La Maison Gillis, a boutique of both class and character, is situated in the historic centre of Brussels.
Founded a century ago, it has preserved the techniques and the savoir-faire of its ancient milliners.
It is here that Sylvie Gauthier will offer her advice and make a hat to your taste and ultimate satisfaction in the adjoining workshop (studio).
Some of her creations can also be seen in Paris, Lille and London.
Additionally, la maison Gillis makes hats for the theatre, advertising, movies and historical re-enactments.
As a trained sculptor, Ria searches out different and surprising shapes, creating unique hats in her own style.
Which hat to choose?
A hat will fit on any woman’s head, but not just any hat. For each hat, we talk through the design with you to find the perfect hat to make your personal beauty shine through. We also mold the edges to give it that perfect finish. A hat that makes you look beautiful, complements the wearer and not the other way around.
Materials
Hat-making is a profession, a true craft. Felt, Sisal, Wool, Yarn and other fabrics; each requiring a different kind of preparation process to be then crafted using different techniques. Ria’s fashion training together with many years experince give her a natural advantage.
The approach
A hat worn for a special occasion requires a rather different approach than one that would be worn on a daily basis. A common starting point is taking a piece of material from the dress to be worn, with which Ria can start to colour match. A colour can then be used in just a piece, or for the whole hat. The shape, colour and fabric should form one entity.
Accessories
For those who aren’t really looking for a hat, Ria also designs various kinds of headwear (Tiaras, Diadems etc.) which are of course a must at any wedding.
Winter-hats
Besides winter-hats, each year Ria designs a selection of matching hat and scarf sets. The shape of which is of significant importance.
This high-quality Belgian fashion brand was founded by current Creative Director Christelle Loozen.
With over twenty years’ experience as a freelance denim product developer for both national and international brands and designers, Christelle is now ready to take up her own challenge through her brand 1971, offering an exclusively-designed original, high-quality and ethical product, one that is as original as it is a ‘revival’.
‘I’m passionate about fashion and I always have been. Through 1971, I am offering clothes inspired by my childhood memories, my experience of motor sports, and my unconditional love for denim.
My clothes are designed to fit most people, providing a casual yet trendy touch. With my many years of experience, I have been able to source the best sustainable yarns and fabrics from across Europe.
I’ve made the decision to work with the same European suppliers I have already worked with over the last 15 years. We share the same goals and overall vision, leaving no room for compromise when it comes to product quality, environmental impact, and the provision of good working conditions for our employees.’
We choose only the finest materials and best factories to make our timeless products, with the hope that they will last you many years, even decades.
Our prices are calculated as precisely as possible, while our partners, from workers to stores, are paid the right amount, with each and every possible cent reinvested into the local economy of each country.
We believe in a fair economy that works for the everyday.
Quirky but always in-styleStructures, patterns, textures and high-quality materials are a fascination at Awardt.Together with a passion for hats, bags and scarfs, we’ve created a 100% Belgian brand of handmade accessories with an eye for flair, uniqueness and quirks. And we still have some tricks up our sleeves. The many years of experience and driven craftmanship result in original and timeless pieces for women of all ages. That’s how we create distinctive bags for willful, fearless women.
A Belgian twist on atypical fashion
You’re the woman who knows what she wants. Big dreams don’t scare you. In fact, they push you to be bolder. You know what makes you you and are not afraid to show it. At Awardt, we encourage you with the right accessories. As a Belgian female-powered brand, we’ll make sure you have the right, atypical bag, hat or scarf to match your unique soul.
Van opvoedster tot hoedenontwerpster: hoe twee kinderdromen werkelijkheid werden!
Als jong meisje droomde ik van twee dingen: werken met kinderen en hoeden. Ik koos het pad van de kinderen en werd opvoedster van mentaal en visueel gehandicapte kinderen. Iets later werd ik moeder van vier kinderen (twee dochters en twee zonen). Na 17 jaar ten volle te genieten van mijn werk koos ik het pad van de hoeden, en eindigde mijn loopbaan van opvoedster, weliswaar vanwege gezondheids-en familiale redenen. Mijn tweede grote droom? Die werd werkelijkheid.
Ik volgde een opleiding tot modist in het erkend VIZO centrum Brucemo bij Christophe Coppens, de toen bekende Brusselse hoedenontwerper. Op 10 maart 1999 had ik mijn diploma in handen en startte mijn hoedenatelier aan huis waar ik handgemaakte dameshoeden ontwierp. Toen de kinderen groter werden, kreeg ik de behoefte om mijn vleugels uit te slaan. Op 30 juli 2009 opende ik mijn eerste hoedenwinkel in de Stationsstraat 7 te Haacht. De uitbreiding met hoeden en petten voor heren was een feit.
