Work philosophy
After studies in graphic art, I graduated in fashion design from the Francisco Ferrer School (Brussels). I then completed my knowledge within the Federation of Master-tailors of France (Paris). Since 2014, I have been increasing my professional experiences, in Belgium or internationally, with big names like Scabal, Natan or on a personal basis in my own workshop.
Passion in the blood
My grandmother was a seamstress and in a sewing workshop; my mother was a sewing teacher for 25 years. My interest in the profession of tailor came later. It was the artisan side that attracted me then. It’s a rope that I have added to the family tradition. The specificities of his work Both an artisanal tailor and a trained stylist, I strive to blend harmoniously the traditional work of the artisan tailor with current sewing techniques.
Rue de la Ferme Romaine 11 Andenne 5300 Belgium
Studio Collect
Studio CollectStudio Collect is a jewelry label founded in February of 2013. Hermien Cassiers, Saskia Govaerts, Magaly Hermans and Hannah van Lith are the four designers behind the label. They met during their studies at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. Because of their similar ideas and vision on jewelry design, they decided to start working together. In a former factory in the suburbs of Antwerp, they found the perfect workspace to create their collections. Their jewelry is designed and made in Belgium. The philosophy of Studio Collect is to create versatile and accessible jewelry, with a strong and fresh look.
Steenhouwersvest 13 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Sylvie Jousset
Sylvie Jousset
After a few years in the communication field, in Paris then Brussels, the passion of contemporary jewellery led Sylvie Jousset to express herself through another form of communication: the creative expression.
Creating jewels, a mean of expression she masters with curiosity and sometimes humour, is for her a real vehicle of emotions.
After 4 years of jewellery education at the Jeanne Toussaint Institute (Arts and Craft campus) in Brussels, she graduated with high distinction in June 2010.
Since then, her work has been showcased and published in several countries in Europe and in the USA.
Registered Jeweller with the Royal Belgium Mint.
Maker’s Mark registered at the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property.
Registered since 2015 by Fairtrade Max Havelaar Belgium.
Registered Fairmined licensee (www.fairmined.org)
“Certified Craft” (certification granted by the Belgian Ministry of Economy)
100 % Made In Belgium.
Established in 2008, TAMAWA owes its clear identity to the Bakelite ball, used as the core material and component for all the products in its collection. It all started when designer Hubert Verstraeten met with Belgian snooker ball manufacturer SALUC, set in the region of Tournai in Belgium. From then on, SALUC would supply Aramith (Phenolic resin) to the designer who first started by self-producing two watches, followed by the design of a whole jewellery line, which inspired the name of the company – ‘TAMAWA’, meaning in Japanese; “ball on steel ring”.
Japanese inspiration
Tamawa Ball LampIn order to open up to wider creative possibilities, TAMAWA quickly decided to call upon emerging design talents such as Big Game, Belgian designers Sylvain Willenz and Alain Berteau, the artist Yann Lestrat, jeweller and silversmith Nedda El-Asmar. By bringing its own understanding and by translating in its on way the concept of the ‘mono-form / mono-material’ of the Bakelite ball, each designer has enriched the collection with unique items- Nedda El-Asmar, in creating memory form jewellery, Big Game with the BALL LAMP, Alain Berteau with a USB key and Pepper and salt mills and Sylvain Willenz with his coat-stand LOCK, wall hooks PIFF and suspension lighting RAY.
With an impeccable technical quality (shine & durability), in a wide range of up-lifting colours (white, blue, yellow, purple, black, orange, red and pink, all official snooker colours), the playful nature of the products goes far beyond the snooker ball rooms, all being as much of a reference to the iconic ‘Hang It All’ of Charles & Ray Eames than a playful approach to objects with its infinite colour combination.
