Stories

(© Saskia Vanderstichele)

Stories is a new multi-designer shop on Vlaamsesteenweg/rue de Flandre. The store is run by fashion designer Hüsniye Kardas, who had her own shop on the same spot for the last five years but wanted to start with something new. The shop at number 30 has quite a few stories to tell. It used to be a chocolate store and even a jewellery shop. And as far as the archives go, it was a clothes shop in the early 1930s. The fashion back then would have been entirely different than now though, but some things must have been similar: all items are made locally, some even entirely by hand, and with very limited production. Kardas chose four other designers to start her new project. She picked Brussels designer Samuel Dronet, shoemaker Laurent Bourquin, leather bags and jewellery by The Cookie Therapy, and the knitwear winter accessories by Delphine Quirin. Together with her own clothes range, there’s something out there for everyone, male or female, small and bigger budgets. For the future, Kardas would also love to find a jewellery designer and a women’s shoe brand to add to the range, to make the story complete.
The great thing about this little boutique with devoted designers, is the input you get as a customer. As it happened, yours truly fell in love with a woolen headband by Delphine Quirin, but wasn’t sold on the colours. I was offered to choose the shades myself, and a week later, my newest winter warmer was waiting for me at the shop. Exactly how I wanted it and – not unimportantly – at the same price as the original model. This made-to-measure service comes with most items (except for the shoes). When visiting the shop, you’ll usually meet Kardas. Her workshop is still located in the back, where she’ll be working on new creations. Craft(wo)manship, live at work, it’s a rare treat.

Stories •••
Vlaamsesteenweg 30 rue de Flandre, Brussel/Bruxelles, wo/me/We > za/sa/Sa 11.00 > 18.30