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Our story
Founder and designer
Hi,
I am Evelyne, founder and designer of KUNOKA shoes.
I want to tell you my story from the start and it will get a little personal. I have been in shoe business for many years and I initially worked for Italian houses whose quality products I honored.
However, year after year I saw things change; the business became less lucrative because of overseas competition. Step by step, I noticed that I saw less people in the factories that I visited every year, although sold volumes did not fall back at the same pace. I felt something was not right. I could tell… I know shoes, I know craftsmanship, I know what it should feel like, I know how they should smell…
I had to realize that bit by bit production was outsourced oversees and no one wanted to admit. I started thinking is this what I want to stand for? It kept me out of my sleep and I thought about this for weeks ….
The idea behind the brand
This is the point where I started to play with the idea of creating my own brand that should be fully honest and should have the best possible sustainable approach.
I wanted the environmental impact of my project to be as low as possible and I wanted to be 100% sure that there will be no human cost at my project.
Every KUNOKA shoe is touched by real humans with families and their own set of dreams and I could not bare the idea that someone, somewhere in my project would have to struggle to survive or to feed their children or work in a toxic environment.
This I why I choose to work with a family-owned Portuguese atelier, where I can see what happens, where I know the people and where I can feel and touch every step in the birth of a KUNOKA shoe.
The second advantage of producing nearby is that we exclude the extreme environmental impact of overseas transport. Which brings me to my second concern, environmental impact which is a hard knot to untie in shoe business.
Challenges
I started by developing different prototypes and I wanted to know everything: what are they made of? Can we not change this into that? What is the effect of this? Where does this sole comes from? What is in the sole? Who makes them? How much water does it cost? How comfortable are they? Can they be modern and beautiful enough? – Hey yes, fashion remains my natural habitat and I don’t want to bring another sustainable brand which’ appearance or comfort aspect makes it obvious that the brand is sustainable.
I went on and on and made everybody – including myself – crazy. I was making progress but there were so many uncertainties and more than once doubt just hit me in the face … Would I ever find the courage to finally jump and officially go for this project?
The last of many signs…
I kept on doubting until the memorisable meeting in New York central park, this was the last of many signs I needed. Gabriella KUNOKA, who I did not know until that day, making a remark about the prototype I was wearing at that moment, convincing me that I should go for this beautiful project! Ever since, I realize every day, what I do might not be perfect, but it is not by finger pointing or complaining and sitting still that we will make progress. It is what I actually do what counts. And this is the whole story, this is how KUNOKA was born.
Always striving for the best
We are not perfect; we – and the entire industry – have a long way to go, but every initiative, how small it might look, makes a difference!
And I am proud of how far we have come and of any difference we can make, I guarantee that I will always strive for the best possible sustainable approach and I promise that this is just the beginning!
Let’s be kind to people and be kind to our world.
Love, Evelyne.
Kortrijksesteenweg 1092/G Gent 9051 Belgium
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Our Story
THIRON is an Antwerp-based shoe label that presented its first shoe collection in the winter of 2014. His love for fashion inspired Industrial designer Guy Thiron to create his own shoe label. THIRON is known for it’s timeless designs with a fashion-forward sensibility. Sophisticated details in high quality materials characterise the collections, all of which are finished in renowned factories.
THIRON is distributed in the best boutiques in Belgium and internationally in respected stores.
Sint-Antoniusstraat 2 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
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WELCOME TO
OUR BEAUTIFUL
CHAOS
Essentiel Antwerp stands for refreshing, offbeat & luxurious fashion, renowned for its graphic or floral prints and trendy mixes of color. The rich and unique collections are designed to provoke an emotional response.
STEP INTO OUR WORLD WHERE IMAGINATION AND BEAUTY REIGN, WHERE LACK OF ORDER CREATES A SPACE FOR SURPRISE.
The Antwerp-based brand is influenced by the numerous life experiences of its founders Esfan Eghtessadi and Inge Onsea. Esfan, the son of Nicole Cadine, grew up in a world of textiles, sketches and fashion collections. Inge had a vintage loving mother, was a fashion model and spent five years in India, where she fell in love with colors, prints and unexpected combinations.
WE WANT
TO BE YOUR
PINK PILL
In 1999 Esfan and Inge took a chance and launched a T-shirt collection. Four styles, twenty different colors: their response to the monochrome fashion landscape. After a year, the first store opened in Antwerp. Four seasons later, knitwear, jackets, dresses, shirts, and trousers in trendy colors, new materials, and an entire range of accessories were added. Essentiel Antwerp grew into a global brand with a powerful message of love, fun, and colorful surprises. A universal message that translates anywhere and everywhere in the world.