In a very short time, TAMAWA acquired a legitimate Producer status.TAMAWA focuses on a method of production integrated to the company’s infrastructure, stock capacities and manufacturing facilities, all allowing creative as well as logistical flexibility. Surprisingly, the sphere allows never-ending ideas. However, TAMAWA’s challenge is to make sure it always maintains a coherent collection, with its particular attention to aesthetics and its interest for clever engineering. Design manufacturer 100 % Made in Belgium Collaborations with emerging designers With this very focus, TAMAWA can provide high quality objects at affordable production costs, enabling Belgian production and the use of a majority of European components. It is a real pleasure for TAMAWA’s Designers to come to the workshop and work on their ideas, to experiment on their project, going through different phases of the manufacturing process; from milling, drilling, high pressure-assembly, fine-tuning and testing to the final product.
Working with graphic design agency DONUTS.Brussels based graphic designers DONUTS were chosen to implement the brand’s identity. DONUTS created the TAMAWA logo, product packaging, brochures and the graphic identity of the website. All the advertising material put forward the idea of the sphere form and colours, in tune with the unique identity of the brand. Their aesthetic and their approach are in keeping with TAMAWA’s reality. It only takes a look at the introduction video on the website (“2 spheres, 8 colours, 64 rings”) to understand the tactile and versatile qualities of the brand’s collection.
TW27 & TW35 watches by Hubert Verstraeten.Tamawa Small Watch TW27
Watches are the emblematic pieces of the collection. TAMAWA’s watches are discernable illustrations of the brand’s values, demonstrating a real know-how of clockwork that only a few manufacturers can craft today. Composed of a spherical dial, a Bakelite ball and of a double bracelet, their design is the perfect reflection of the TAMAWA universe.
Tamawa LOCK
LOCK coat-stand by Sylvain Willenz.
LOCK is a reinterpretation of the archetypal coat-stand. Inspired by COATED, a former coat-stand project, Willenz developed LOCK, a simple and effective solution comprising a Bakelite ball and 3 sticks. The particularity of this coatstand lies in the simplicity of its elements and how they are put together. The 3 wooden poles are inserted through a cleverly machined Bakelite ball, which maintains them together thanks to a sole screw discreetly located under the ball . The softness of natural wood contrasting with the glossy Bakelite ball results in a joyful and playful item for the home.
Salt& Pepper Mills S&P 57 and S&P 76 by Alain Berteau.Tamawa S&P Mill
These two models of salt and pepper mills are composed of 2 and 3 Bakelite balls in order to reflect their method of use. Both designs use a unique system called Crushgrind (its material and its sturdiness allow to crush both pepper and salt with ease). S&P 57 and S&P 76 are playful and elegant seasoning items for the kitchen and the dining table
Piff by Sylvain WillenzTamawa Wall Hooks
PIFF is a family of 3 versatile wall-hooks. There is no use of glue; only pressure has been used to assemble all parts together. The PIFF wall-hooks are available in 4 colour ways. In All Black, all Red and in 2 colour mixes. Very easy to mount to the wall. Each PIFF comes with a special strong screw and a wall-plug.
Tamawa Ray Light
RAY pendant lighting by Sylvain Willenz
With RAY suspension light, Sylvain Willenz explores Tubular-Lighting once again, a few years following his personal project INNERTUBE (a rubber lightshade kept in shape with a circular TL). TL Lighting is rarely used in domestic environments. RAY makes use of TAMAWA’s specialized production techniques, expertise and understanding of Bakelite balls, consequently creating a domestic lighting fixture with a refined technical solution; an original and colour ful alternative to common TL connectors.
Ball Lamp by Big GameTamawa Ball Lamp
The idea to create a lamps as first object for the Tamawa home collection came very naturally. Big Game has the habit of stripping its objects of their,original function, creating the pretext for a new design. The Ball Lamp is a white glass globe resting on a ball the same size of bakelite, a confrontation of two different materials re into the work dhybridation, familiar ground and source dinspiration favorite of the trio. With the play of light that accentuates leffet juxtaposition of the two forms of spherical homothetic, the language is at once simple, delicate dunes while having strong visual presence.
