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History
Knitting ( Knitting) and Textile
Geert De Poorter, current manager of NV De Poorter and BVBA Knittex, was taught industrial knitting from scratch.
He obtained his diploma at the knitting school VTS in Sint Niklaas.
In 1985 he founded his own business – ‘knitting as a contract’ for the fashion world and in 1989 together with his wife Ingrid Van Holsbeke NV De Poorter.
The new company mainly focused on the creation of its own women’s collection for wholesalers, both at home and abroad.
In a period of economic downturn and high personnel costs, and under pressure from massive imports from low-wage countries, they eventually sought new niche markets, more specifically focused on circular knitting machines.
The balance between fashionable knitwear and technical knitwear increasingly shifted to the specific technical products in circular knitting.
After obtaining expert advice, Geert and Ingrid decided to change course, stop the ready-to-wear line and focus entirely on technical knitwear.
This led to the foundation in 2007 of ‘BVBA Knittex’, in which son Frederik is very active.
Frederik followed a general technical training and during his knitting training with his father, he quickly mastered the tricks of the trade. Frederik immerses himself in the rapidly evolving technology of electronic machines and regularly visits foreign manufacturers.
Father and son form a strong dynamic team with a long-term vision. BVBA Knittex guarantees development, production and growth.
Sint-Elooistraat 5 Merelbeke 9820 Belgium
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The workshops are a moment of sharing where time stands still : a unique immersive experience in a cosy atmosphere where participants return home with a personalised leather piece and a strong feeling of pride 🙂
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Experience is not required. Only good eyes, and your good mood!
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You will find below the calendar of workshops. And at the bottom of the page you have more info & pictures about each workshop.
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Note that we also offer customised and team building workshops. Do not hesitate to contact us 🙂
The Brand
Kinamania is an independent Brussels-based atelier with a passion for leather. We make fine iconic footwear inspired by cultural heritage and revisited with elegance and dare. The shoes are made in Spain and Portugal.
“I find my inspiration in basic footwear styles that have stood the test of time to which I add fashion-forward details. This is my way of reinventing heritage.” Kristina
The brand has two main lines – The Essentials which are timeless collections and The Collaborations where Kristina partners with artists, artisans and craft-based NGOs to put their craft in the spotlight.
Collaborations
Kristina has a deep appreciation of makers and cultural heritage combined with a passion for leather as a primary raw material. Driven by her curiosity and her hunger for discovery of creative works, she collaborates with artisans and artists on her shoe collections and takes great pride in partnering, when possible, with craft-based NGOs that drive real changes in people’s lives.
The founder
Former designer and production director to the Johnny Farah House of leather accessories – between Beirut & NY – Kristina Zouein spent countless hours in artisans’ workshops. As a self-taught designer, this was a very formative experience.
In 2015 and with more than 10 years experience, she decides to create Kinamania, a slow fashion brand of accessories with a balanced mix of humility, sobriety and dare.
Of Canadian-Lebanese origins, Kristina lived most of her life in Beirut, until she met her partner and moved to Brussels a few years ago
A committed brand : Kinamania X Cancer
“In November 2019, I was diagnosed with breast cancer which pushed me to redefine the way I am leading my life and my business. Statistics show that 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and I was chocked when I learnt those numbers, especially to discover that so many women, like myself, below the age of 40 go through this for reasons that are still unclear. Since then, I have committed to support cancer research.”
Leather and sustainability
Kinamania shoes are made from domesticated animal skins that are raised in agricultural settings and treated in European tanneries that are certified for their environmentally friendly working method.
The European leather industry is at the forefront of the conversation and innovation towards lower impact and circular practices :
+ to reduce chemical usage, water, and waste compared to traditional tanning processes.
+ to make sure that animals from which the hide is used are being treated well
+ to ensure that people who produce the leather are treated fairly
Fun facts to know 🙂
+++ It is through a failed romance with a Spaniard that Kristina discovered the abarca sandal style. This traditional Spanish sandal was the trigger to her shoe brand.
