Albane Courtière
Albane Courtière
Mayenne Nelen
Mayenne NelenMore Info
My label is a Belgian based accessory brand consisting of chrome-free leather items.
I focus on sustainability and build my designs to last.
Maïsstraat 35 Gent 9000 Belgium
Anne Zelien
Anne ZelienMore Info
Anne Zellien grew up above the fashion shop started by her grandma during World War II. Her grandma and mum were always very elegantly dressed and had a keen eye for detail.
Each outfit was completed with carefully chosen hats, shoes, handbags and jewellery. This attention to detail instilled in Anne a desire to continue this passion.
At the age of 18, she dreamt of becoming a painter, but ended up enrolling in a jewellery design programme at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating, she worked for many years in the diamond industry, where she gained a great deal of experience. At the age of 39, she decided that the time had come to focus once more on her passion and opened a shop with workshop on Kammenstraat in Antwerp.
Anne has always been fascinated by historical jewellery and over the course of time she became particularly interested in the style known as ‘Sentimental Jewelry’, a style that was quite fashionable in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. Jewelry of this kind was strongly personalised with engravings, hidden messages, portraits and charms, superbly accentuating the bond between 2 people – the person whose gift it was, and the person who was to wear the jewelry.
Being convinced of the importance of love and friendship in life, Anne concentrates on these very personal messages that she expresses in her work.
Other sources of inspiration are literature, classical music, vintage jewellery and, of course, all those people whom she had the pleasure to meet, and who have marked her journey.
Her favourite working materials are silver, gold, diamonds, semi-precious stones and pearls.
Kammenstraat 47/1 Antwerp 2000 Belgium
Theo Eyewear
Theo EyewearMore Info
theo history
What began as a memo… on an order form has developed into the slogan for the most headstrong Belgian brand of spectacles: ’theo loves you’. To this very day the motto connects everything theo does, every decision, every collection. It was the love for their clients that made Wim Somers and Patrick Hoet, opticians with their own store, decide to design and present a collection under the name of theo. Why? Well, simple: because they wanted to offer their clients something other than the mainstream glasses that were selling at the time. So, in 1989, the first theo glasses became a fact. And they were groundbreaking. With every following collection, it became increasingly easier to reach the consumer. Today, more than 20 years later, theo is sold in 1,400 stores across 50 countries… and theo loves them all!
Originally theo only addressed the avant-garde. Later however, the glasses began to appeal to a wider audience. But theo always had a soft spot for the individualist. So in order to generate interest among trendsetters again, ‘Eye-witness’ was launched in May 1995. These spectacles were apparently unfinished and asymmetrical. Eye-witness wearers are often men and women who are kindred spirits. The Eye-witness line still exists today and every year new models are launched.
In 2004, theo announced its co-operation with the German-Belgian designer Christoph Broich. This cross-pollination between fashion and eyewear proved a hit. The sunglasses Broich and theo were recognisable by the safety pin in the spring. Four years later, theo started collaborating with Belgian designer Tim Van Steenbergen on its new collection of sunglasses. The two Antwerp labels joined forces and have since been producing spectacles that radiate glamour and sophistication. In 2012, theo & Tim presented their forth collection together. And they are working hard on the next one.
To celebrate its 20th birthday, theo presented the ‘VinGtage’ collection at Mido 2007. theo is famous for its small glasses, of course, making this ‘Vingtage’ collection (vingt ans d’age! = 20 years in French – one of Belgium’s official languages) quite a departure. The focus has definitely shifted from the eyes to the face. Yet these glasses are in no way similar to what people wore some forty years ago – these are spectacles for the present times, and indeed spectacular.
theo like to be unpredictable. For a new optical collection in 2010, theo started working with James Van Vossel, a creative spirit who was given carte blanche, resulting in a series with no equivalent. More models to come!
The theo headquarters are located in Antwerp. Mik and Toon, two of the three sons of Big Boss Wim Somers, joined the business a few years ago. Third son Jan joined his mother Jamme at the theo – Somers Optiek store. Nowadays, more than thirty people work for theo in Europe, the US and Japan. So this small family business has developed into a major player in the international optics market. Patrick Hoet sold his shares to Wim about 15 years ago. Nevertheless Patrick stays exclusive designer for theo. Meanwhile theo has its own design team that works together closely with Patrick.
And so, theo keeps on surprising!
theo loves you!
Headquarters Arsenaalstraat 3 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Flagship Store Theo – Somers Optiek Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
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How it started
The name Hedgren was taken from Xavier Kegels’ beloved grandmother, Elisabeth Hedgren.