Jewelry collection by Hubert Verstraeten
The TAMAWA jewelry collection plays on the beauty of the surface of the bakelite beads, which is reduced to its purest form of the jewel. The mini colored
bakelite beads can be used in diverse ways as they can be adjusted on watches, earrings, cufflinks and rings. For example, when forming part of a necklace, the beads follow the movements of the body harmoniously as they shift on a stainless steel base resembling that of a crescent moon or a smiley. Available in various sizes, the jewel becomes a landscape for open and innovative experimentation. They can be made up of one bead, two beads, three beads or more seamlessly assembled on a timeless string of pearls. Oversized as regards the traditional accessory, the beads may be worn on the fingers, wrist and body combining their smooth asymmetric design with originality for presentation in a pure classic style. Always combined with stainless steel, these accessories unite style and fashion with innovative design and are available in a rich palate of colors such as red, yellow, blue, orange, violet, rose, black and white. Assembled and intertwined seductively, TAMAWA plays on the contrasts, harmonies and beauty of the ideal object. Encrusted gemstones such as amethyst,
topaz, smoky quartz or diamonds serve only to enhance the discrete elegance of this collection. Luxury in Technicolor opens the door to many other possible variations of a similar theme using all the bead colors and gemstones. Glossy and glamorous, these micro Bakelite beads are like pearls, offering a way to customize your own jewelry box, with a personal touch and in a contemporary style.
rue des Vétérinaires 42 D mod. 02, Bât. 3 Brussels 1070 Belgium
Thea is the name Emilie Duchêne gave to her daughter, a baby girl who was born at the same period as this creative project. She wanted Thea’s birth to be forever associated with a moment of creation. This is how Thea Jewelry came about in November of 2011. Thea Jewelry is a line of luxurious custom-made jewelry, personalized and unique. You order your unique piece of jewelry online, but first you can personalize the jewel by choosing a fine gold, a word of your choice, a heart or a star, all to be engraved in gold, or set with either white or black diamonds. In 2014, Emilie Duchêne added new jewels such as earcuffs, cufflinks, and bracelets for kids, all personalized, to further share the essence of Thea.
Our jewels
Our jewels are unique, personalized in a fine 18 Karat gold, and made by hand in a workshop with a certain “savoir-faire”. The customer chooses the color of the gold: white, yellow, or pink. This jewel may be even paved with white or black diamonds. The customer can also choose to add symbols such as a heart, a star, an infinity sign, or other symbols. The writing used for each jewel is totally unique as it’s based on Emilie’s own handwriting. Four weeks later, your jewel will be sent in a luxurious box to your door.
Drève de Lorraine, 43 Brussels 1180 Belgium
Veroniek Dutré
Veroniek DutréAls juweelontwerper, goudsmid en edelsteenzetter ontwerp en vervaardig ik alle sieraden van begin tot einde. De juwelen/objecten zijn volledig hand vervaardigd in mijn atelier in Boutersem (gelegen tussen Leuven en Tienen).
Sieraden met gevoel voor minimalisme, geometrie en een strakke, abstracte stilering.
Ik haal inspiratie uit mijn scheikundige achtergrond, uit architectuur of natuur, maar vertaal deze steeds naar de puurste vormen.
’21 – Non-toxische grafiek, Academie Regio Tienen
’19 – ’20 Edelsteenkunde (Gemmologie), ACAM, Antwerpen
’18 – ’19 Juweelontwerper, Syntra, Tongeren
’16 – ’18 Edelsteenzetter, Syntra, Tongeren
’15 – ’18 Juwelier/goudsmid, Syntra, Tongeren
’14 – ’14 3D modelleren en -printen, CVO, Leuven
’10 – ’13 Edelsmeedkunst, Jaar 4-5, Academie Beeldende Kunsten, Sint-Truiden
’09 – ’10 Print Design, VDAB, Haasrode
’07 – ’09 Edelsmeedkunst, Jaar 2-3, Academie Beeldende Kunsten, Sint-Truiden
’05 – ’06 Dessin de modèle vivant, Ecoles d’Art de la ville de Lyon, France
’05 – ’06 Cours de Dessin chez Hélène Gillet, Lyon, France
’04 – ’05 Edelsmeedkunst, Jaar 1, Academie Beeldende Kunsten, Sint-Truiden
’02 – ’04 Ontwerpen van sieraden, Syntra, Hasselt
’92 – ’01 Klassieke gitaar, Stedelijk Conservatorium Leuven
’91 – ’97 Doctor in de Toegepaste Wetenschappen, KU Leuven
’86 – ’91 Burgerlijk Ingenieur Scheikunde, KU Leuven
AWARDS
2018
Jewelry Award. Jaarlijkse wedstrijd waaraan verschillende vakopleidingen deelnemen. Elke opleiding selecteert intern de beste eindwerken die door een externe jury beoordeeld worden.