+++ KinaMania is a brand name with roots in ‘menorquina’, the alternative name for the abarca sandal which was originally handmade on the island of Menorca in the Baleares. The mania for Kinas is born from menorquina mania!
+++ The shoes have singer name and the subtitles refer to uplifting songs that align to the Craft Your Day tagline.
+++ The tag line says CRAFT YOUR DAY with two dashes. The two dashes symbolise the craftsmanship and hand-stitched design signature of the Kinamania fine footwear atelier.
Atypical leather-craft workshops
Kristina also offers creative leathercraft workshops combining leather and modern technology.
The objective behind those workshops is that participants personalise a beautiful object – in a warm and friendly atmosphere – and proudly return home with a unique souvenir.
WE ARE OPEN !
In the prestigious Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, center Brussels !
Kinamania will be here until July 25.
Looking forward to welcoming you!
Galerie du Roi 22, 1000, Brussels
Open Tue-Sun from 11H-19H
Galerie du Roi 22 Brussels 1000 Belgium
13 Bollinckx Street Brussels 1070 Belgium
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OVER DOEK
MISSIE
Het artistiek textielplatform DOEK zet textiel in als middel en onderwerp voor maatschappelijke verandering. We organiseren ons in een textielplatform dat even beweeglijk is als de wereld waarin het tot stand komt.
Het platform is een transversaal en experimenteel model van en voor een meerstemmige community van kunstenaars, vormgevers, makers, ambachtslui, onderzoekers, sociologen, filosofen… die een brug willen slaan tussen de kunsten, andere sectoren en de publieke ruimte.
Textiel staat bij DOEK als gedeelde interesse en of materiaal centraal, als een venster naar anderen. Textiel in al zijn vormen speelt immers een rol in ieders leven, want iedereen heeft een connectie met textiel. Zo is er voor iederéén ook een connectie met duurzaamheid, identiteit en emotionele waarden.
DOEK realiseert haar missie aan de hand van:
- organiseren en faciliteren van ontmoeting en uitwisseling van kennis en expertise
- ontwikkelen van ontmoetings-, leer- en werkplekken
- aanbieden residenties voor ontwerpers, kunstenaars, ambachtslui, makers en onderzoekers
- ter beschikking stellen van co-making atelier en machines voor textielprofessionals
- verlenen van artistiek advies en coaching
VISIE
Textiel leeft en schrijft een geschiedenis van sporen, ervaringen en verhalen. Verhalen zijn de ideale manier om contact te maken, mensen te raken, en de samenhorigheid te vergroten. Verhalen raken ons en geven betekenis.
Elk project en elke actie bij DOEK ontstaat steeds vanuit “de ontmoeting”. In deze ontmoeting streven we steeds naar gelijkwaardigheid en wederkerigheid in het delen van kennis, kunde en ervaringen. We zorgen dat deze collectieve wijsheid optimaal wordt benut, en zichtbaar gemaakt.
We zorgen voor een duurzame en veerkrachtige omgeving voor onderzoek en concrete experimenten. biedt als artistieke organisatie een spiegel voor de hedendaagse maatschappelijke context. We benaderen maatschappelijke uitdagingen met een artistieke blik en nemen de vrijheid en verantwoordelijkheid om kunst en creativiteit in te zetten als motor voor maatschappelijke en systemische verandering.
We geloven sterk in de waarde van een meerstemmige cultuur als fundament van de samenleving, waarin de kunstenaar, maker, vormgever een rol kan opnemen als transformator voor systemische en duurzame verandering.
Het artistieke staat niet enkel centraal als een persoonlijke artistieke vertaling en expressie van wat er maatschappelijk gebeurt, maar DOEK zet ook aan tot collectieve reflectie en engagement.
WERKING
Het textielplatform DOEK functioneert als connector, aanstoker, facilitator, ontwikkelaar en incubator voor de meerstemmige community van DOEK.
We ontwikkelen artistieke, educatieve, experimentele, innovatieve, en social-design processen, projecten, concepten, tools en methodieken waarin maatschappelijke verandering en textiel de rode draad vormen.