Her down-to-earth nature, open-minded spirit, and passion for intuitive design were passed on through Xavier’s DNA. They are what make Hedgren the brand it is today.
Global family
We’re not just a global network, we’re a global family.
With 7 offices and a network of 3,000 points off sale in more than 50 countries, we have developed a solid global network. As an inclusive brand, we see this network and our partners as an extension of our family, sharing the same values, investing in collaborations and believing in the power of local knowledge and execution.
7 offices worldwide
+ 50 countries
3000 points of sales
Our values
Regardless of in-between distances, within our global network we will always be connected by the 6 values that lie embedded in our Hedgren DNA. And we will always be open to include everybody
who shares our values in our family circle. Therefore we look at people with an open mind. We respect their personality and personal style and we’re always ready to fulfil their desire to belong.
We value
INTUITIVE DESIGN
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
SMART FUNCTIONALITY
We are
DOWN-TO-EARTH
ENERGETIC
INCLUSIVE
Move
We want everybody to be free to move
It’s our mission to create essential bags and travel gear with smart functionality that helps you handle everyday adventures without compromising on your personality or freedom to move.
We promise that you will become part of an inclusive community that creates and embraces an endless portion of wanderlust.
We help you to get the most out of life by enabling your freedom of movement.
Designed for
Designed for the true hedgrenist
Our consumers are not looking for the most… or the best… but what offers the most, or the best… for THEM.
What helps them get the most out of life without making compromises. Hedgren designs essential bags and travel gear to enable our consumers to realise the perfect balance between work and play.
The true Hedgrenist wants to use products that express their style every moment of the day, in every possible situation.
Ankerrui 2 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
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Rough and refined at the same time, Kim Mee Hye designs a high-end jewellery line, which celebrates intimacy and hidden luxury, as well as a strong sense of freedom. Handcrafted in the finest ateliers in Belgium, the line appeals to independent and liberated minds, at ease within any environment.
Kim Mee Hye creates the jewellery pieces she always dreamed of wearing herself, following her own path and aesthetics. Removed from a vision of jewels as mere status symbols, Kim Mee Hye focuses on honesty, individuality and eclecticism, going back to striking shapes and powerful statements.
Made to be transformed by every woman and worn to fit the mood of the moment, the pieces are timeless and delicate, combining quality with innovative design. The collection only uses the most exquisite materials such as gold and diamonds, yet it still manages to be playful and surprising at the same time, highlighting the melodic nature of unexpected pairings.
By integrating extraordinary sophisticated and invisible mechanisms into her pieces, Kim Mee Hye creates jewellery that includes more than one single message. The variable geometry shapes can either be worn casually or in more sophisticated ways. Kim Mee Hye create pieces with hidden messages, implying they can be shown or simply not.
Chaussée d’Alsemberg 600 Brussels 1180 Belgium
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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
Pol Quadens
Pol Quadens
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THE BRAND
OUR STORY
Founded in 2015, Yeba is the first contemporary accessory brand with African roots to ascend the world of luxury handbags.
Yeba aims at championing women to reveal their greatness and fulfill their potential. We design modern and timeless essentials, highest quality handbags drawing inspiration from both modern aesthetics(such as architecture) and Yeba’s African heritage from Benin. Perfect balance between modernity and tradition, our handbags are beautiful objects with a soul, handcrafted by fine Italian artisans to last longer than a lifetime. They are pieces to keep tight by your side on your journey towards self-accomplishment.
At heart, founder Yeba believes that every woman has a true inner talent. This way, her accessory should help her not to lose sight of what is already there deep inside. Wearing the name ‘Yeba’ is simply wearing an invisible crown – a crown that has been passed down as heritage from a long line of strong women to you. This name, this title, is the bond that unites all of us, as one community, with roots all over the world, animated by the same yearning heart, the same ambition to fulfill ourselves and have a positive impact in this world.
Yeba means – the one born to accomplish her destiny. It is a state of mind, a philosophy, a mindset. A legacy.
THE LEGEND OF YEBA
Hundreds years ago, in the land of the hills of Benin, the first Yeba was born. She became Queen after her father died on the battlefield. To everyone’s surprise, she led her troops to victory. As she wanted her domain to be a peaceful one, she forged alliances with subregion tribes. She did something no woman or man had done before.
She gave birth to three sons and she made them promise to name their first daughters Yeba, which now means ‘the one born to fulfill her destiny.’
When you are called Yeba, it implies that there is nothing you cannot accomplish.
