ghost designer
co-design | production
expert bespoke accessories
prototyping | development | production
leather home accessories
in collaboration by Niyona and Studio Cuoio
for Kvadrat/Raf Simons
The Shaker System by Kvadrat/Raf Simons is a new concept for the home, resetting how we live and creating beauty from order. A storage system and a range of accessories in different materials amongst others smooth leather. The leather collection consists of a Leather strap for mounting the Leather sleeves, accessory boxes and mirror tray, a Leather magazine strap to hold periodicals or papers and a Leather keyring.
The prototyping, development and production of the leather accessories from this collection has been made in collaboration by NIYONA and STUDIO CUOIO for Kvadrat/Raf Simons.
Client : Kvadrat/Raf Simons
Images: Casper Sejersen
head of accessory department
shoes | bags | belts | jewels | gloves
For more than 12 years Liesbet Verstraeten was blessed to lead the Accessory Department at DRIES VAN NOTEN.
From the initial brainstorm over factory sourcing and price calculation, to production management and taking care of returns: the entire process has no more secrets for her.
At DRIES VAN NOTEN she took full responsibility for the development of bags, jewels, belts and gloves. On top of that and in collaboration with the Italian factory, she overlooked the entire design, development and production process of the precious Dries Van Noten shoes.
At DRIES VAN NOTEN, Liesbet learned to work with different types of fabrics, printed leather, embroideries, very specific heels, and much more.
A lot of trial and error passed the development stage in order to create that chic, extravagant product of exquisite quality.
We must say: this high end experience of world class level lifted Liesbet’s expertise up in a way that she could no longer hide it for the rest of the fashion world.
It created the perfect cradle in which STUDIO CUOIO could be born.
prototyping | development | production
bags | leather home accessories
Nobody could imagine that an unexpected brainstorm on a casual Sunday evening with vintage lover and shop owner BEA MOMBAERS, could be the start of a successful bag and home accessories collection.
In this co-design project STUDIO CUOIO was in charge of the entire development & production process.
It was so exciting to notice that the brand-new collection hit the spot from the start, as Bea Mombaers started to sell her own bag creations in her designer store in the mundane Belgian coastal city, Knokke.
The instant success was the beginning of something bigger.
Since March 2024, Bea and Liesbet have repurchased the rights from SERAX, the company that commercialized the designs for the past five years. They have also secured their first client in the US market: JamesTown Hudson. They couldn't be more proud to embark on this next chapter.
picture by Frederic Vercruysse
development | production
leather accessories with customised hardware
SUBLIMATED CRAFTSMANSHIP AND ULTIMATE FREEDOM
In his creations, Dries Criel redefines classic shapes into contemporary yet timeless pieces, characterised by bold and sensual lines that can be both masculine and feminine.
Using only fully traceable materials and presenting handmade pieces, the young designer takes craftsmanship and aesthetic value to the next level thanks to his collaboration with a handful of carefully chosen talented craftsmen in Belgium and Italy.
To elaborate his designs, he combines various old and new techniques to create a completely personal and idiosyncratic oeuvre, executed in gold, precious stones and original materials such as hand-painted enamel.
The inspiration for his work, which now includes earrings, rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets and pins, comes to him and stems from his interest in classical and contemporary dance, as well as various art forms in general. His fascination with ancient Egypt and its archetypal symbols runs like a thread through most of his creations that cannot be captured in seasonal collections.
co-creation | development | production
leather accessories
Bibi van der Velden's jewellery is fashioned from haute precious materials such as 18k fairtrade gold, diamonds, and baroque pearls, but there's also a very human quality to her intricately crafted designs. Bibi believes that jewellery should inspire the wearer with energy, with her pieces offering a playful, personal, and highly artistic take on fine jewellery.