Na enkele jaren verhuisde ik naar nummer 13 in dezelfde straat. In maart 2013 opende ik mijn nieuwe hoedenwinkel mét atelier welke ik volledig naar mijn smaak liet inrichten. In deze winkel vind je ruime collecties hoeden en petten voor heren. Zowel voor verschillende smaken (klassiek, sportief of modern) als maten (van extra klein tot extra grote maten) ben je bij mij aan het juiste adres.
Mijn aanbod? Mijn oog viel vooral op Europese merken als Stetson, het Belgische merk City Sports Caps en het Italiaanse merk Guerra. En het aanbod voor de dames? Daar staat vooral mijn eigen collectie centraal. Een exemplaar volledig naar de maat en smaak van de klant ontwerpen, dat is wat ik doe in het atelier onder de winkel.
Daarnaast is er een ruim aanbod aan confectiehoeden en mutsen van grote Europese merken en zijn er ook nog de mooie chemomutsen van het Belgische merk LookHatMe. Toch behoren niet enkel hoeden tot mijn handelsmerk. Ook bruids-en suiteschoenen en tasjes van het Nederlandse merk Elsa Coloured Shoes kunnen op bestelling aangekocht worden. Deze kunnen ingekleurd worden in elke kleur naar keuze (de kleur van je hoed of jurk bijvoorbeeld).
En naast dit alles ben ik als docente verbonden aan het CVO Crescendo te Mechelen. Ik geef er de opleiding modist en accessoires.
Hoeden Martine Verstraeten is de speciaalzaak voor iedereen die houdt van mooie, comfortabele en kwaliteitsvolle hoeden en petten.
Isabelle Baines lives and works in Brussels. She graduated from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the costume design section under Mme. Mary Prijot, and worked for theatres in Brussels, Paris and Geneva. Prior to presenting her first knitwear collection in 1985, she worked for Ann Salens in Antwerp and M. Baron Industries in New York City. Isabelle Baines opened her first boutique in Brussels in 1986 and launched the knitting workshop in 2003.
Atelier
All Isabelle Baines designs are conceived and developed at her workshop in Brussels, where an artisanal, handcrafted approach reigns supreme.
For our limited-edition ‘Atelier Collection’, we use only the finest quality Italian merino wools, in a carefully chosen palette of colors. All our garments are knit, hand-sewn and finished by us at our workshop – right down to the buttonholes! Some sweaters, made of very fine threads, are produced under our personal supervision by a specialist family-run workshop in the Marche region of Italy. We’ve worked for them for years, and they understand our spirit and standards. Your Size, Your Color! Ask about having your sweater custom-made.
Fabienne Delvigne is a Belgian milliner and has specialized since 1987 in the design and manufacturing of Haute Couture hats, jewellery, headgear, handbags and other fashion accessories. After studying Marketing, she launched her own company and became an iconic designer in Belgian fashion.
The elegant headwear that Fabienne Delvigne has created since the late 80’s has secured the Belgian milliner’s position as the go-to designer for members of the Royal Families of Belgium, The Netherlands, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg and Sweden.
Her know-how has been rewarded since 2001, when she was initially awarded the official patent of « Belgian Royal Warrant Holder ». Fabienne Delvigne’s sophisticated and timelessly chic millinery has won her wide acclaim and this title was followed by the appointment of Fabienne Delvigne as a member of the Chamber of High Commerce « Brussels Exclusive Labels » in 2004. The same year, Fabienne Delvigne participated in the « 5 femmes de goût » catwalk show and conference at the Royal Evian alongside Chantal Thomass, Pascale Mussart (Hermès) and Anne-Sophie Pic (starred Chef).
In 2013, for the inauguration of H.R.H. King Philippe I, his wife Queen Mathilde wears the « Envolée » hat made of abaca fibre and silk. The trim of this hat symbolizes two wings that the designer imagined to symbolize the takeoff of Belgium under the reign of the new royal couple. Shortly after his nomination, H.R.H. King Philippe, like his father King Albert II had done in 2001, granted Fabienne Delvigne the title of Supplier to the Court of Belgium, perpetuating her position as a provider to the Belgian royal family.
Fabienne Delvigne collaborates with other fashion houses such as Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Dior or Natan. In 2007, she created a hat for the Van Cleef & Arpels catalogue.
Very imaginative, she likes to collaborate with other talents to express her know-how in new and original ways, but always with refinement.
In 2014, for example, she was asked by the Carrières du Hainaut to design their new booth at the Biennale de Courtrai (a design and decoration fair).
