Belgium’s Best by Branquinho

From: Markus Ebner

1. Veronique Branquinho Backstage

2. Even fashion magazines have favorite designers and Veronique Branquinho has always been on top of the Achtung list for years. We did a long feature on her while she was a professor at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna back in the fall of 2006. Her pure design and straightforward approach to fashion and design have helped educate a generation of graduates in Austria and beyond. I was on a jury with her once and Branquinho could be tough and was absolutely adamant that the graduates have a clear concept and idea for their work. So when we heard in 2009, that she was closing her signature business because of the economic downturn, we were saddened by the news. Fortunately, Branquinho is now the design director at the venerable Belgium accessory house Delvaux. We caught up with her after her debut show on posh Avenue Foch which featured her signature sharp tailoring with cool menswear jackets for girls and the iconic leather bags. Later, we added the following questionnaire which Branquinho took nearly four weeks to answer as she was recently sailing from Mauritius to Capetown.
   
   Achtung: What are your goals with Delvaux?
   
   Branquinho: Delvaux is a legendary Belgian brand with a great history. It celebrates its 180th birthday.
   What I admire is that the House always stayed faithful to its values, always aiming for the most creative result.
   My aim is that with my handwriting, always in search for a pure line, timeless and contemporary at the same time, the House Delvaux will make a new modern wave, but always with respect to its heritage.
   
   
   
   Achtung: With all the "fast" fashion, how does it feel to work for a "slow" house?
   
   Branquinho: Delvaux stands for creation, quality, tradition, handicraft and timelessness. Values that are also important in my work.
   I feel very lucky to work for a house for which those values are more important than the fast consuming fashion system.
   
   
   Achtung: Where do you see fashion going at the moment in terms of look? Minimalism, craftsmanship, couture approach, mass?
   
   Branquinho: After all the Bling Bling and the Logomania, there is definitely a return to quality, tradition and craftsmanship.
   Unfortunately all the big Houses will follow this trend and use these real values as empty marketing words or strategies.
   
   
   Achtung: Do you miss not having a voice with VB women′s and men′s?
   
   Branquinho: I still have a voice through my collaborations: Delvaux, Camper, Veronique Branquinho shoes and sunglasses.
   At the moment, it is quite liberating to be able to focus 100% on creativity, and not having to deal with all kinds of business problems.
   
   
   Achtung: What books have you been reading during your time off?
   
   Branquinho: As I have been traveling a lot, I had plenty of time to read. Here is the list:
   
   - The Death of Bunny Munro - Nick Cave
   - Atonement - Ian McEwan
   - Saturday - Ian McEwan
   - Blindness - José Saramago
   - Seeing -José Saramago
   - Before She Met Me - Julian Barnes
   - A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters - Julian Barnes
   - The Discovery of Heaven - Harry Mulisch
   - On the Road - Jack Kerouac
   - Breakfast at Tiffany′s - Truman Capote
   - Meer dan een minnaar - Oscar Van den Boogaard

3. Der Boyfriend Blazer: Branquinho macht eine ganze Modenschau draus

4. Schon spießig, aber schön, die neuen Taschen von Delvaux

5. Alle Fotos: Markus Ebner