A new appreciation for slow, intentional design is emerging in Brussels. In her Schaerbeek atelier, Belgian artist An Vandenberk creates bespoke leather pieces that blur the line between craftsmanship and wearable art.
A quieter kind of luxury
In a season that often celebrates abundance, there is a particular kind of person who seeks something else entirely, not more, but deeper, not another object, but a story they can carry.
In Brussels, this sensibility finds its counterpart in the work of Belgian artist and leather designer An Vandenberk, whose atelier in Schaerbeek has become known for creating pieces that stand at the intersection of craftsmanship and wearable art.
Every item leaving her hands is not only made to measure but conceived as a unique design, shaped through dialogue, intuition and artistic intention.
Visitors are welcomed into a warm, unhurried space, invited to discover materials through touch, light and texture. This is where the process begins, not with templates, but with artistic exploration. Clients often describe the moment they find the right combination as a quiet recognition, a sense of seeing their own story reflected in form and material.
Some commission a bespoke bag, accessory or sculptural piece. Others choose from a carefully curated selection available online, or offer the atelier experience itself as a gift through a beautifully presented voucher. Increasingly, guests bring meaningful leather items to be transformed, allowing An to reinterpret a family heirloom, a beloved jacket or an object tied to memory into something new, contemporary and deeply personal.
Concerns about price often soften once visitors understand the nature of what is being created. Each piece is crafted locally, by hand, designed from scratch and never repeated. The value lies not only in the work, but in the permanence of an object that is made with artistic intention and meant to accompany a life, not a season.
For those who wish to mark the festive period with a gesture of depth and individuality, the atelier offers an invitation to discover a different rhythm of giving, one rooted in design, craftsmanship and personal narrative.
More information can be found here, with appointments available here.