Two years later, her talent was once again asked to create hats for Maison Guerlain launching their new perfume « Intense » for the « La Petite Robe Noire » collection.
She has also made crystal or chocolate hats and, more recently, she collaborated with BMW and created two hats for the launch of the new i8 Roadster.
Reasonably eccentric with a touch of originality, her fashion accessories are aimed to make woman look more beautiful and attractive. Her style is definitely feminine, aerial and innovative.
In 2008, the Studio Collection offering hats for everyday wear was launched, it is also available for gentlemen. Today, these collections can be purchased through her e-shop launched in 2018.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of la Maison, Fabienne Delvigne retraces her extraordinary career as a Belgian entrepreneur, hat designer and holder of high luxury craftswoman. Her book “Sublimer par la différence” is prefaced by Stéphane Bern and Diane von Furstenberg.
In the year 2021, the Caring Hat project was born. This line of hats, turbans and caps is designed for people suffering from alopecia (hair loss) as a result of cancer treatment or a serious illness.
Fabienne Delvigne’s hats and accessories are designed and handmade in her designer’s studio in Brussels.
Fabienne Delvigne Portrait Red Hat
The designer regularly holds conferences on the magic of her craft as a designer and on the « Art of Elegance ». These conferences can be held in her workshop where you will be able to discover Fabienne Delvigne’s universe during a privileged visit in an exclusive and unique setting.
Raising the concept of a scarf to the status of an exceptional item imbued with character. That is what Emmanuel Demuynck of the Belgian company Monsieur Maison succeeds in time after time. And with flair. One could describe his creations as unique stories. They are almost poetic and above all beautiful. They are the fruit of an exciting search for rare couture and haute couture fabrics from days gone by, the unique combinations of which today constitute the clearly recognisable trademark of Monsieur Maison. With each of his scarves, Emmanuel creates a link to a very special figure from the 20th century.
The secret of the perfection of Monsieur Maison scarves lies in its capacity to create the perfect blend of designs, colours and fabrics.
The scarves are made in Belgian workshops which is a very conscious choice on the part of the designer. The workshops guarantee an outstandingly high-quality approach and the seamless translation of what Monsieur Maison seeks to communicate in its unique models. The handwork and the know-how result in quality and durability, two aspects that are very important to Demuynck.
Who is the designer Emmanuel Demuynck?
Emmanuel studied painting at the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in Ghent. In addition to designing this collection, he also offers his freelance services for design and merchandising projects. He is also a purchaser and consultant for Belgian labels and multi-brand stores.
After reading the book “The Emperor wears no clothes” by hemp advocate Jack Herer, Emilio De Baudringhien got inspired to start a company that would bring this amazing plant and all of its benefits, back to humanity.
Since hemp is a carbon negative crop we strongly believe it can be a key player in fighting global warming… think of it this way: we are growing a plant in 100 days that takes huge amounts of carbon from our atmosphere and stores it safely in the ground, actually increasing the fertility of the soil. After the plant is harvested we can use every single aspect of the plant for a different purpose, leaving no waste. All this with a minimum input of water and nutrients and no use of pesticides and herbicides.
1 acre of hemp takes in 10 times the amount of carbon compared to 1 acre of rainforest.
Emilio doesn’t consider The Ornament Hemp Co. a fashion company since we don’t follow fashion trends or seasons. Instead we see the company as a vehicle to support the hemp movement in all its forms.
Emilio never started this company for money gaining purposes. All of the money that comes in is directly re-invested in creating more products made from hemp to help increase global hemp crop production and help create a world with more durable products made from replenishable crops such as hemp.
At the end of 2017, Emilio set up a crowdfunding campaign to set up his label. Thanks to 110 lovely backers, Emilio got his project funded and was able to take off.
WHEN VICTOR DECLERCQ,
a leading fabric trader, got the idea to set up a cap mill, he could never have foreseen the success his company was to experience 100 years later.
He founded his company, together with his wife Marie Olivier and seven craftworkers from Diksmuide.
At heart, Victor was a born trader who upheld the traditional principles of a well-groomed gentleman. He was renowned for his big pointed moustache that was manicured every day by a private barber.
Over the years, CITY SPORT became an established name for high quality caps as an exclusive fashionable accessory for the discerning gentleman. The company has always offered a wide variety of caps in exclusive styles and fabrics.
The fourth generation now reaps the rewards of the preceding generations and is now preparing the future, however without losing contact with the family traditions and creativity.
The City Sport cap is now exported to all European countries, and even to Canada and the USA. But the spirit and production still lies in Ardooie, a small village in the neighbourhood of Bruges.
