Cover Find out why Delvaux remains at the forefront of luxury leather goods two centuries later
Find out why Delvaux remains at the forefront of luxury leather goods two centuries later
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When it comes to standing the test of time, there is no better case study than the Belgian luxury brand, Delvaux
Founded by Charles Delvaux in Brussels in 1829, Delvaux is the oldest fine leather goods house in the world. A truly Belgian brand, it was born a year before the Kingdom of Belgium came into existence and has been crafting and designing without interruption in its workshops since then. Official purveyor to the Royal Court of Belgium since 1883, Delvaux has always shared and celebrated Belgian cultural references and values.
Charles Delvaux is known as the inventor of the modern handbag. A visionary of his time, he anticipated the necessity for women to keep their precious belongings at hand as Belgium became the epicentre of the global travel revolution, with the highest density of rail networks by 1875. He filed the first-ever leather handbag patent in 1908.
The brand remains at the forefront of luxury leather goods two centuries later. It is famous for its emblematic handbag creations, including The Brillant (1958), The Tempête (1967), The Pin (1972) and The Lingot (2022). With over 3,000 designs in its archive, it has earned a well-deserved reputation for its savoir-faire, uncompromising craftsmanship and the outstanding quality of its creations—the perfect complement to the modern day woman.
Read more: Delvaux is coming to Malaysia
Over the years, Delvaux has stayed true to its core values while constantly innovating and evolving to adapt to modern times. Modern renditions of its classic hits involve experimentation with surprising new materials, from French wicker sourced from the Loire Valley to the humble felt and softest shearling. Cutting-edge techniques are also executed to perfection; for instance, leather is expertly manipulated to create fluid leather fringes and playful pompons, while brass rivets evoke small D-shaped windows on the body of the Oriel Pin Mini Bucket.
Above Pin Mini Bucket in 100 per cent wool felt and natural Supple Calf leather
Above Brillant Toy Stella
Pin Mini Bucket in 100 per cent wool felt and natural Supple Calf leather
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Above Brillant Mini Teddy
Above Pin Mini Bucket with ultra-fine black leather fringes
Brillant Mini Teddy
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Its latest spring/summer 2024 offerings, presented at Paris Fashion Week, continue to strike a balance between forward-thinking design and Delvaux’s trademark timeless appeal, impeccable craftsmanship, and deep, intrinsic understanding of functional luxury. Delvaux taps Belgian artist Kasper Bosman to present a collection that initiates a dialogue that blurs the boundaries between product and art.
This move is characteristic of the brand, which has deep ties to the world of art and design, having launched a collection in celebration of surrealist René Magritte’s 125th anniversary and previously collaborated with filmmakers Francesco Carrozzini and Mai Zi, as well as fashion designer Jean Colonna.
See also: Delvaux exhibition at K11 Musea pays tribute to Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte
Bosman models his 11 designs on the idea of Mutualism, exploring how the concept permeates every facet of our existence, from the natural world to cultures of past and present, as well as his partnership with Delvaux. Stretching the boundaries of the atelier’s savoir-faire, he cuts and pastes anecdotes and stories on emblematic designs, resulting in embroidered serpentine creatures on the Cool Box Source and eight mysterious symbols and a dream crest featuring mythical creatures on the Brillant Legend bags.
The technicolour theme persists in the Tempête Chimera, a delicate tapestry of mythic symbiosis. It makes way for a miraculous selection of exquisite objects made from jacquard, Arsenal leather, and The Brillant Firmament, which is sumptuously printed with a rich emblem of the guiding night sky.
Don’t miss: How Azura Lovisa is exploring her Malaysian roots through fashion
Above Two Brillant Legend bags
Above Leather-based designs inspired by mythical and chivalric legends
Two Brillant Legend bags
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Above Kasper Bosman and Delvaux present 11 designs for the spring/summer 2024 collection
Kasper Bosman and Delvaux present 11 designs for the spring/summer 2024 collection
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Above The Tempête Chimera
Above The Brillant Firmament
The Tempête Chimera
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Masterful and meaningful, Delvaux’s latest project with Bosman is yet another demonstration of its enduring and ever-evolving legacy, which is gaining worldwide appeal. It comes as no surprise that it has amassed a wealth of clientele in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, necessitating its expansion from its original flagship, Le 27, at 27 Boulevard de Waterloo in Brussels, Belgium, to 60 emblematic addresses around the world, from New Bond Street and Fifth Avenue to the most recent, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
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Based in Kuala Lumpur, Zue Wei Leong is the senior style writer at Tatler Malaysia. Read her stories on the latest in fashion, beauty and jewellery or follow her on Instagram at @fshnbrnr.