We streven naar meerstemmige diversiteit over sectoren en disciplines heen, dit doen we door in samenwerking met of in opdracht van andere partners en organisaties te werken.
Deze co-creatieprocessen slaan niet enkel een brug tussen diverse meerstemmige talenten, maar zetten ook aan tot transversale kruisbestuivingen tussen verschillende disciplines, sectoren, gemeenschappen en organisaties.
DOEK stimuleert ontwerpers, kunstenaars, ambachtslui, makers en onderzoekers, door een residentie aan te bieden om te onderzoeken, experimenteren, reflecteren.
We connecteren ook nieuwkomers met het uitgebreid netwerk en de community van DOEK. We geven hen de ruimte voor verdere talentontwikkeling en het ontdekken van nieuwe competenties. Zo wordt een residentie ook een taaloefenkans en een kans om hun sociaal en professioneel netwerk uit te breiden. Door deze ervaringen kunnen ze ook verder bouwen aan een professioneel portfolio in hun nieuw thuisland.
We hebben door en tijdens onze projecten afgelopen jaren onderzoek gedaan en expertise opgebouwd rond diverse thema’s:
CIRCULAIR EN DUURZAAM TEXTIEL
- textielupcycling vanuit diverse textielreststromen
- textielinnovatieve modellen
- hergebruik van textielreststromen in de kunsten
TALENTONTWIKKELING
sociale en reguliere tewerkstelling van vluchtelingen in de brede cultuursector
competentie-ontwikkeling van nieuwkomers tijdens onze projecten
empowerment van nieuwkomers
ERFGOED EN KENNISDELING
- overdracht en borging van divers en stedelijk immaterieel erfgoed
- co-creatiemethodieken
- kennisdelingsmethodieken
HISTORIEK
DOEK werd in 2012 onder de vleugels van vzw Kopspel opgericht door social designer, kunstenaar en kostuumontwerper Lies Van Assche en ontstond uit een ambitie om een duurzame textielwerkplaats te ontwikkelen rond maatschappelijke thema’s zoals solidair samenleven, stedelijkheid, identiteit en duurzaamheid. In 2016 beslist DOEK om deze structuur te verlaten.
DOEK is vanaf 2016 operationeel in een eigen vzw en wordt ‘een textielplatform voor het creëren van nieuwe vormen en regels.’ Het DNA van de organisatie, dat drijft op fundamentele waarden als gelijkwaardigheid en wederkerigheid en inzet op het creëren van ruimte en tijd voor een meerstemmige gemeenschap, blijft behouden.
Deurneleitje 6 Mortsel 2640 Belgium
Klaar Devillé
Klaar DevilléMore Info
Klaar Devillé
The brand
Design and craftsmanship can perfectly stand together. If you work with natural materials you can combine them perfectly. Even more so: Belgian designers excel at it. The luxurious line of bags by Klaar Devillé fits perfectly within this spirit.
Bringing a new brand onto the market that stands for affordable high quality and authenticity is not an easy task. Unless you know perfectly well why.
The desire for purity, fierce elegance, quality, comfort, wearability, durability, and above all honesty, made Klaar take the step towards her own timeless and minimalistic high-end collection handmade bags.
The designer
Klaar Devillé comes from a large, artistic family of musicians, artists, and theatre-makers. Art, architecture, ballet, and theatre are what inspire her.
Klaar studied Slavic Languages and Eastern European Studies at the KULeuven and worked for several years as an analyst Eastern Europe for the Belgian State Security. When Klaar was part of a foreign security service recruitment progam in 2004, she decided to quit her job and return to her old love, fashion.
Klaar decided to study fashion design in Antwerp and maroquinerie (leatherworks) in Brussels and founded Atelier Devillé a few years later together with her husband.
Klaar is a mother of 3 and sister of award-winning theater author and director Stijn Devillé.