WE WANT
TO BATTLE
BOREDOM
WE CONSIDER OUR ACCESSORIES AS THE CHILLI PEPPERS IN OUR ALREADY TASTY DISH.
LIFE LOOKS BETTER IN COLOR: STAY CURIOUS AND ORIGINAL TO KEEP THINGS SURPRISING AND CELEBRATE LIFE.
Arenbergstraat 21 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
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Nederlands
Wie zijn we?
Bel&Bo is een Belgisch familiebedrijf met meer dan 90 winkelpunten verspreid over heel België.
Onze kledingketen staat voor een complete collectie kledij en accessoires, voor de volledige familie en voor iedere stijl.
Kleur primeert in onze filosofie
De Bel&Bo collecties zijn altijd kleurrijk, met een grote keuze aan tinten en nuances, zodat ieder persoon het model en kleur vindt die haar of hem past.
Dankzij wekelijkse leveringen hangen er bij ieder bezoek nieuwe artikelen, bovendien is er om de 14 dagen een volledig nieuw kleuraccent in de winkel.
Aangenaam winkelen
Winkelen bij Bel&Bo is in een aangename sfeer een outfit samenstellen, uit de laatste trends en zonder twijfel. Het is de garantie voor een optimale kwaliteit aan de laagste prijzen. Wij combineren goed humeur met een hartelijk verkoopsteam en persoonlijke, aangename winkels.
Advies bij uw aankoop
Onze verkoopsters zijn speciaal opgeleid in stijl- en kleuradvies om jou te helpen kiezen en combineren. De gepaste outfit en kleur doen wonderen!
Kwaliteitscontrole
We hechten heel wat belang aan de kwaliteit van onze producten, want Bel&Bo staat garant voor kwalitatieve kledij aan een voordelige prijs.
Eerlijk en duurzaam ondernemen
Bel&Bo neemt ook haar verantwoordelijkheid voor mens en milieu, eerlijke handel is de norm.
BeCommerce
Bel&Bo is lid van BeCommerce, de Belgische Vereninging van de bedrijven die actief zijn in de online verkoop. De website van Bel&Bo is gebonden met de gedragscode van het BeCommerce kwaliteitslabel.
FRANCAIS
A propos de nous
Qui sommes-nous?
Bel&Bo est une entreprise familiale belge implantée dans plus de 90 points de vente en Belgique.
Nous proposons une collection de vêtements et d’accessoires pour toute la famille et pour tous les styles.
Une enseigne colorée
Les collections Bel&Bo sont toujours colorées, avec un large choix de teintes et de nuances, afin que chacun trouve le modèle et la couleur qui lui va.
Tous les quinze jours, une nouvelle teinte fait son apparition dans les magasins. Une bonne raison d’aller régulièrement y jeter un œil!
Un shopping agréable
Faire ses achats chez Bel&Bo, c’est s’amuser à composer des tenues, sans hésitation et selon les dernières tendances. C’est une garantie pour une qualité optimale aux pris les plus bas. Nous vous accueillons avec bonne humeur grâce à nos équipes de vente, dans nos magasins agréables et chaleureux.
Conseils lors de vos achats
Nos vendeuses ont suivi une formation en conseil couleurs et style afin de vous aider à choisir et à combiner vos tenues. La tenue adéquate et les couleurs en mettent plein la vue !
Contrôle qualité
Nous attachons beaucoup d’importance à la qualité de nos produits, car Bel&Bo s’engage pour des vêtements de qualité à prix abordable.
Entreprise durable et équitable
Bel&Bo se sent responsable pour l’humanité et l’environnement, le commerce équitable est la norme
BeCommerce
Bel&Bo est membre de BeCommerce, l’association belge des entreprises actives dans le domaine du e-commerce. Le site de Bel&Bo est donc soumis au code de conduite du Label de Qualité BeCommerce.
Theo Nuyttenslaan 5 Deerlijk 8540 Belgium
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Les Soeurs, the holy triangle. Or 3 sisters with a full time passion for fashion and jewellery, who collect the latest fashion musthaves for you!
In 2011, Belgian fashion-girls Jules, Kay & Clio baptised their label ‘Les Soeurs’. Die hard fashionista’s they are, their mission for that unique bracelet, ring, necklace or handbag is endless. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do: they gathered in a journey to bring together the most beautiful gemstones, natural leathers and precious metals. The outcome is an exclusive jewellery and accessory collection with a very personal touch, like loads of sister love, created on Belgian territory.
