in favor of a playful and mixed collection, offering anyone to create their own identity.
cité du sureau 17 Brussels 1000 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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OUR STORY
From discarded flags to unique and sustainable gadgets
Anyone holding a Flagbag item will immediately see that it is a unique creation. And a sustainable one, because the hip gadgets we make are the result of upcycling and social employment. Whether it’s a bicycle bag, a laptop sleeve or something else, our creations are all living proof that sustainability and design can indeed go hand in hand.
Smart recycling
As an upcycling project, Flagbag is a textbook example of the cradle-to-cradle principle. We use discarded flags, pennants and sails, which would otherwise end up on the waste mountain, and we give them a new life as a hip design object in a smart and unique way. We use the flags and sails as raw materials for unique shoulder bags, bicycle bags or toilet bags. We also try to recover the other raw materials, such as zippers, as much as possible from old textiles. Even the sewing machines we work with are second-hand. In this way we contribute to a better environment and a smaller mountain of waste.
We strive for a 100% local product. We keep the distance from raw material to finished product as small as possible so that the impact on the environment is also as small as possible. The flags and sails come from municipalities and companies in Belgium and are processed in a local workshop by local workers.
Social employment
In addition to an upcycling project, Flagbag is also a training and social employment project: we help people who find it difficult to find work on the regular job market. Our employees, people from disadvantaged groups, use a sewing machine to convert the old flags and sails into bicycle bags, shoulder bags and other unique items. They derive great job satisfaction from the responsibility they are given to us and are justifiably proud of their creations. And who knows, thanks to the work and training they receive at Flagbag, they may grow into the mainstream economy.
Who is behind Flagbag?
Flagbag is an initiative of De Springplank vzw. De Springplank vzw is a tailor-made company: our core task is to offer tailor-made work and support to people who find it difficult to find a job on the regular labor market. In this way they find meaningful daytime activities, financial security and job satisfaction. Thanks to this work experience and the broadening of their competences, they often find a regular job after a few years through a transfer process.
In order to give as many people as possible a tailor-made job, De Springplank vzw is active in various domains: recycling activities “Okazi”, upcycling with Flagbag, recycling with Creazi, assembly of (company) bicycles with Velovisie, rental and maintenance of bicycles via bicycle paradise Limburg. be, operation of bicycle points at the stations of Genk, Hasselt, Sint-Truiden and on the Portavida Welfare Campus in Genk and the concept store with vintage loft Hendrikshuis in the center of Hasselt.
Stadsheide 2 Hasselt 3500 Belgium
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LA PREMIÈRE BOUTIQUE DE CADEAUX ÉCO-RESPONSABLES ZÉRO DÉCHET DE BRUXELLES
Orybany rassemble une communauté d’artisans/créateurs locaux. Nos activités se déclinent sur 4 axes : la boutique éthique et durable – les ateliers créatifs – les marchés de créateurs – un accompagnement de nos artisans/créateurs pour le développement de leurs activités. Découvrez notre sélection de produits éthiques et durables sur notre E-Shop.
ENSEMBLE VERS UN NOUVEAU MODÈLE DE CONSOMMATION
La communauté des artisans/créateurs d’Orybany porte à bras le corps le projet d’Orybany. Tous soucieux de proposer un mode de vie éthique, écologique et durable, nous mettons tous nos énergies à vous proposer des alternatives de consommation en accord avec nos valeurs. Comme chaque petit geste compte et comme le changement commence par soi, nous voulons faire la différence et incarner le changement.
Aujourd’hui, Orybany est la première boutique de cadeaux éco-responsables zéro-déchet de Bruxelles.
L’ASBL Ateliers Orybany est un concept fédérateur de la scène créative bruxelloise lancé en 2013 par Juliette Berguet et Liliane Malemo, le projet est maintenant porté par la communauté des artisans/créateurs qui forme la famille d’Orybany. De la boutique, à l’atelier, en passant par l’organisation des ventes privées et des marchés d’artisans/créateurs (anciennement connu sous le nom de “Re:Creation Hall/ Marché de Demain”) ; l’ASBL Ateliers Orybany promeut un modèle économique de proximité, avec une dimension durable et sociale.
OryBany est la combinaison des mots « Oryginis » -les origines- et « Banynga » – la communauté – en langue lingala. D’où viennent les hommes, la matière ressource et comment leur interaction fait naître une création.