Store opens on:
Wed: 12.00 – 18.00h
Thu, Fri & Sat: 11.00 – 18.30h
1st & 3th Sunday of the month: 12.00 – 17.00h
Closed on Monday & Tuesday
Volkstraat 20 Antwerp 2000 Belgium
Leeuwerikstraat 8 Rotselaar 3110 Belgium
Katoennatie
KatoennatieMore Info
Fashion & Professional Apparel
Not only do we have the right people, the right facilities and the right equipment, but we also have the necessary know-how for your product. Efficiency is our prime objective.
Staying ahead … together
As a long term, reliable partner for our customers, it is our mission to offer flexible, high quality logistic solutions and continuous improvement as a competitive advantage for our customers.
Thanks to its long experience, the Katoen Natie Fashion & Professional Apparel Team has the competence to manage Fashion Logistics to very high standards, offering the quality and delivery performance that are so crucial in today’s competitive Fashion market.
Not only do we have the right people, the right facilities and the right equipment, but we also have the necessary know-how for your product. Efficiency is our prime objective.
As your logistics partner, it is our duty to stay ahead of the market trends and to continuously adjust and/or develop our service with a clear focus on offering you:
Large-scale multi-customer platforms
Strategic geographical locations
Tailormade warehousing concepts
Last-minute customization
Additional port, customs & handling services.
Type of operations:
European Distribution Centers
Regional Distribution Centers
Inbound consolidation platforms
Wholesale, retail and cross-dock to distributors
E-Commerce platforms.
Katoen Natie, tailored to your model:
Apparel & shoes
Professional apparel
Promotional textiles
Sportswear & leisure
Washroom (towels, linen, etc.).
KATOEN NATIE Headquarters BELGIUM Van Aerdtstraat 33 Antwerpen 2060 Belgium
Knops & More
Knops & MoreMore Info
Hello !!
Thank you very much for visiting our webshop!
Of course we want you to know who is behind this webshop and how you can always contact us.
Knops & More is a retailer of hobby and craft supplies in Opwijk. Our store is located just across the border from Merchtem in the direction of Opwijk with a spacious parking lot at the back.
Our store is divided into 3 color zones.
In the green zone you will find everything for crochet pleasure as well as sewing thread and zippers.
In the blue zone you will find embroidery threads and packages, haberdashery, buttons, felt and acrylic threads.
In the red zone you can find our books and magazines and go through them with a cup of coffee in our salon. You will find quality wool here in all colors and qualities.
Our workshop corner is also located here.
We have been open to the general public since May 4, 2020 and our offer is constantly growing!
Greet and Peter are the managers and Marijke is our strong force in the store.
At least we hope to welcome you soon!
your Knops & More – Team
Greet, Peter and employee Marijke
Karla Mertens
Karla MertensMore Info
Karla Mertens
Karla Mertens grew up among the stones and jewels in her parents’ jewellery store. She went to Antwerp to follow ahigher education as a Jewellery Designer and Goldsmith in the Sint-Lukas Pavilion. (Karel de Grote Hogeschool). In 1996 she started her own unique business with a workshop atelier in the heart of Leuven. She had already developeda broad interest in stones, architecture, alternative healing and mysticism, but in the beginning her focus was mainly on aesthetic classic and design jewellery.
Gradually, she follows her passions and finds the unquenchable courage to walk her own path. Inspired by her long journeys and the special people she meets / encounters along the way, she immerses herself over the years in the wonderful world of crystals and energetic healing such as Reiki. She follows additional courses on the power of gemstones, sacred geometry and symbols. Apart from this, she continues to receive technical training, which means that multiple techniques shape her designs.
The cumulative effort of all this has made Karla Mertens into the jewellery designer she is today. Pure and inspiring. Her intuition is her greatest strength. Nature, sacred symbols & geometry, many derived from ancient cultures and traditions, remain her biggest inspiration. From her own workshop, she makes her pieces by hand. She combines elegant design with the powerful energies of the stones- and metals. How Karla Mertens works, is to connect the scientific, creative and energetic, sacred worlds; and to divert them into one.
