The World’s Oldest Leather House Brings History and a Sense of Humour to Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, Delvaux’s new flagship at K11 Musea combines European craft, local references and a note of Belgian wit — a sensibility that can be traced back to the Belgian house’s 1958 Le Corbusier-inspired Brillant bag
In the plush VIC room of Delvaux’s Hong Kong flagship store, an entire wall is devoted to variations of the Brillant handbag, the house’s most iconic creation. First introduced in 1958 to coincide with Brussels World’s Fair, the design draws from modernist master Le Corbusier’s Philips Pavilion — its tent-like structure and fluid roof lines reinterpreted in the Brillant’s sharp-angled side panels. Subsequent editions over the years have kept the bag relevant, echoing Delvaux CEO Jean-Marc Loubier’s sentiments on heritage and modernity.
‘The Brillant symbolises hope and confidence,’ says Loubier, who also oversees Delvaux’s interior design globally. In Hong Kong for the April opening of the flagship store in Victoria Dockside, he describes the mixed-use complex as aligned with his ambitions for the brand. ‘K11 Musea is the next phase of luxury retail in Hong Kong,’ he says. ‘It allows connection to the skyline and rediscovery of shopping.’
Loubier, who first invested in Delvaux in 2011 and returned as CEO in 2021, has enthusiastically advocated the brand’s dual nature of honouring traditions while looking to the future. To that end, every store is an engaging reflection of its host and home cities. In Hong Kong, the Art Deco facade’s geometric lines converse with delicate Art Nouveau flourishes, reminiscent of the layered elegance of a grand European estate.
Sited near the Salisbury Road entrance, two facades frame distinct points of entry, inviting passersby to experience the Belgian brand through a Hong Kong lens. One opens onto a deliberately meandering path through the store; the other offers a view of the bar, a recurring element across Delvaux interiors, each time reinterpreted in response to its setting.
Leading to the bar is a gilt wood mirror clutched by a golden dragon in the style of French cabinetmaker Gabriel Viardot. Loubier handpicked the late 19th century antique to underscore the connection between Europe and Asia, with Hong Kong standing at the crossroads between two cultures. ‘The dragon is important to Chinese culture,’ says Loubier. ‘This mirror was created during the cradle of luxury in the second half of the 19th century — a time when Delvaux flourished.’
Another point of connection appears in the VIC room, where a late 17th century wood and silk tapestry, The Bridal Procession on Horseback, spans the wall behind the latest collection. Its rich details and naturalistic colours are echoed by the intricate craft of the iconic Brillant bags juxtaposed against it. ‘The tapestry is a marriage celebration and part of everyday life that Hong Kong people can relate to,’ says Loubier. ‘It is also a window into Belgian culture.’
Drawing on Belgium’s surrealist heritage, Loubier also embraces elements of surprise and wit to reflect values of family, playfulness and the inner life. ‘Think of surrealism and the art of René Magritte,’ he says. ‘Part of Belgian culture is the twist — the surprise, the double meaning. The idea of combining the beautiful and the useful is a reaction against industrialisation. We hope that these pieces will start dialogues; that exclusivity becomes inclusive.’
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Delvaux in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza
Delvaux in Beijing’s Wangfu central