AU COEUR DE BRUXELLES
Après 6 années passées aux Ateliers des Tanneurs, l’ASBL Ateliers Orybany a posé ses valises à la Place Saint Géry depuis juin 2019.
La place Saint Géry et ses halles sont le symbole d’une cité ouverte et pluriculturelle et reflètent le caractère intimiste de la ville.
Orybany réunit dans ce lieu des artisans-créateurs locaux d’univers différents. Chaque artisans-créateur a son histoire et nous la racontons avec lui.
ARTISANS – CRÉATEURS ET MARQUE ÉTHIQUE
Les artisans-créateurs sont le coeur d’Orybany.
Notre mission est de les aider à développer leurs projets en leur offrant une vitrine, un contact avec leurs clients à travers la boutique et ou les ateliers créatifs. Malgré leur univers parfois éloignés, nous partageons les mêmes valeurs “humaines et durables” avec nos collaborateurs (artisans-créateurs & marques).
Une production locale et durable pour une consommation responsable et respectueuse de notre environnement.
Espace pour les artisans-créateur(trice)s :
Si vous aussi vous êtres créateur/créatrice de mode, à la recherche d’un endroit chaleureux, accueillant, accessible en plein centre de Bruxelles, Orybany est là pour vous.
Vous pouvez nous rejoindre de plusieurs manières:
Dans la Boutique sous forme de contrat “dépôt/vente” pour une longue période (3mois min).
Pour l’Atelier de façon ponctuel pour y organiser vos ateliers créatifs.
Pour une “Vente Exclusive” le temps d’une semaine et/ou un weekend. Nous privatisons une partie de la boutique rien que pour vous.
Pour un “Expo/Vente” le temps d’un weekend lors de nos rendez-vous mensuel.
Pour nous rejoindre, on vous invite à compléter le formulaire créateurs via ce lien .
Nous ne manquerons pas de reprendre contact avec vous dans les plus brefs délais. Besoin de plus d’informations, envoyez-nous un mail à info@orybany.com, et nous nous ferons un plaisir de vous renseigner sur nos différentes formules créateurs ainsi que nos conditions.
Orybany est avant tout un espace de co-création. Venez créer, rencontrer d’autres artisans-créateur(trice)s, partager votre passion avec eux et nos clients.
Ateliers 62 rue des Tanneurs Brussels 1000 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
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A playful youth is best explored in soft, fun clothes.
When your brand new outfit is produced with sustainability and comfort in mind it will fit like a glove.
Designed in Belgium, craftmanship from Europe.
Price conscious whilst maintaining exceptional quality standards.
At Ba*Ba Kidswear
SUSTAINABILITY
Working in the childrenswear industry for over a decade has taught us one thing for sure. Nobody’s too small to make a difference.
We are not afraid to rethink fashion, and carefully consider everything we do. From the design to fabrics we use, all the way to what happens to our clothes after we are done with them: every step matters. We might be a small team but we partner with others to reduce our impact on the planet and people. We are dedicated to making a more just and sustainable future.
Because that’s exactly the future we want our children to have.
MATERIALS
So far, the majority of our fabrics are made from natural and organic fabrics. Yet, with every new collection, we are increasing this. We have reduced the proportion of virgin synthetic fibres in our clothing and replaced some with recycled polyester. Currently, 95% of our collection is made with organic cotton.
This way, we are making our clothes safe for the planet and those wearing them.
In the future, we plan to phase out the synthetics as much as possible. Instead, we are looking to introduce new fabrics with a lower eco-footprint. Additionally, we are finding ways to reuse the leftover scraps from our production and reduce fabric waste.
MANUFACTURERS
Producing ethically has always been at the core of our business. We are serious about understanding and knowing where our clothes come from. We do not support practices like child labour, slavery, unpaid working hours, or lack of social security.
Thus, have been partnering with trusted manufacturers in Portugal, Bulgaria, and Turkey for years. We have visited these factories ourselves, to see how and where our clothes are made.
Our partner factories are well recognised and carry certifications like GOTS, OEKO-TEX. They also have a strong corporate social responsibility policy. Together, we are working on sourcing better fabrics, reducing our production waste, and aligning our businesses with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SHIPPING AND PACKAGING
Packaging is a big part of any fashion business. We switched partly to a plastic-free and recycled carton and paper packaging to reduce our impact and waste.