Industrieweg 100A Tessenderlo 3980 Belgium
Young Levels
Young LevelsMore Info
We are young entrepreneurs, willing to deliver high levels of quality. We are creative minds that stand for playful professionalism. We believe that independence drives personal and professional growth.
Our mission is to empower young and ambitious people through means of design. We aim to provide those who are ready to take big steps in life, got the perfect shoes to do so.
It all started with Dieter, who spend his young life working hard to pile up his savings in order to achieve his dream and become an entrepreneur. One of the reasons for becoming an entrepreneur was his desire for independence. As a risktaker and creative mind, he felt that he was never going to be satisfied with his nine-to-five job. Now our first design sneaker has launched and not only is he paving the way of his own independence, he wants to create opportunities for other young and ambitious minds.
By proving design fashion and creating opportunities for young and ambitious minds, we strive towards a world where working independent is the norm. We believe that working for yourself where hard work really pays of is a life worth living and that everyone must be able to have this opportunity.
Fletersdel 52 Genk 3600 Belgium
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Anne Poesen (BE) has a passion for shoes and bags.
Studying architecture at university made her look at designing bags and shoes from another perspective, pushing her to go beyond the boundaries of classical shoe and bag making, to explore new materials and to look for clear concepts and pure shapes…
Amerikalei 158 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Ellen Verbeek
Ellen VerbeekMore Info
Story:
ellen verbeek started her brand in 2000, passionated about shoes she went to Italy to the shoe area and got in touch with an artisanal factory, managed by older but very experienced craftsmen who could realise her architectural ideas on shoes.
Shoes are our connection with the earth, the foundation of a human body ! To combine these vulnerable elements with beauty gives a lot of happyness to people. Being stable in your shoes gives already a more secure feeling to people !
Her designs have a strong and recognisable image.
Using architecture and furniture shapes as a base of inspiration was a very interesting horizon to transform this on shoes.
She maintained her line underground, as not willing to transform the collection into a mass product.
The combination of natural materials, original heels in wood and elegant details melts into a strong image. She tries to combine rough and natural elements with feminine details and likes to play with this contrast.
Some heels are sculpted out of wood by hand, thus resulting in beautiful arc shapes which run down to the sole.
Playful and feminine are the keywords characterizing the collection.
With the collection ‘ellen verbeek’ we deliver exclusive quality shoes, advanced design in durable materials and quality workmanship.
Blokstraat 73 Schiplaken 3191 Belgium
Ambiorix NV
Ambiorix NVMore Info
The production of Ambiorix shoes
Prinsenweg 10 Tongeren 3700 Belgium
Naamsestraat 72 Brussel 1000 Belgium
Leopoldstraat 14 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium
Havenmarkt 13 Hasselt 3500 Belgium
Henegouwenstraat 46 Gent 9000 Belgium
Dries Van Noten
Dries Van NotenMore Info
Biography
Born in Antwerp in 1958, Dries Van Noten is the third generation in a family of tailors. At the age of 18, Dries entered the fashion design course of Antwerp’s Royal Academy. On graduating, he began to freelance as a consultant designer before starting his own collection of menswear in 1986. Since its beginnings Dries Van Noten has presented collections for women and men for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter each year. He
celebrated his 50th fashion show in 2004 and 100th fashion show in 2017.
In June 2008, the Council of Fashion Designers of America honoured Dries Van Noten with its International
Designer of the Year Award. 2014 began with the grand opening of Dries Van Noten, “Inspirations”, a first
ever exhibition featuring his designs and influences at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Another
configuration of the exhibit moved to Antwerp in 2015. In July France decorated Dries Van Noten with the
honour of ‘Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.’ In October 2016, Dries Van Noten wins the Culture
Award from The Province of Antwerp for his contribution to Culture.
In June 2018 Puig entered the capital structure of Dries Van Noten as majority owner. The designer remains, over the long term, a significant minority shareholder and continues his role as chief creative officer and chairman of the board.
2019 saw Mr Van Noten collaborate with world renowned fashion designer Mr Christian Lacroix on his
collection for Women, Spring/Summer 2020. In June 2020, and September 2021, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has again nominated Dries Van Noten for its International Designer of the Year Award.
Q&A with dries van noten
When did you know that designing clothes was your path & passion?