Amerikalaan 15 Leuven 3000 Belgium
Kamo Gutsu
Kamo GutsuMore Info
Kamo-Gutsu was created in 2014 by Freddy Dreesens, who was at that time
one of the owners of the Belgian shoe company The Velvet Factory.
Besides creating men and women shoes for fashion labels we thought it would be nice
to think outside the box and create something that wasn’t on the market yet:
fresh shoes with some fun and wit, lots of color, but still very wearable and comfortable.
The first collection premiered during the MICAM shoe fair in Milan and the rest is history:
today we distribute Kamo-Gutsu in 8 countries where shoe- and fashion retailers present
our footwear as the “happy misfits” in a sometimes boring shoe world.
We develop two collections per year, manufactured in the Italian Marche region,
famous for its artisan shoes with a high quality standard.
Since December 2020 Kamo-Gutsu is created and distributed by SHUZ.63,
the company owned by the designer and instigator of the brand.
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You name it, we build it !
We commit ourselves to creating all kinds of ideas, from concept till execution.
#Decorbuilding
#Craftsmenship
#Creativebrandmaking
We are hungry.
Hungry! to challenge you with our creative ideas.
Hungry! to make your brand shine.
Hungry to meet you!
Gulkenrodestraat 7 unit 9 Wommelgem 2160 Belgium
Kiez
KiezMore Info
ABOUT KIEZ
The brand name and concept are different. It’s okay to be different, so am I.
I spent half my life in Berlin, the second half in Antwerp. And even though German and Dutch are quite similar, there are notable differences. In the meantime I have given up speaking and especially writing the two languages, it has become an imperfect mix. You will read it here and there, or hear it when we speak. It makes me who I am… half and half but completely Meike!
So I grew up in Berlin and that’s where my brand name Kiez comes from. It is a typical word for an urban district, a small community in a large city. Berliners often refer to the neighborhood around their home as mein Kiez.
I said goodbye to the fascinating city brimming with history when I was nineteen.
For the love. I ended up in Antwerp and became a young, enthusiastic mother of three. After years of pampers, snot noses and puberty cures, it was time to put myself in the foreground. I ended up in the world of beauty and care but soon said goodbye to the classic manicure and pedicure and focused on facial treatments. It became a passion.
Because I myself have a challenging skin, I came naturally to ecological products and natural care.
I opened an institute and success followed. I could lose my egg optimally. Until love at home ran out, a divorce was inevitable. I was shaken up a lot, until I met Jaap who gave me confidence again and supports me to become the best possible version of myself.
What was always obvious to me, turned out to be an ecological challenge for many in Belgium. It was only then that I realized what a green nest and city I had grown up in. Sorting waste and consciously handling plastics was already very common in Berlin in the 1980s. I learned to live more consciously and sustainably in primary school.
For a number of years I combined my own institute with a part-time job in fair fashion. That sharpened my ecological awareness even more. In addition to natural treatments and products, I would also like to focus on sustainable lingerie. We are all familiar with sustainable outerwear, that concept is well established. But I think lingerie is just as important and fun!
An improperly fitting slip can seriously ruin your day, but the right underwear can make you glow!
Now it’s time for KIEZ. I want to offer an alternative to the chemical junk that people (sometimes unknowingly) smear on their snouts and bring nature closer to humans again. Back to the old days…with a minimum of waste and maximum results. I want to be your kickstart to a healthier and more conscious life. An eco-hub where you can go with your questions, test, have a chat, taste small fortunes and find inspiration for a more minimalistic life. In my institute I work with the exclusive Jojobacare products, which I have been completely dependent on since the start of my first business. A thoroughly Belgian brand that grows its own flowers and plants, provides very good training and offers excellent service. A textbook example of the short chain too.
A shop in my own Kiez…it was a childhood dream. I am a real customer person and I have a good sense of what people need. I don’t believe in extremes or perfection. If everyone were a little more aware of themselves, nature and their environment, the world would be a much better place. Start with yourself.
Welcome to KIEZ.