Our next goal is to reduce the transportation footprint.
The suppliers we work with choose to ship by land rather than air, to reduce the transport footprint. They are also starting to use recycled materials to transport our clothes. We are encouraging them to further increase recycled materials in their packaging.
CIRCULARITY
Everyone deserves a safe future, where the clothes we wear don’t cost the planet but help us thrive.
This is why our clothes are made to last. We want children not only to wear the clothes but to #GrowUpWithBaBa.
With every purchase, we encourage you to make the most use of the clothes. This includes taking proper care of them but also passing them on to other children. Our clothes now come with detailed washing and caring instructions, printed on recycled cotton.
We play our part in this too. Every year, we partner with a local charity to donate parts of our clothes to children in need. This way, we give life to as many of our garments as we can, rather than wasting them.
Yet, we aim to do more.
We are planning something we call a Ba*Ba repair day. This will be an annual event where everyone is invited to come and repair clothes for themselves and others. Though our clothes are made with quality in mind, they still get ripped and worn out during playtime or outdoors adventures. We want to encourage mending and repairing the clothes first.
Jan Samijnstraat 15F Gentbrugge 9050 Belgium
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Aymara is the result of the love story between a Belgian engineer, Sven Van Gucht, who met Yannina Esquivias, a young Peruvian travel agent, during a sabbatical year and fell in love. Yannina and Sven quit their jobs and started a knitting factory in Peru together with Yannina’s family. In 2007, the knitwear label Aymara was born. The name Aymara refers to a native ethnic group in the Andes of South America.
Concept
The magic of Aymara lies in the combination of Belgian design and Peru’s extraordinary fibers and textile craftmenship. Aymara’s knitwear is produced in our own knitting factory in Arequipa, in the south of Peru, managed by Yannina’s family. Thank’s to our strong relationship with them and their unconditional commitment, this incredible intercontinental project could be achieved. We believe that in today’s world of fast fashion and mass consumption, people are looking for authentic products with a soul. When buying Aymara, you are sure to get longlasting, sustainable products with an extraordinary story.
Design
Excellent natural fibers play a key role and are the starting point of each Aymara design. This is why Aymara chooses to offer pure styles available in a wide colour palette of bright and soft colours. Our designers take into account the fashion trends but at the same time, we make sure that each Aymara product is timeless and longlasting. A lot of attention has been paid for the perfect fitting form and discrete refined details. The kids collection, designed by Yannina has a playful character whereas the women’s collection, designed by Saskia Van Herzeele is very feminine.
Fiber
Peru manufactures some of the world’s finest quality fibers. For our summer collections, Aymara uses Peruvian pima cotton which is considered to be one of the softest and finest cottons in existence. In winter, garments made of precious alpaca blends are always an important part of our collection. Alpaca is a cousin of the llama and is prized for it’s thermal properties, silkiness and durability. Alpaca is a fiber which does not come at the expense of the environment. In today’s world, dominated by artificial materials, alpaca is the natural option. Alpacas graze at elevations of 3500 to 5000 meters in the Peruvian Andes. This precious fibre is used by top designers world wide. Aymara only uses the finest alpaca fibers, called baby alpaca. In our winter collections we also offer garments made of fine merino wool from Argentina.
Production
Aymara’s knitting plant is fully integrated and employs about 60 persons on the pay roll. This assures us to be in complete control of the production process and the quality of the garments. Although the knitting process itself has been industrialized, the production process is labour intensive and still requires a lot of manual operations. A lot of attention is been paid to the linking and finishing processes. Aymara garments are fully fashioned ; this means that the cutting and overlocking process is avoided as much as possible. By doing so, Aymara’s customers are getting a high quality product with one of the finest linking and finishing standards on the market. Turn your Aymara garment inside out and you will see what we mean !
Although most of the collection is produced on industrial knitting machines, each winter season Aymara offers a small theme of hand knit accessories. This enables women to generate an income by hand knitting at their home while taking care of their children. For a lot of these women it would be impossible to work inside a company because of their family situation and the lack of childcare. You can recognize these products by the “Aymara hand knit” hang tag. We are currently investigating how this could be integrated into a wider social project.
