When it comes to luxury industry pioneers, the established names with the biggest marketing budgets are usually the first to come to mind. For example, if we look at the luxury leather goods sector, many will credit Guccio Gucci as the Father of the industry; however, someone vastly predates him, and that is Charles Delvaux, the subject of this feature, whose craftsmanship and foresight sowed the seed for a $108 billion luxury sector.
When one thinks of the birthplaces of luxury sectors, Europe will undoubtedly come to mind, with countries such as France, Italy, and perhaps the United Kingdom springing forth. However, Belgium also deserves a place on this shortlist, thanks to the sterling work of Charles Delvaux.
In 1829, a year before Belgium declared independence, Charles Delvaux founded a company in Brussels, Belgium, which bore his surname. Almost two centuries later, the company is still trading and is synonymous with fine leather luxury goods, particularly exquisitely designed leather bags.
From its earliest days, the company focused on crafting high-quality products, and under Charles’ leadership, it quickly earned a reputation for its exceptional craftsmanship.
Charles was a visionary, and his timing for forming the company could not have been better. Opening a company in the early part of the 19th century allowed him to capitalise on what was an emerging national identity coupled with the growing demand for quality travel and leather goods.
Even in its formative years, Delvaux’s reputation for exceptional craftsmanship quickly caught the attention of the wealthy. This resulted in rapid growth, with orders from an elite clientele pouring in from key Brussels locations like Rue Neuve, Boulevard du Nord, and Rue de l’Empereur.
It wasn’t only the cream of society who became fans; the company’s work also caught the attention of royalty. At the start of the 1880s, Delvaux was awarded the title of “Official purveyor to the Royal Court of Belgium,” a status it has held for nigh-on two hundred years. This royal warrant reflects the high standards and prestige associated with Charles Delvaux’s vision.
However, royal attention aside, the brand’s biggest claim to fame happened in 1908, cementing its place in luxury folklore when it filed the first leather handbag patent. This move reflected the company’s innovative approach to transforming leather goods into personal luxury items. The patent filing also formalised the handbag as a distinct category and helped to cement Delvaux’s place as a pioneer of the luxury industry.
At the outbreak of the First World War, the company spent the next few years shifting its focus from trunk-making and general leather goods to fine leather products. Since then, it has maintained its focus on producing fine leather products, with a range today that includes handbags, wallets, coin holders, scarves, keyrings, and miniatures.
Since 2021, Delvaux has been under the ownership of the luxury goods holding company Richemont, which also owns Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Dunhill, Montblanc, Buccellati, Jaeger-LeCoultre and many more.
Charles Delvaux and his descendants were pioneers in the luxury industry and helped build a luxury sector that is still growing today. To give due credit, had Charles not started his workshop in Brussels, we’d likely still have the enormous luxury leather goods sector, thanks to Guccio Gucci et al. However, looking past Charles Delvaux when determining who planted the initial seed is nigh impossible, and he deserves his place as the pioneer.
You can learn more about the company on its official website, www.delvaux.com.
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