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14/01/2011I Love Belgium: Black Balloon & Closet

I Love Belgium: Black Balloon & Closet The 'I Love Belgium' team scour the country for all that it's new in fashion, design, art, architecture and photography. Two recent posts focus on women who are doing it for themselves.

Black Balloon
In times of crisis we applaud young talent, not afraid of investing and looking further! Cleo Baele and Sarah Bos are two wild girls from Belgium who started Black Balloon a few years ago and now they just opened their own flagship store in hip Ghent.

Together they form the creative brain behind this young label, where they create their own world, the world of Black Balloon: apparel, shoes and accessories for men and women, inspired by a mix of music and emotions. Their on-trend designs got them commissioned outfits for Belgian dj heroes David and Stephen Dewaele (aka Soulwas aka the F*cking Dewaele Brothers) and Belgian chansonnier Arno.



And young talent looks out for young talent! That’s why they decided to work with young architecture agency Carbon for their flagship store interior. Carbon is a multidisciplinary platform that focuses on architecture and (urban) design. Brenda De Neve and Simon Dauwe both graduated as architects in St. Lucas Ghent. After their studies, they did experience in Paris. They’ve worked with renowned architects such as Atelier Jean Nouvel, ANMA / Nicolas Michelin Manuelle Gautrand. This is what they have to say about the BB project: “The Black Balloon flagship store is built around a touchable illusion. Fashion is translated into an anamorphosis. With every movement in the room, the collection feels different. That experience is  photographic. It uses the space so this adds a second dimension.”

The flagship store is in Onderbergen a creative hub in the centre of Ghent (the same street where you’ll find funky fresh stores such Dope, the artist supply shop Schleiper and the Mineral, a delicious restaurant with cute green mosaics on the outside), so they’re in good company. The red carpet makes you feel special and adds a splash of colour to the graphic black and white space. The mirrored ceiling (recycled mirrors from the Interieur Kortrijk design fair ramblas), doubles the space and adds a modern disco feel. It’s absolutely Black Balloon. 


(Store pictures by Ruben Persoons)

www.blackballoon.be

In the Closet
After RA, Graanmarkt 13, Glorybox and Hunting and Collecting, it’s time for Closet, a new concept shop and platform for young designers that will open its doors the 24th of March in Antwerp. Founding mothers are two sisters, Mieke and Katrien Fonck, two ladies with a communications degree and an inborn sense of style.

 



Closet is not only a shop, the space also doubles as a permanent gallery space in which designers are able to mark their territory to display their collection in the context of other quality brands and sell it at a set price. This allows them to reach a wide audience in a context that adds value to their own brand. Closet allows these designers to rent a space within the store on a monthly basis. This new, flexible retail concept frees the designers from the suffocating restrictions of fashion seasons and production volumes imposed by ‘classic retail’. Designers who choose to add their collection to Closet, are able to create collections at their own pace and decide when they would like to share them with the general shopping public. Aside from providing store space, the two sisters behind Closet will also team up to help collaborating brands with their professional promotion and communication skills.

Why did they choose Closet as a name? Very simple: the store will include an actual closet, which will be re-interpreted, transformed and personalised every month by one of the store’s designers. The I Love Belgium team is already very curious about the selection! Check out their Facebook page for updates.

Closet Opens 24 March 2011

www.closet.be

© I Love Belgium
www.ilovebelgium.be


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