There was a certain logic to my choice as my family had been involved in fashion and the garment business for generations. My father created one of Belgium’s most innovative retailers of ‘Pret-a-Porter’ and my grandfather was a tailor. I inherited my love of garment making, its traditions and rituals, from these men and my mother. Family immersed me in the craft and skill of fabrics, impassioned me with the power of flair and style for women and men that fired my quest to explore and question the subjectivity of “beauty” and the role it would play in my life. My family was very supportive and encouraged me to continue its fashion tradition. I regularly accompanied my parents to Paris and Milan on their many buying trips for collections. Though they had imagined I might take over the retail business, that I was passionate to become a fashion designer came as a great surprise to them.
What is your design signature?
I see a garment as a singular item of excellence that is part of a larger story told, firstly, within a designer’s vision for a collection and ultimately as part of the final wearer’s expression of their style through their wardrobe. My joy is to create a garment that fuses and balances beauty, craft and function, a garment that can perform well and continue in time to become part of life’s story. I enjoy juggling with colours, textures and light in a way that evokes rather than provokes.
Where do you come up with your best ideas?
The spark of inspiration for the narrative a collection rarely ever comes in the same way. The initial idea can sometimes come quickly and remain constant throughout the design process… occur on a walk in my garden, encountering a painting or the life and work of an artist. It can be something rarefied or ordinary, for example, suddenly looking at something that has surrounded me every day and seeing it in a different way that inspires. It can be a photograph in a book or a magazine, a re-read passage in a loved book, a conversation with friends or my design team or a piece of music. For other collections the story is more of a journey, deliberate, considered, and evolves through time and the design process. Anything can be that spark that ignites the creative process. What I have learned is that one recognises the spark when it happens, it may not be too planned, be ‘of its time’ and is more emotional than cerebral.
Is there a difference between style and fashion?
Of course, style comes from within..
What colour or fabric would you never use?
None actually! Often, challenging myself to work with colours, fabrics, or forms that I have disliked and bringing them into a collection can be an important aspect of the creative process.
What is beauty?
The idea of beauty is supremely subjective and very personal. Time also plays a role when our view on what is beautiful to us evolves. A flower, a building or a garment can be a thing of wonder for one while leaving another completely indifferent. What was beautiful to us even recently may be ugly today. Luckily, all designers have their own eye on and language of beauty.
What is ugliness?
It resonates in the same way as beauty for me. It is exciting when the formerly ugly becomes beautiful.
Timeline
- 1981 Dries Van Noten graduates from Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp
- 1986 Dries Van Noten started his first own collection of menswear after working as a freelance consultant designer
- 1989 Flagship store opens in Antwerp, Belgium
- 2004 50th Show
- 2007 Paris store opens at Quai Malaquais, Paris France
- 2008 Dries Van Noten wins Internation Designer of the year at CFDA awards./ Dries Van Noten Sacred “Royal Designer for Industry” from the RSA Trustee Board in London
- 2009 Flagship store opens in Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan/ Stores opens for the men at Quai Malaquais, Paris, France
Dries Van Noten Induction to The “Galerie Des Eminents” By The Flemish Chamber Of Commerce (Voka)
Dries van Noten is gifted a gold medal by The Flemish Royal Academy of Belgium
Dries Van Noten Is Honored With the “Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion” By the Couture Council of the Museum at Fit In New York - 2010 Dries Van Noten Is Invited To Preside Over the 25th Edition of the “Festival International De Mode et De Photographie” of Hyres, France
- 2013 Olfactory portrait by Frederic Malle with The Nose Bruno Jonanovic
- 2014 xhibition at The Musée Des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France
A book that accompanied his exhibition at Musée des arts Décoratifs in Paris, France - 2015 Dries Van Noten is decorated by Jack Lang of the medal
Opening of Dries Van Noten Osaka - 2016 Wins Culture Award from The Province of Antwerp
- 2017 An intimate portrait into the life, mind and creative heart the designer
A book in two volumes that depicts and documents his first 100 collection and Fashion shows
In recognition of his career as fashion designer and his contribution to the Cultural life of his native land - 2018 DVN enters in partnership with Puig as Major Stakeholders
- 2019 Collaboration with Mr Christian Lacroix
- 2020 Nominated by The CFDA for International Designer of The Year Award
Stores opens in Shanghai, China
Flagship stores opens in Los Angeles, USA the first Dries Van Noten store in the Unites States of America
Godefriduskaai 36 Antwerpen 2000 Belgium