In an exciting and unusual development in Belgian fashion, A#7′s curator Veronique Branquinho presented her first official collection for the 180 year old leather house Delvaux as a fully-fledge catwalk show in Paris this month. Foregoing any traditional notions of a ‘handbag presentation’, the house staged a stunning defilé for an intimate crowd – with models showcasing the luxurious leather handbags, belts and gloves with minimal outfits in a muted earthy palette. The models wore classic tailoring crafted in collaboration with Belgian tailors Maison Scabal, for a special project entitled Nº12 by Scabal & Delvaux.

The bags came in all shapes and sizes, finished in exquisite polished calf, nappa, lizard, ostrich, and crocodile leathers. From slimline clutches to barrel-shaped sacks, doctor’s satchels and totes, the classic shapes of Delvaux were relived in sophisticated colourways of terracotta, deep forest green, shiny black and chocolate brown. The house’s signature D-clasp was a discreet addition to some styles, but without overwhelming. Veronique allowed the superior quality leathers and artisanal craftsmanship to speak for itself, carrying her own minimal sense of design through in an almost clinical way, utilising the malleable or rigid qualities of the different leathers to create styles that folded over themselves, wrapped into organic shapes or held boxy, square shapes. Hints of gold and silver hardware were necessary utilitarian details that added a sophisticated touch of decoration.

For her first collection as artistic director, Veronique Branquinho has lent a calculated direction to the house of Delvaux, channeling the best of their well established resources into a coherent, understandable and covetable collection of leathergoods – reviving the ageing house for the 21st century with a feminine and contemporary take on their timeless products.

all images courtesy of by2 photographers