Delvaux does not make It bags. Other high fashion brands may launch new designs according to seasonal trends every year, but that has not been the strategy for the Belgian company, which is the oldest leather luxury goods house in the world.
Charles Delvaux founded the company in Brussels in 1829, producing handmade leather trunks and suitcases for well- heeled travellers as train travel began to take off. With the success of his bespoke luggage, Delvaux turned his attention to the 19th-century woman’s need to carry her personal effects close at hand while travelling, which led to the creation of its first leather handbag, the Princesse. Delvaux realised that handbags would become an essential accoutrement in a woman’s wardrobe, and in 1908, the company registered the first ever patent for the leather handbag.
“We were the ones who defined luxury handbags,” says CEO Jean-Marc Loubier, reiterating Delvaux’s pioneering spirit. To date, the Maison has produced more than 3,000 handbag designs, all meticulously sketched and documented in their archives. Delvaux began to introduce seasonal collections, mirroring the practices of haute couture at the time, firmly ensconcing their name in the sphere of luxury leather bags.
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Yet timelessness, not trendiness is the Delvaux way. And nowhere is this better illustrated than in their headquarters in Belgium. When I stepped into the building, a former military arsenal, I was struck by the seamless merging of a contemporary space with the striking 19th century architecture. I met Loubier at Delvaux’s own handbag museum, housed within the same building as the Maison’s headquarters, and sharing the same roof as its atelier and archives. The entire creative and manufacturing process, from design to the cutting of leather, happens within this historic landmark. We are surrounded by the Maison’s rich history, and a commanding, oversize replica of the Brilliant handbag looms in the background. Introduced in 1958, the iconic bag continues to be one of the Maison’s evergreen bestsellers.
Every bag is crafted by hand by master artisans in their atelier, using the best leathers and materials, building on the expertise and savoir-faire accumulated over nearly two centuries. The quality and discreet luxury of their bags speak for themselves, and have made them objects of desire for those in the know. Fans include Lady Gaga, Catherine Deneuve and even royalty. The Maison has been the official purveyor of goods to the Belgian court, an arrangement that started in 1883, and has continued to the present day.
“People know that we do quality, and this means that you never throw away a Delvaux bag. It will be something that you care for, keep and pass down,” says Loubier. The Maison reinforces their dedication to long-lasting quality by offering a bespoke repair service for Delvaux handbags, both new and vintage.
Delvaux has always prided itself as a heritage brand. “We are a kind of link between generations, between women, between friends,” says Loubier. The idea of creating bags for posterity is central to Delvaux, and the company invests in producing high quality items and delivering excellence on every front, including the retail level. Loubier elaborates, “We are exclusive because we focus on extreme quality. We practise excellence in our state-of-the-art design, in our manufacturing at the atelier, and at our stores.”
Physical stores are important to the Maison. “All luxury brands have stores, places where we can connect. Our stores are a bridge to us, whether people buy or don’t buy. People come to our store to have a real experience,” says Loubier. All the Delvaux stores are different, he adds. “You will see a few hints to what we are, our Belgian heritage. But each Delvaux store also integrates elements of the cities they are in.”
One of the best examples of the Maison’s Belgian roots is its Magritte collection. Collaborating with the Magritte Foundation in 2019, Delvaux debuted a collection of bags, small leather goods and accessories featuring motifs and symbols from the works of Belgian Surrealist artist René Magritte, such as a bowler hat cut-out on a card case and a cloud print on the interior of a bag. “We chose to do something with Magritte because obviously, he represents Belgian culture and he is an outstanding artist,” says Loubier. “When you look at the world of Magritte and Surrealism, you have different levels of reading his art. It’s very easy, yet very profound. It’s obvious yet it’s surprising. At Delvaux, we love that mix, and we have brought our own design and creativity to it.”
Putting a whimsical spin on the everyday is in Delvaux’s DNA—a prime example is the Pin bag, one of their most emblematic creations which made its first appearance in 1972. Inspired by a horse’s hay bag, the relaxed silhouette has been interpreted in various iterations and sizes. For spring/summer 2023, the Pin Mini Bucket Osier features osier willow grown and woven in the Loire Valley, interspersed with supple leather strips. The deceptive simplicity of the finished product belies the hours of work and the craftsmanship that have gone into it, from the harvesting and treatment of the willow to ensure it is strong yet pliable, to the uninterrupted braiding of the wicker stems from bottom to top. Whether adorned with an homage to a great artist or showcasing the craft of master artisans in different fields, each Delvaux handbag spells true luxury that you will want to carry for many seasons to come.
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