This personal touch comes from a jewellery-making process that's grounded in traditional craftsmanship. Bibi herself describes her jewellery pieces as "miniature sculptures." Working with sustainable and unexpected materials, among them 60,000-year-old mammoth tusk, ostrich eggs, and scarab wings, as Bibi hand-sketches and hand-carves the initial idea for each piece in wax.
development | production
leather accessories with customised hardware
Having studied Product Development together with Paul, owner and product designer of SPNKD, late in the 90’s, he reached out to STUDIO CUOIO when he got inspired to design some daring and bold jewelry for the intimate scene.
Technical knowhow and expertise in leather craftsmanship was an absolute requirement as he desired to work with very thick cuoio leather.
Infused with a muse of naughty creativity, STUDIO CUOIO developed the styles and customized hardware, was in charge of the material and factory sourcing, and managed the whole production from A till Z.
more pictures
development & production management | factory sourcing
bags | shoes
After the international success of a newly launched coat brand, KASSL EDITIONS wished to introduce a unique bag collection.
Both the idea and the design were crystal clear for the brand owners. However they lacked the necessary technical knowledge and experience of the bag industry.
In order to get this new business category kickstarted, Ilse Cornelissen, owner of the international concept store GRAANMARKT 13 and one of the co-owners of the KASSL EDITIONS brand, approached STUDIO CUOIO.
No need to say that we were delighted to develop this new series of Kassl bags. We sourced a factory that matched with the needs and values of Kassl, and set up strong fundamentals for the brand to build upon.
Until today, STUDIO CUOIO still works together with the KASSL team. Together we explore new products, materials and business opportunities.
co-design | prototyping | development | production
pochette in vegan skin quality
Designer KAROLIN VAN LOON was born with an excellent taste and feeling for luxurious design. She creates unique gem stone jewelry and lifestyle products that perfectly blend in with a wealthy way of living.
As a personal friend of Liesbet Verstraeten’s, she designed some statement jewelry for key moments in Liesbet’s life.
Karolin Van Loon creations are of an outstanding beauty and express a deep respect for nature.
Extending her accessory line with a pouch that matched her brand identity and philosophy was one of her requirements.
STUDIO CUOIO designed in collaboration with Karolin a foldable pouch to easily stow jewelry. It is a fashionable and multifunctional evening clutch at the same time.
What makes this small feminine bag extra unique, is the delicately vegan apple skin in which it is handcrafted.
So no, not one animal was harmed for the creation of this refined pochette.
STUDIO CUOIO took care of the development, material and factory sourcing, production management and the entire production process.
more pictures
development | production
bags and customized hardware
One very light pochette in different attractive colours...
The strenght of a single piece collection... so pure... so bold...
The customized hardware developed and produced by STUDIO CUOIO fits perfectly with the exclusive and eye-catching timepieces of the CUF watches. From classic to modestly expressive to totally extravagant.
development | product & production management | factory sourcing
bags | jewelry
OCTOGONY is a timeless, thoughtful, bold designer brand based in Belgium. Octogony leather goods and accessories are often inspired by brutalist architecture, and infused with the spirit of the 60’s.
A perfect combination of aesthetics and pragmatism.
STUDIO CUOIO has been privileged to be the premium partner for this new brand from the very early start-up stage, until today.
We were thrilled to be involved in the creative and development process that started with picking the right brand name, choosing the creative director and selecting the matching suppliers and factories.
We feel most happy when we can translate ideas and impressions into a workable design language that matches the general vibe of the brand.
So that’s what we did for Octogony.
design & product management | factory sourcing
bags | leather home accessories
After selling multiple hundreds of BEA MOMBAERS bags in her store in Knokke, we were approached by SERAX who desired to take over the distribution and production of the Bea Mombaers leather bag collection.
It appeared to be the start of a new success story.
A few years later, we are happy to see that the collection remains successful all over the world until today.
The collection is very limited but consistent, and the design of the original styles hasn’t changed since the start of our collaboration.
While Bea Mombears takes care of PR, STUDIO CUOIO remains in charge when it comes to development and factory sourcing for Serax.
Every new launch is done in co-design between Bea Mombaers and our beloved Belgian leather production studio.
www.serax.com/nl/collection/leatherbagsaccessoriesbybeamombaers
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