If this Queen’s spirit could speak today, it would tell you…
Embracing this anything-is-possible mindset and philosophy, we want to create ‘elegant & feminine’, yet practical, chic business essentials that fit into modern women’s lifestyles. The Yeba woman is confident and aspirational. Each essential she wears becomes a statement that reflects her personal drive.
Most of the time, she’s on the go, walking her way down to life like nothing can stop her. Smiley and focused, she is intelligent, driven & confident, knowing that there is no limit to what she can accomplish or choose to be.
Yeba Olayé is a Belgian-Beninese designer. Two years ago, she left behind her career in management consulting to pursue her dream: create an aspirational luxury brand. Starting with nothing but a sketchbook, she ultimately turned her vision into reality: her beautiful collection ‘Premiere’ and her undefeated passion inspires.
Yeba designs for a woman who lives in the present and moves toward achieving herself; a woman that is aspirational and wants to be the lead of her own story.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
MADE IN ITALY
Our handbags are made in Italy, by pure & authentic craftsmen with exceptional precision and care.
THE FOUNDER
YEBA OLAYÉ
Born in Benin and raised in Europe, Creative director and founder Yeba Olayé is a multi-faceted talent who left behind a career of more than 10 years in Management consulting and finance to pursue her dream: create an aspirational accessory brand. Starting with nothing but a sketchbook, she ultimately turned her vision into reality.
Yeba believes that every woman has greatness and talent within her and designs accessories as reminders to not lose sight of what is already there. Launching this brand was a way to carry her passion, culture and heritage forward.
Her love of fashion joins a passion for craftsmanship, design, and humanitarianism to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces that will remain by your side forever.
34, Rue du Pont Levis Brussels 1200 Belgium
Kristof Buntinx
Kristof BuntinxMore Info
Brussels designer Kristof Buntinx has already created a furore with his God Save the Queens shirts and gained international fame with a boxer short collection with which he targeted Russian anti-gay laws.
Protest and irony are therefore no strangers to Buntinx, but he also dresses Belgian celebrities in little bespoke gems just as much as he has children photographed as superstars. The exiled Sint-Truiden native has been working under his own label for more than a decade. An official introduction is called for!
Kristof Buntinx was born on 10 September 1975 in the Limburg town of Sint-Truiden. He quickly showed an interest in fashion and design and proceeded to draw from a model and attended sewing and pattern design classes. Buntinx completed internships with several major fashion labels such as Levis jeans and the Amsterdam fashion duo Viktor & Rolf.
His own image language
After his initial designs for the Cinderella Shop in Antwerp he sank his teeth into (and left his fingerprints on) a series of coffee mugs for Godiva. Soon Buntinx would tackle hats, a trick he was able to repeat in 2012 for Royal Ascot.
Shortly thereafter, the Pain clothing line followed, with its own photo series in collaboration with Stijn Vanorbeek. Still inspired by the world of image creation, Buntinx worked with filmmaker Ilke De Vries, this time to explore moving images. The film Vision was the result, in which the designer searched his own conscience by referring to a personal crisis.
Artist’s blood
Between 2008 and 2010 Buntinx focused on hats and a full line of accessories.
Triggered by his own life and personal developments, language associations and puns took up an increasingly important place in his work. Like any true-blue artist, Buntinx also creates from an inner drive. “I have always been crazy about fashion, but designing also proved to be beneficial for my mental health. It is my “therapy with a capital T,” the designer states.
Once Buntinx found his way, an increasing number of opportunities came up: in 2011 the Toga 125 Fashion Awards and a fashion show in which his design Ceci n’est pas un Advocaat shone. That same year Modo Brussels, the MIAT in Ghent and Hong Kong Design week also followed. A prominent fashion watcher from the UK even called Buntinx the most eccentric fashion designer of the Modo Brussels event.
The future is now!
Loved by the international fashion blog scene, Kristof Buntinx does not shun controversy. For example, he came up with a series of socially committed designs such as his answer to the Antwerp rainbow controversy, the God Save the Queens T-shirt’, his Russian boxer shorts, which even reached the American media and the crown jewels for King Philip.
During the last festive period Buntinx surprised friend and foe with a range of crisis jewellery, which questions material luxury. The Christmas dresses designed by Buntinx for Dana Winners’ Christmas tour and for Marlène de Wouters, the presenter at the Queen Elisabeth competition earlier in 2013, were, on the other hand, downright luxurious.
Kristof Buntinx certainly aims to let his designs speak for themselves in 2015.
Stay tuned!