Head office & International Sales Aymara bvba Bornem 2880 Belgium
Showroom Aymara Antwerp Kielsevest 70 Antwerpen 2018 Belgium
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Since she was little, Jo De Visscher [°1976] is bitten by the fashion bug. She starts working with scraps of fabric which she turns into full silhouettes for her Barbie dolls and gets her mother to knit matching miniature sweaters.
While growing up, she sews her first skirts on an old sewing machine without having any formal training.
She studies maths and science and, as a teenager, becomes fascinated by an article on the restoration of the frescos in the Sistine Chapel. The article has such an impact on her that she decides to enrol in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent, where she studies painting and specializes in restoration of contemporary art. She graduates in ’99, learns the ropes at the S.M.A.K., MuHKA and Kunstmuseum Bonn and finally starts her own restoration company (contemporary art conservation) in Brussels.
She’s asked to collaborate on the exhibition ‘Mutilate?-Vermink?’ — curated by Walter Van Beirendonck — at the MuHKA and this project rekindles her passion for fashion. Jo follows her heart, says goodbye to restoration and hello to fashion and clothing. She does an intensive course in pattern making, learns proper sewing properly this time and studies fashion design at night school. She also freelances for the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
In 2007, her final year show generates such a buzz that she decides to design and market her own ‘jodevisscher’ collection.
Hoornstraat 6 Gent 9000
Estelle Fischer
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ESTELLE FISCHER IS A BRAND OF POLYMER CLAY CREATIONS MADE ENTIRELY BY HAND, IN BELGIUM.
Estelle mainly offers you earrings and hair clips, fun, colorful, unique and light.
Estelle found this colorful clay again in 2020, 17 years after modeling it for the first time when she was making beads to create bracelets with her friends.
Her universe has developed through colors and materials by combining polymer clay with acrylic paint, alcohol ink or colored powder, which makes each pair unique.
The Belgian brand “CERNIT” is the most used polymer clay in Estelle’s workshop, accompanied by some shades of the famous German brand “FIMO”. The use of quality materials is essential to guarantee you a product that will accompany you over time. In addition, Estelle favors above all short circuits and offers 100% recyclable and biodegradable packaging.
Estelle wants to bring joy and confidence to women by offering them original creations while consuming locally and responsibly.
Rue du Bois 21 Engis 4480 Belgium
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Our Story
Belgian designer Alexandra Jacmin and her entrepreneur twin sister Ségolène Jacmin established their eco-conscious label FAÇON JACMIN in 2016. After graduating from La Cambre, Alexandra worked for Maison Martin Margiela and Jean-Paul Gaultier. The duo has since carved out a unique position amongst Belgium’s most innovative emerging talents.
FAÇON JACMIN is an attitude. With their label, the twins aime to give women more confidence and empower them in their everyday life, helping to express themselves to the fullest.
Alexandra’s designs explore the codes of seduction, and the alliance of masculinity and femininity. If denim remains her field of predilection, other fabrics are intertwined with it, to present a playful silhouette, meddling boldness and charm – a vision for an eco-conscious, modern, desirable, and determined woman.
Next to the main collections, capsule collections made of up-cycled designs are crafted by hand in our atelier in Antwerp and revealed once a year.
FAÇON JACMIN was awarded “Best Talent 2016” by C’est du Belge/RTBF, and a year later, in 2017 an award for “Best Emerging Talent” at the Belgian Fashion Awards.
A Japanese love story
FAÇON JACMIN has a certain affinity for denim, and more particularly for Japanese denim, giving the clothes finesse and durability. Japan, renowned globally for producing the best denim, has managed to preserve their traditional, artisanal craft creating an affinity to authenticity.
The natural indigo, a dye that is among one of the oldest, gives the pieces a rich colour, as well as a rich history. Natural indigo is still used in Japan, resulting in deep blues and improved wear resistance. They work with traditional machines that create a tighter weaving pattern improving resilience, while offering strength and delicateness at the same time. Japanese denim, supported by the culture of perfectionism, has a premium and distinctive composition that has become the nation’s pride, leaving a mark in Japanese modern history – a history that is a true mix of tradition and innovation.
Since the beginning of FAÇON JACMIN, the twins have been influenced and passionate about embracing Japan and its rich culture.