Belgian Excellence

As Delvaux Nears Its 200th Anniversary, We Take A Look At The History Of The Belgian Luxury House - From Pioneering The First-ever Modern Handbag To Issuing A Collection Honouring The Work Of Renowned Artist Rene Magritte

- JAMIE LEE

As a Belgian brand, Delvaux has its roots deeply steeped in the capital city of Brussels. Founded in 1829 by Charles Delvaux, just a year before the Kingdom of Belgium was created, the maison is the world’s oldest fine leather goods house. Its longstanding dedication to crafting quality products speaks volumes about the brand’s masterful craftsmanship and forward-looking heritage.

A Pioneering Spirit

Delvaux represents many firsts. As the world’s oldest fine leather goods brand, it’s not surprising that the maison is the official purveyor to the Royal Court of Belgium — in fact it has been supplying leather accessories to the Belgian royals since 1883.

In 1875, Delvaux saw the potential of travel accessories but also wanted to create something functional yet chic for women. This led to the house filing the first-ever patent for a handbag in 1908, pioneering the modern silhouette we know and love today. In 1933, the house came under Franz Schwennicke’s direction, and he made the decision to introduce seasonal collections, mirroring the practice of haute couture — a first for a leather goods house.

Today, the brand has over 3,000 creations to its name — as evidenced by the Livre d’Or, Delvaux’s Golden Book, where every new creation by the house is described, sketched and catalogued. In 2019, this archive was made accessible to the public when the house opened Musée Delvaux in its headquarters in Brussels. Visitors can discover custom pieces made exclusively for Belgian royals, while also discovering the legacy of the house.

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