Mijn eindwerk van de opleiding Juwelier/goudsmid aan Syntra Tongeren, was samen met 20 andere eindwerken tentoongesteld op de expo Jewelry Award. Mijn eindwerk bestaat uit een trio van broches met als titel ‘Barok: een architecturale reductie’. De vergulde broche (zie 2 grote foto’s in het artikel van Prestige Magazine) was genomineerd voor de wedstrijd, en bezorgde me de Prijs van het Vakmanschap / Award for best craftsmanship.
Prestige Magazine (Ars Nobilis jg. 2018 ed. 4) publiceerde een artikel over de Jewelry Award 2018.
Wouters & Hendrix
Wouters & HendrixWouters & Hendrix stands for authenticity, sensitivity, playfulness, eccentricity and pure Belgian craftsmanship. Driven by their heritage of impeccable artistry and fuelled by infinite creativity, Karen and Katrin continue their pursuit of innovation and artistic collaboration.
Most of the time, their approach in designing a collection is impulsive rather than rational. They tend to just get going and see where it will take them. This often means visiting a bookshop, museum or exhibition to soak up inspiration, or travelling to another city to clear their minds.
For over 30 years Wouters & Hendrix have stood for the uninterrupted and diligent creation of jewelry. Today, no less than 70 collections have come into being, all with different stories and a string of haunting names such as: Stones for Wilma, Healing Jewelry, Ex Voto, Les Désirs de Désirée …
History is what the present is to tomorrow. With that idea in mind, Wouters & Hendrix collected thirty years of legacy in five uniquely designed time capsules. Each capsule contains statement artefacts that will stand the test of time. Without holding onto the past, and yet keeping its finger on the pulse of today’s zeitgeist, Wouters & Hendrix is looking forward to the future. Against the backdrop of the digital revolution, each capsule was translated into a short 3D film directed by the young visual artist Frederik Heyman.
Just as every jewel in the Wouters & Hendrix universe is created with thought and care and is the result of a unique balance between traditional craftsmanship and today’s trends, fusing the fleetingness of video art with the longevity of jewelry art is another manifestation of their sense of postmodernism. Likewise, the idea of preserving thirty years of Wouters & Hendrix in time capsules can be regarded as a futurist act. While the feasibility of electronic and magnetic storage media being preserved into the distant future may be hotly debated, history has proved that jewels stand the test of time.
Steenhouwersvest 52 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Place Georges Brugmannplein 16 Brussels 1050 Belgium
Kustlaan 325 Knokke-Zoute 8300 Belgium
Oude Spiegelstraat 5 Amsterdam 1016 BM The Netherlands
Since the appointment of Glenn Martens as Creative Director of Y/Project in 2013, the Paris based label has combined conceptual and inventive detailing with playful proportions and a witty take on historical references.
At the core of Y/Project, Martens has since established an emphasis on individuality and independence. Fusing the energy of the street with thought-provoking silhouettes, his unique take on interpreting masculinity and femininity blends eccentric references with unisex looks that transcend versatility.
In June 2017, Y/Project won the esteemed ANDAM Grand Prize, one of the most respected recognitions in fashion worldwide. And in September 2017, Glenn Martens was selected as one of the Business of Fashion’s 500 people shaping fashion globally today.
Martens’ contemporary expression has created a fascinating narrative for the brand, leading to an impressive period of growth earning both critical acclaim and commercial success. Y/Project has solidified its position within the luxury market with over 150 stockists.